Practical Theology - Part 29 - Romans 10:14-21
February 5, 2023

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Practical Theology

Part 29 - Romans 10:14-21
Lead Pastor, Darrin Mariott

Big Idea: If you want to grow in your faith, then grow in the Word and live it out.

I. The Proclamation of the Message (vv. 14-17)
Romans 10:14-17
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

A. These verses are often rightly cited when emphasizing the importance of missions in the church. But Paul’s primary point here is directed toward Israel, that they must hear and believe in the message of the Gospel of Christ Jesus, yet in this they have largely rejected the Word of the Lord (cf. Rom. 10:1-4).

Romans 10:1-4
1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

B. In the proclamation of the message, we see:

1. The priority of Gospel proclamation (vv. 14-15; cf. Matt. 28:18-20)
Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

2. The priority of obedience to the message (v. 16; cf. Heb 4:1-7)
Hebrews 4:1-7
1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath,‘They shall not enter my rest,’”although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.” 6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice,do not harden your hearts.”

3. The priority of faith through the Word proclaimed (v. 17; cf. Heb. 4:2-3a; Gal. 3:1-2)
Galatians 3:1-2
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?

II. The Impact of the Message (vv. 18-21)
Romans 10:18-21
18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth,and their words to the ends of the world.” 19 But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation;with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” 20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me;I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” 21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

A. In responding to any objections that perhaps Israel did not hear or understand the message, Paul makes clear the issue was not one of ignorance or misunderstanding, but a willful rejection of the Gospel (cf. Acts 18:5-6).
Acts 18:5-6
5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6 And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

B. We see here:

1. That they heard and understood the message (v. 18; cf. Ps. 19:4) – Israel heard the Word, but they did not heed it
Psalm 19:4
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth,and their words to the end of the world.In them he has set a tent for the sun,

2. They were provoked by the message (vv. 19-20; cf. Dt. 32:21; Isa. 65:1) – In offering salvation to the gentiles, God is provoking Israel to jealously that they would turn to the Lord and believe on Jesus as Messiah
Deuteronomy 32:21
21 They have made me jealous with what is no god;they have provoked me to anger with their idols.So I will make them jealous with those who are no people;I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

Isaiah 65:1
1 I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me;I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me.I said, “Here I am, here I am,”to a nation that was not called by my name.

3. God still yearns for His people (v. 21; cf. 2 Chr. 7:14; Ez. 33:10-11) – God’s offer of salvation is open to any who would call upon His name
2 Chronicles 7:14
14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Ezekiel 33:10-11
10 “And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: ‘Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we rot away because of them. How then can we live?’ 11 Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?

C. If you want to grow in your faith, then grow in the Word of God and let your words and actions bear witness to the life-changing power of the Good News of Jesus Christ.