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ROMANS 10:14-17 Sermon #71-121915 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Once again we see our beloved Apostle Paul firing off a round of questions, half asking and half answering as he proceeds. 4 times he asks HOW SHALL THEY Who are THEY? They are Jew and Gentile alike. The Jew who has been taught the works of and in the law, is the path of righteousness. Faith in Jesus is not part of their learned upbringing. Faith in their works and kinship overshadowed the sacrifice of Jesus for their sins. The Gentiles alike walked in their own rules of right and wrong with their own Gods to please and appease. Why would they believe in one more God? Why would they believe in a God from a foreign nation. Was it true He was crucified, buried and then was raised again? Paul asks a question that seems to head off or even guide his readers and listeners. As If he knows it's a legitimate question in the back off their minds, and he has chosen to ask it for them. Remember Paul is talking to the church. He is talking to the body of believers in Rome. He is charging them with the same information, guidance and direction that he will, later in his ministry, charge Timothy. Here is what He says to Timothy. 2 Timothy 3:16-4:2 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. You see without actually saying it to the Roman church, he is asking the questions that will lead them to the correct answers. The answers are the same as the charge he gives to Timothy. Let's begin, 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? -------As we begin with the first question, we need to look for the key word that gives us a time frame and an action to understand the who THEY really are. The word call, gives us the time and the action. Paul is asking --How shall they who do not believe answer the call of the Holy Spirit. How shall they know who is calling them. Oh, they all know there is a need, but they will not know what to do with that need or who to believe or call on. This is why there are so many religions and gods that go with them throughout the world. Every man has a God shaped hole in their soul and they will always try to fill that hole with anything and everything to be whole again. They (all men), Jew and Gentile alike will create their own religion with their own gods and put their faith in what ever suites them the best, whether it be a god of material value and increase, a god of self righteousness, a god of authoritative pride, a god of whatever a man wants by selfish desire and greed. Have you ever noticed that? Every false religion has a god that can be sacrificed to, by material sacrifice or by works. A god that can be appeased for the selfish gain of the follower. Sadly this same practice has been reintroduced and implemented in many, so called, Christian churches today. The Health, Wealth and Prosperity churches have turned their worship and praise toward God into a mockery of Gods grace and sovereignty. They have made God out to be their Holy Vending Machine! They call on God to be what they want, instead of calling out to God, that they may be what He wants. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? How then shall they call on God? Shall they call with a selfish desire? Shall they call with little or no knowledge of the omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence of God? Shall they call on a God they do not know? No one knows who or what to call out to if they do not know who is calling them! The Holy Spirit draws us to God, but if we know nothing of God we will soon make up something to fill that need. So first there is a calling to answer the call. Second there is a need to Hear who is calling and know His voice. 14 -------and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? Know here is Paul making the implication to his readers and listeners, that they are responsible for being sure the unsaved, Jew and Gentile alike hear about the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ. He has just written 9-1/2chapters of the New Testament in a letter to the Rome church. His purpose was to solidify and encourage them in their faith. Build them up in the knowledge of Gods promises and the truth of who God is and who they are in Christ by faith and faith alone. He has laid out every truth about their calling, their answering, their receiving and their walk toward and in our Lord Jesus for the glory of God. He has confirmed and reaffirmed their knowledge of their justification, sanctification and even their glorification yet to come. He has reiterated the truths that brought them to confession and repentance in the first place. So now he is making sure they are well aware of the responsibility that goes with their commitment. He is saying to the Church---- tell the world what you have. Remember, they didn't have the New Testament to read and teach from. They had the knowledge of the events of the coming of the Messiah, His Life and death and resurrection. They had the living proof of prophecy and let me assure you, that would be very difficult for any true believer to keep to themselves. It's not possible for someone who has tasted the goodness of God, who personally knows his Lord and Savior, to keep the Good news to himself. Oh you might think you are being a good Christian by sitting at home minding your own business. Never bothering anyone with talk about religion or making conversation about the Lord and the Bible. Not offending anyone seems to be the modern definition for the meek. Get a handle on this folks! You are no less a preacher than I am. I write to all of you. And trust me I thank God for all of you! But I write to all of you to confirm and reaffirm and to build your knowledge and encourage you in the truth of who you are in Jesus Christ and what your position is in and through and to Him! You are no less commissioned to preach the Gospel than I am. At the moment of salvation you become a disciple of Jesus Christ. Even while you are being taught you are called to tell the truth about what you have found. Matthew 5:14-16 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. These are the words of Jesus to his disciples, early in His ministry. He is saying --what you have you cannot keep to yourself. My glory will be so bright in you it will shine through you and do not try to hide it. Let what you have of Me shine for others to see and receive. What did the woman at the well do when she came to know Jesus? John 4:25-26---27-28 25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. ------------28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? She dropped what she was doing and ran to tell others what she had found! What she had experienced and whom she had come to know! Let me assure you, if you are saved and know, that you know, that you know Jesus Christ as your savior you will not be able to keep from telling anyone and everyone about Him. If you are afraid to confess the Lord Jesus to men, then you have not come to know Him! Romans 8:15 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 4--------and how shall they hear without a preacher? Anyone who proclaims the Gospel, confesses Jesus Christ to men as their personal savior, and humbles themselves before God to rise above this world in the truth and power of His promises, is a preacher of the Word. You can not preach what you do not know to be true by personal experience! I can confess, after many years of being a disciple of Jesus Christ I still break into tears as I read the Bible! It is Gods Word to me! He speaks to me through His Word. I understand His Word by His Spirit speaking to my spirit. I know the truth when I read it and hear it, because someone was obedient to speak the truth to me before I knew Jesus. Then when I heard and read the truth again I began to look for more truth and when I finally heard the voice of Jesus calling me I knew who it was and completely bared my soul to Him. It takes a preacher! Do you know what the definition of a preacher is? It is an earnest advocate! If you are in earnest about your commitment and discipleship to Jesus Christ, you will be an unstoppable advocate of the Gospel! You can say AMEN to that, all day long! 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! I thank the Lord everyday for the people in my life who were obedient to tell me, teach me and encourage me to hear and understand the Word of God. How beautiful their coming to me is now that I know why they came! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? But I also am deeply saddened at the thought of the overwhelming number of people I have met in my life, who claimed to be Christians and did not find the need, the desire, or the time to even mention to me, what Jesus has done for them. What faith in Christ, what believing the Word of God did for them. How it changed their lives forever. Their conversation was about anything but the Lord Jesus Christ. They themselves live a superficial justification. They profess religion instead of confessing Jesus Christ. 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. In sincere humility knowing who He is and what He is and what He has Promised and the Promises He has already fulfilled for us by His sovereignty and mercy and grace toward us, we are all called to Him. We are all ordained through Him and we are all sent out to do the work of an Earnest Advocate. 2 Timothy 4:1-2 1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. May the Lord Guide, Guard and Protect you until we meet again. In the name of Jesus we Pray, AMEN! Pastor Steven Freede Cornerstone Independent Church 12/19/15