Castlebar Christian Fellowship

The Message for All.

Reading: Romans 10:14-21.

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in himof whom they have never heard?And how are they to hearwithout someone preaching? 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!" Butthey have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says,"Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" Sofaith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, forvoice has gone outto all the earth,their words to the ends of the world."
I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,willmake you jealous of those who are not a nation;afoolish nation I will make you angry."
Isaiah is so bold as to say,have been found by those who did not seek me;have shown myself to those who did not ask for me."
of Israel he says,"All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people."

Introduction:
Last week we saw how,
Paul had made the universal application of the Gospel obvious. He had stressed that it was for everyone; it was for all people. VV11-13.
For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Now he takes up the note of V13, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." And he asks the question,

V14. How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed?

In fact he asks a series of four rhetorical questions. (VV14-16-5a.) It’s important to remember that Paul’s main focus throughout these chapters (Chapters 9-11) is Israel’s rejection of the good news of her Messiah.
One of the key guiding thoughts for the interpretation of these chapters is found in Romans 9:6. It is not as though God's word had failed.
God’s word has not failed but people evidently have. In verses 16 and 21 of today’s reading we see the negative response, in the main, that was given by the Jews to the gospel.

V16Butthey have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says,"Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"
V21 But of Israel he says,"All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary (Stubborn or obstinate) people."
It’s these sort of verses that set the tone for the opening questions in vv14-15a.
V14. How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed?

One writer puts it like this, “The spirit of this question, especially in light of what follows, indicates that the apostle is levelling a charge against Israel.” William Hendriksen.

Paul is saying they are responsible for their reaction to the gospel. They have made very definite choices.

Paul describes a process that is already afoot throughout the Roman Empire. God has commissioned people to preach the good news. People are hearing the gospel in a way that impacts them. They are coming to a saving faith in Jesus and calling on Him so that they might be saved.

However V16 reminds us.Butthey have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says,"Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"

There is a specific application to Israel in these verses but there is also a challenge for every person who hears or reads these words. (It’s not just confined to Israel!)
Which leads us to the thought of the Gospel process.

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The Gospel Process:

In vv14-15a. Paul describes a pattern or a process that is taking place in the spreading of the gospel throughout the then known world. It’s like five links in a chain or five steps (or conditions) that must happen before a person can be saved. He traces the steps backward starting at the spot where a person calls on the Lord for salvation as a result of truly hearing the gospel and moving back by implication to the very source, the God who sends his word through his servants.
If you take them in reverse this is the order in which they happen.
a preacher must be sent; sent preacher must preach the good news; preached good news must be heard; heard good news must be believed; belief must be the kind that calls on God for salvation.
Sending, preaching, hearing, believing, calling on God.

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I think it’s important to remember that out of the eight verses in today’s reading six are Old Testament quotations. Paul is still addressing the difficult question of Romans 9:6. It is not as though God's word had failed.

What is happening regarding the rejection of the Messiah by the Jews and the inclusion of the Gentiles, was foretold long ago in the scriptures.
The first quote that we read is in v15, a quotation from Isaiah 52:7.
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!"

The original context, were told, expresses the excitement of the exiles as they “welcome the news of their imminent release from captivity.” William Hendriksen.
Isaiah sees that the deliverance of God’s people is on the way. He sees the messengers walking across the mountains and rough territory to bring “good news of happiness”. They have beautiful feet.

Why the emphasis on feet? Feet as always are still the basic way for us to get around. Somehow this expresses at least effort and oftentimes it has meant hardship and difficulty.

Remember the beautiful feet described here may be unattractive in the world’s estimation. They may not be entered into a beauty competition. They may be dirty and calloused with long and difficult travels. But they carried the good news of the Saviour. As I was thinking about this it came to my mind that the most beautiful feet ever were pierced with nails at Calvary. They were bound and cruelly spiked to the wood of the cross and as a result many feet were set free to carry the good news.
The Greek for good is ag-ath-os'
A primary word meaning; “good”: - benefit. From which I believe we get the personal name Agatha.
“It emphasizes the goodness of the good news. Paul is not thinking of some run-of-the-mill good tidings, but of something really outstanding, the gospel.” Leon Morris

V16.Butthey have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says,"Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"
When Paul says “not all” i.e. they have not all believed. It’s an amazing understatement. (W.Hendriksen)

V17. Sofaith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
This seems to be a “summarizing conclusion”. So faith etc. “Consequently faith comes.” (W.H)
Faith results and arises from hearing the message.

Paul seems to be saying that faith in Christ takes for granted that a person has heard the word that proceeds from Christ and concerns Christ. Faith doesn’t happen in a vacuum. However it has already being pointed out, people can hear in a superficial manner also and there is no faith response from their heart. V16. For Isaiah says,"Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"

What is meant in this verse by the expression the "word of Christ" ?

