Sunday, October 28, 2018

Israel’s Rejection-The Individual’s Acceptance

Temple Baptist Church - 10-28-2018
Romans 10:1-17


Introduction:

A.  Remember that the context of chapters 9-11 has not changed.  Paul is writing about the Nation of Israel, God’s Elect Nation.  The apple of God’s eye!

B.  No doctrine of Calvinism is found in these three chapters as we will again see tonight.

Chapter 9: The Selection of the Nation of Israel.  (The selection was in the sovereignty of God.)

Chapter 10: The Rejection of the Nation of Israel.  (Israel rejected their Messiah, became marred in the hand of the Potter, and was set aside.)

Chapter 11: The Future Restoration of the Nation of Israel.  (God is not finished with Israel.)

C.  Last week, we saw that Israel stumbled at two things:

1.  They sought self-righteousness and were ignorant of God’s righteousness.

2.  They sought a King instead of a Lamb and rejected their Messiah.

D.  Now, we see:

1.  A Rejection of the Nation of Israel. (9:22-23)

2.  A Remnant of the Nation of Israel Saved.  (9:27)

3.  A Requirement for Salvation.  (10:4-17)

E.  We use these verses as a vital part of the Roman’s Road to Heaven as we witness to the lost, but the interpretation is to the Jews who rejected Christ as the Messiah, the Deliverer and Saviour.

1.  Verses 4-5 – Christ is the end of the of the law for righteousness.  The only righteousness that will save is God’s righteousness found in the perfect Son of God alone.  Righteousness must be imputed! 

2.  Verses 6-7 – You cannot add to or take away from what Christ has already done.  He has already come to earth (verse 5) so you cannot bring Him down and He has already resurrected (verse 6) so you cannot go down to bring Him up.  Salvation’s word is a FINISHED WORK!

Hebrews 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,  (Paul, when writing to the Jews, mentioned repentance from dead works.  This was the first of the two stumbling stones as Israel sought righteousness with God based on keeping the Law, personal merit.  Too many people continue to stumble today because of the teaching of self-righteousness or personal merit for salvation.)

3.  Verse 8 – Salvation is faith based!  We are saved by grace through faith and faith alone!  Faith is a gift of God given to every man to be exercised!

Galatians 3:10-14  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.  (11)  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.  (12)  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.  (13)  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:  (14)  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

4.  Verses 9-10 – Now, the Bible ties the two stumbling blocks together.  Remember, this was written to the Jewish people showing them how to become a part of the remnant that belongs to the New Testament Church.  In verse 9, the Bible looks backward in the process and in verse 10, the Bible looks forward.

a.  Believing in the heart – One MUST believe in their heart that “God hath raised Him from the dead!”  The resurrection of Christ was the “Capstone” of the gospel.  The death and burial would have no meaning if the grave was the end.  This is not just a head knowledge of a historical fact, it is a heart knowledge that Christ died, was buried, and resurrected for our justification.

1 Corinthians 15:17-20  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.  (18)  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.  (19)  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.  (20)  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

b.  Believing has always been the way of salvation as the Old Testament saint looked forward to the Lamb of God and the New Testament saint look back to the Lamb of God.  This has never and will never change! 

c.  Confessing the Lord Jesus – God commanded the Jew to make confession publicly that Jesus Christ was the Lord, the Messiah, that Israel had rejected.

1)  Prior to Pentecost, this was not so.  We find that Nicodemus made no such public confession and yet he was a saved man, though a secret disciple who came with Joseph of Arimathea to claim the body of Christ.

2)  Many Jews believed on Christ during his ministry with no such open confession.

3)  After Israel rejected Christ and crucified Him, Peter at Pentecost preached repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus.  There were three such commands to do so.  Acts, chapter 2, to the Jews and Jewish Proselytes at Pentecost; Acts, chapter 8, to the Ethiopian Eunuch—a Jewish Proselyte; and Acts, chapter 19, to the disciples of John.

d.  These Jews who were there during Israel’s rejection of Christ were command be baptized in the name of Jesus.

e.  The Great Commission or Great Commandment declared that believers were to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

f.  This confession had nothing to do with salvation.  Romans 10:10 says that confession was made unto salvation.  It simply means that they were saved by believing on Christ and then made confession concerning whom they had believed upon, the Lord Jesus.  Confession for the Jews was a command to be obeyed.

g.  The perfect example was the Ethiopian Eunuch:

1)  His salvation: If thou believest with all thine heart.” 

2)  His confession: “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God!”

h.  You and I have no such commandment.  We do have a command to be scripturally baptized.

5.  Verse 11 – True saving faith produces a people unashamed of the Lord.  He is their “all in all.”  He is their glory; He is their life.  To deny Christ after all that He has done for the believer would be something to be ashamed of. 

a.  Christ bore our shame.  Hebrews 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

b.  Christ is not ashamed of us.  Hebrews 2:11  For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

c.  We should never be ashamed of Christ.  2 Timothy 1:8  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

6.  Verse 12-13 – Salvation is the same for both Jew and Gentile.  The ground is level at the foot of the cross, no man stands higher than I.  The word “Whosoever” is an open invitation that has no boundaries, limitations, or exclusions!  Whosoever surely meaneth me!

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Revelation 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Conclusion:  It the Jews desire to become a part of the New Testament Church, they must come the right way.  “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”

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