God Speaks
Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.
5 For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. 6 But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). 7 And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” 8 In fact, it says,
“The message is very close at hand;
it is on your lips and in your heart.”
And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: 9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. 18 But I ask, have the people of Israel actually heard the message? Yes, they have:
“The message has gone throughout the earth,
and the words to all the world.”
19 But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said,
“I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation.
I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles.”
20 And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying,
“I was found by people who were not looking for me.
I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.”
21 But regarding Israel, God said,
“All day long I opened my arms to them,
but they were disobedient and rebellious.”
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: Paul again appeals to his fellow Jews. He is zealous for their salvation. He commends their zeal for God, but he states that they are seeking to please God on their own terms rather than putting their faith in Christ’s righteousness. What all people really need to understand is this: If a person confesses with their mouth that Jesus is their Lord, [He has gained the right to be in control of their life because of His suffering and death on their personal behalf.] and if they will believe in their heart [not just their head] that God raised Him from the dead, they will be saved. Because it is with the heart that we believe, resulting in God declaring us righteous, while with our mouth we confirm and declare our salvation. Anyone [whoever they are, wherever they live, or whatever they have done] who [honestly] calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But what about those who have never heard of Jesus or what He has done for them? That’s where we who already know and love Christ come in. We need to send others or go ourselves, whether that is across the aisle, across the street, across town, across the nation, or around the world, to tell unbelievers the Good News of all that Jesus has done for us and them.
Consider the following questions regarding each Romans 10:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
1. God will stir up people who aren’t looking for Him to make His people (Jews and Gentiles) jealous so that they will return to Him.
2. People need to quit trying to get to or serve God in their own (man-made) ways and instead turn to Him by repentance and faith in all that Jesus has already done.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Romans 10?
LORD God, I reaffirm that Jesus suffered and died to cancel my sin and to give me His righteousness. Please give churchgoers in the USA, who are thinking and acting like the Jews of Paul’s day, a true understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Arouse us from our lethargy and self-absorption. Set us on fire with Your Spirit of love, like Jesus. Lord of the harvest, please send out, empower, and provide for laborers in Your fields. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Romans 10? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will research a summary of God’s work on behalf of the Jewish people in the Old Testament.
- I will research a summary of God’s work on behalf of the Jews from New Testament times until today.
- I will investigate and decide on which ministry to Jewish people God wants me to support with the time, talents and treasures He has given me.
- I will pray for the peace of Jerusalem, all of Israel and individual Jewish people.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.