Christian Life - Life Worth Sharing - Romans 1, 9, 10 and 15 - November 28,2010

Bible Study – Christian Life – Life Worth Sharing – November 28, 2010

This is our final lesson in our series on apologetics. It has been an awesome journey. I hope it has been for you as well and that you are better equipped to share your faith in CHRIST.
Our scripture for today’s lesson is Romans 1:14-17; 9:1-3; 10:1, 14-15; 15:17-20.


Think of the most dreaded medical condition a person or child could have and you found the cure. What would you do with that knowledge? Keep it to yourself and watch people suffer? Or would you share the cure with them? The cure is guaranteed to work with only wonderful side effects, it is free and it lasts forever.


Salvation through JESUS CHRIST is the cure for sin and eternal death. It is free and it is eternal. The side effects are eternal security - the presence of GOD in your life through the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT, born into GOD’S family, citizenship in heaven, and as Paul states in Galatians 5:22-23:


22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,[5] 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.


The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Rome. He had not been to Rome when he wrote this letter. He was clearing up any concern fellow Christians might have regarding him, since he was a Jew and had been trained as a Pharisee. He wanted the Christians in Rome to know that he had a love and ministry for all people Jew and Gentile but especially the Gentiles. Paul’s life was turned 180 degrees when he encountered JESUS on the road to Damascus. He had an overwhelming love for CHRIST and anyone who was lost to the ravages of sin and death regardless of their race or ethnicity.


Let’s read Romans 1:14-17:
14 I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians,[10] both to the wise and the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the good news to you also who are in Rome.


The Apostle Paul was eager to preach the Gospel of CHRIST to all who would listen regardless of their gender or national origin. CHRIST is for all and those of us who have the light of truth in CHRIST, should have the heart to share the Gospel with anyone in any walk of life. GOD is no respecter of persons and neither should any Christian.


Are we eager to share CHRIST with those we encounter during our walk in life? Do we hide our light of salvation under a canopy of timidity, lack of confidence that CHRIST is our SAVIOR, unbelief, fear, shame, timidity or other excuses for not sharing the gospel? The Apostle Paul shared with fellow Christians who have the right relationship with CHRIST that their desire should be to share the Good News of Salvation through CHRIST with others. His teaching is just a relevant to today’s Christians.


In verse 14, Paul told all that sharing CHRIST was not an option, it was an obligation. I know some Christians who read this may cringe. I remember the time when the thought of witnessing to a person about CHRIST was not on my agenda. I was scared to death at the thought. Confess your fear to GOD and ask HIM to give you the strength to bear witness for HIM when the opportunity arises. GOD equips us and gives us the strength to share HIM with those who are seeking salvation. Trust HIM for the opportunity and the words to say. If GOD provides the opportunity and you feel like you blew it, then great, it worked because Satan is attacking you. Satan does not want you to be a witness for CHRIST. Let GOD lead you to the opportunity and go through the door of opportunity when it opens. The person to whom you are witnessing to may not pray to receive CHRIST at the time you witness to him/her. Just know that GOD used you to plant the seed of salvation, do some watering, a little weeding or fertilizing. Just know that GOD’S Word and GOD Himself works in the hearts of those who are to receive salvation. You may have added a piece of a puzzle which will lead to salvation for that person. Trust GOD for the results.


In our next scripture, Paul reveals his heart for others. Do we have that same heart?


Let’s read Romans 9:1-3 and 10:1:
1 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience is testifying to me with the Holy Spirit[1]— 2 that I have intense sorrow and continual anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off[2] from the • Messiah for the benefit of my brothers, my countrymen by physical descent.[3]


Romans 10:1:
1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them[1] is for their salvation!


Paul made it clear that he is dead serious in what he has written to the Christians in Rome. If he could give his life for the salvation of his fellow Jews, he would. He was willing to go to Hell for them, if they would accept CHRIST as their SAVIOR.


I have had Jewish friends over the years and they are wonderful, loving people. Some have listened to the plan of salvation through CHRIST. Even though we worship the same GOD, the only way to GOD is through CHRIST. CHRIST is the promised Messiah. I know tradition is a very large stumbling block for many Jews. They fear their family will cast them out if they become Christians. I know family is very precious to them but in light of eternity there is no comparison to serving GOD through CHRIST. HE is a Christian’s High Priest and intercedes for all Christians. HE was the perfect lamb offered for sacrifice for our sins.


My prayer is that you will be among those to whom HE says, “Well done good and faithful servant enter into the Eternal Promised Land.” All Christians are journeying to the Eternal Promised Land, which is heaven.