One writer put it this way “I take that to mean the word about Christ. It’s the same Gospel that Paul has been preaching all through the book of Romans. It’s the word of , "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (J.Piper)

To me it seems a similar expression to V8 “the word of faith”. As somebody put it, “ ‘The word of faith’ is the word to which faith is directed” John Murray. It’s the word by which we are focussed on the risen Lord Jesus, as the one to place our faith and trust in. V11. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

It’s the wonderful good news of Christ crucified and risen again in triumphant victory.

The ‘word of Christ’ could also have the sense that when the gospel is proclaimed people can experience the personal call of Christ on their lives, calling them to follow him; it becomes the "word of Christ” to them.

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Off course the rapid spread of the gospel can raise other questions regarding the negative response from the Jews.
Paul articulates those questions and shows that they have no real foundation. They questions are asked, well did they really hear in the first place? Or did they really understand? He’s emphatic in his response! Yes they did hear and they did understand! In other words they like the rest of humanity are without excuse. (Romans 1:20.)

VV18-19.
But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, forvoice has gone outto all the earth,their words to the ends of the world."
I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,willmake you jealous of those who are not a nation;afoolish nation I will make you angry."

V18 It seems an unusual verse to quote from Psalm 19:4
"Their voice has gone outto all the earth,their words to the ends of the world."
The reference refers to the general revelation of God, throughout the created order, that Paul maintains is known by all mankind. (Romans 1:19-21) He doesn’t introduse this quotation formally, like he does the others. It seems he doesn’t always use Bible quotes as some sort of proof texts. Its like as if he sees in the language of this Psalm something that runs parallel to the universal spread of the gospel. He sees it permeating the remotest parts of the inhabited earth.
V19. First Moses. When Paul quotes Moses he has immediate authority. Israel did understand! God had been telling his people that this would happen way back since the time of Moses. "I willmake you jealous of those who are not a nation;afoolish nation I will make you angry."
In the original context in Deuteronomy 32:21, God finds fault with his people who have pursued non-gods. God will in turn make them jealous with what is a non-nation. God will make them angry with a ‘senseless’ nation; with a people who knew very little or nothing of the true God. These people who didn’t know how or where to seek, yet they have found. As somebody has pointed out, “mere ignorance is no obstacle.” (Morris)
God had made this startling revelation away back then. Isaiah brings even a bolder focus to line of thinking!

V20. Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,have been found by those who did not seek me;have shown myself to those who did not ask for me."
(See Romans 9:30-31) What an amazing verse that expresses God’s total sovereignty! What amazing grace!
In contrast Israel reacted very differently than the Gentiles!

V21. But of Israel he says,"All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people."


What struck me in reading all these verses is the ‘great reaching out from God’. We’ve read about the beautiful feet of good news proclaimers, but what came to my mind also is the picture in V21.The beautiful hands of God: The outreaching of God. All day long I have held out my hands. We’re told that the original word for holding out or stretching out the hands has the meaning, “to spread or hold out the hands in an imploring gesture.” (Morris) I can just picture in my minds eye the parable of the prodigal son. I can see the father imploring the older brother who stands outside in the cold and refuses to come in and enjoy the party that the father has made.
Our God is the God that reaches out to a lost and dieing world; who sent his Son to save us, who willingly and graciously stretched out his hands to be nailed on the cross.
God reaches out to us.Of course this great outreach happens through the power of His Spirit through his word; and through his willing people. (V21etc)

We see something to be glad about out in this verse and also something to be sad about!
On the one hand we see the wonderful continuity of the grace and kindness of our God.

On the other hand we see a disobedient and obstinate people, who refuse point-blank to respond to God’s generosity!

In chapter nine we saw some strong teaching regarding God’s choice or election of his people. Here in chapter ten we see an emphasis on human responsibility! In our minds these things are impossible to reconcile yet we must hold to both these truths at the same time if we’re to understand the biblical message!


Conclusion:

I don’t know how to conclude or sum up this day! But I must!
Today were reminded that something must happen in our families and friends and neighbour and colleagues if they are to be saved! We are reminded that we have a part to play; a part to pray and to say; to talk to God about people and to talk to people about God. Lord help us to do so with humility and in the confidence that you are at work!

What is your response to Jesus? Do you know him today as your Lord and Saviour? The invitation is still going out!
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
For some that calling out to God might be as simple as those words of the penitent tax collector in the temple as he prayed in earnest, “Lord be merciful to me the sinner”.

Call on him today, while it is still called today!
He’s reaching out to you with those nail scarred hands. How are you going to respond?

Pray!

Notes:
Issues regarding: Hearing, Message (report) Obedience. See the original words. There are lots of fascinating overlaps.