Let’s read Romans 10:8-13, 14-15 and 15:17-20:
8 On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.[6] This is the message of faith that we proclaim: 9 if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 Now the Scripture says, No one who believes on Him will be put to shame,[7] 12 for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.[8]


As we can see from this scripture, Paul stated how a person can be saved. Someone who has the message of faith has to present it to those who are to make a profession of faith. The key words are faith, belief and confession. Speaking the words given in this scripture is not what produces salvation. It is confessing these from a heart of belief that CHRIST did die on the cross for your sins and GOD raised HIM from the dead as proof that HE is the sinless SON of GOD. GOD counted HIM worthy to give HIS life for sin for all who would believe in HIM. But there are people without CHRIST. Those who have never heard of salvation through CHRIST are lost to the ravages of sin, which is eternal death. This produces a dilemma, which Paul addresses in the next scripture.


Romans 10:14-15:
14 But how can they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How welcome[9] are the feet of those[10] who announce the gospel of good things![11]


CHRIST gave those who watched HIM ascend into heaven and to all Christians the following commission in Acts 1:7-8:
7 He (CHRIST) said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends[2]of the earth.”


GOD’S plan is to empower all Christians with the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT and to be equipped to be HIS messengers to those without CHRIST (the lost). HE calls each Christian for a specific purpose to minister to others. What do Christians need to do? Seek first a knowing, intimate, trusting relationship with GOD through CHRIST. Allow HIM to lead you, through the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT, in all aspects of your life. It is easy to say and unless you yield your will to HIM, it is impossible to do on your own with joy in your heart.


Romans 15:17-20:
17 Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus regarding what pertains to God. 18 For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed, 19 by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the good news about the Messiah from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum.[8] 20 So my aim is to evangelize where Christ has not been named, in order that I will not be building on someone else’s foundation,


Paul was boasting in what CHRIST had done through him. Boasting of what GOD has done is not a sin. The problem arises when Christians take ownership of what GOD is doing through them. Signs and wonders were a means to lead those without CHRIST to HIM. Signs and wonders had a purpose to glorify CHRIST and not to glorify Paul.


Notice that Paul gives CHRIST full credit for the power manifested through him by the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT. As mentioned in previous lessons, gifts of the HOLY SPIRIT are GOD’S power being manifested through Christians to minister to others as GOD directs. With power comes responsibility. That is why a Christian’s relationship with GOD through CHRIST is so vital. CHRIST only did and said what the FATHER told HIM to do and say. Such obedience takes us out of the decision making and keeps us focused upon GOD. It is not us but CHRIST who lives within us.


Paul had a passion to spread the Gospel of CHRIST to those who had never heard it. He had been from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum, which is in the area of Yugoslavia, sharing the Gospel of CHRIST. Paul was not interested in building on someone else’s ministry. Paul was a church planter and was called to go to those who had never heard of CHRIST. Others were welcome to build upon the foundation he had laid which is CHRIST.


Paul had a heart for the lost and sharing the Good News with those who had never heard of CHRIST and salvation from sin and death. He knew what CHRIST had done and was doing in his life. He knew what CHRIST would do for others who prayed to receive HIM as their SAVIOR.


Do you know CHRIST? If so, do you have a passion to share HIM with others as the HOLY SPIRIT gives you opportunity? Christians are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Do not hide what you have in CHRIST.


Some may say, “Well I do not know how to share CHRIST with others.”


Here is what is called the Roman road to salvation:
Romans 3:23 – 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the[20] glory of God. (Everyone has sinned.)
Romans 6:23 – 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (The penalty for our sin is death.)
Romans 5:8 – 8 But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us! (JESUS CHRIST died for sin.)
Romans 10:8-10 – 8 On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.[6] This is the message of faith that we proclaim: 9 if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation. (To be forgiven for our sin, we must believe and confess that JESUS is LORD. Salvation comes through JESUS CHRIST.)


The bottom line, salvation is not following a specific outline of words, it is the attitude of the heart. I heard a person give his testimony who had been fighting CHRIST for many years who simply said “LORD, I give up!” CHRIST came into his life in an overwhelming way. That was his way of saying, LORD I know I am a sinner and I have fought YOU every step of the way. I believe that YOU died for me on the cross for my sins and were resurrected as proof that YOU are GOD’S SON. I am tired of resisting, so I give up and give YOU my life as it is. It is all about the attitude of the heart and not saying the exact words. The Roman road to salvation is a guide and has been used to lead many to CHRIST.


If you have never asked CHRIST to forgive you of your sins and to come into your life, now is the right moment to do that. Blessings as you make this most important decision in your life. The benefits are eternal but begin the instant you ask CHRIST into your life. GOD guarantees it by the promised indwelling of the HOLY SPIRIT.