Bible Study - Unvarnished (5) - One Great Committment - Romans 10:1-3, 8-13 - October 2, 2016

Bible Study – Unvarnished (5) – One Great Commitment – October 2, 2016

This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled “Unvarnished Truth: Life’s Greatest Story.”

Our focus scripture is Romans 10:1-3, 8b-13.

To be saved, I must trust in CHRIST.

Let’s read Romans 10:1-3:

Righteousness by Faith Alone

1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God concerning them is for their salvation!

         The Apostle Paul addressed fellow Christians as “brothers.” He expressed his fervency for the salvation of his fellow Jews in the statement “my heart’s desire.” He followed through with his fervency of heart with “prayers to GOD” for the salvation of his fellow Jews and Gentiles who did not know JESUS as their Savior.  

Those of us who know the truth, is our heart’s desire to pray and reach out to those who are lost/in need of salvation?

The “them” are just as relevant today as in Paul’s day. Christians are fully equipped to know and reach out to those who are in need of salvation. The “them” are the Spiritually lost. When Paul wrote this he was referring to Israel/the Jews.

People can be religious but miss the saving knowledge of CHRIST. Paul knew this better than anyone. He was trained as a Pharisee and had great zeal in serving GOD by rounding up Christians and punishing them. He thought he was doing the will of GOD until he encountered CHRIST on the road to Damascus. His encounter with CHRIST changed his life forever. That is what true salvation does. We see CHRIST and GOD in the light of truth.

Paul’s continues in our next verse.

2 I can testify about them that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

Paul knew all about the religious Jews because he had been one. He knew that they understood the law judicially but failed to comprehend its purpose. The religious Jews had zeal for GOD and worked at religion but they were without salvation.  

Paul addressed this in Galatians 2:16:

16 yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified.

and Galatians 3:21-26:

21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.

22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.

24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.

25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, (NIV)

Let’s continue reading Romans 10:3:

3 Because they disregarded the righteousness from God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God's righteousness.

The Jews rejected GOD’S gift, the promised Messiah, JESUS Who was sent to fulfill the law and bring salvation to all who will place their faith in HIM. All who place their faith in HIM will be born Spiritually into GOD’S family and be under HIS love and grace. The truth of this is confirmed by the indwelling Holy Spirit, Who is a Christian’s guarantee/assurance of salvation. The Holy Spirit is GOD’S seal upon every Christian that he or she belongs to GOD for eternity.

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

The law cannot make a person righteous. In fact, the law reveals how much we fail to measure up to GOD’S righteousness.

5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: The one who does these things will live by them.

6 But the righteousness that comes from faith speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, "Who will go up to heaven?" that is, to bring Christ down

7 or, "Who will go down into the abyss?" that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.

Let’s read on.

Let’s read Romans 10:8-10:

8 On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim:

The righteousness that comes from faith is --- as we read the next verse.

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.

Confession means to agree with or declaring something is true. The mouth is the instrument through which this confession is made. This is not a cursory confession but a confession that comes from our very core “the eyes of our heart.” A person acknowledges that “JESUS is Lord.” This confession ties GOD as identified in the Old Testament to JESUS and links JESUS with GOD HIS Father. This was to help the Jews to see this relationship and to confess this relationship. JESUS is GOD!

The heart of belief is “that GOD raised HIM (JESUS) from the dead.

10 With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.

In the “eyes of the heart” is where you and GOD come together. It is where faith is either confirmed or denied. Once faith is established in the core of a person’s being it results in salvation which in turn results in eagerness for him or her to share the Good News of CHRIST to others. The spring of living water bubbles up from within those who have accepted JESUS as their Savior and flows to others who need JESUS. Christians are the light of the world and are to share the light of CHRIST to others.

Believing is not agreeing with a fact but embracing the truth of JESUS as GOD’S only Son, HIS passion and resurrection.

Copied from page 66 of the Advanced Bible Study, fall 2016, LifeWay, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175, Dr. John Dent wrote [The center of Christianity rests on this truth. GOD took the worst the Devil could do (having JESUS crucified) and turned it into the best for human beings (JESUS’ resurrection and our salvation.]

Consider verses 9 and 10 again:

When a person truly believes in his or her heart that JESUS is GOD and that GOD raised HIM from the physically dead it produces a result. That faith, as expressed by confession/action, results in righteousness and salvation. Righteousness and salvation are the result of GOD’S love for every person who places his or her faith in JESUS.

Let’s read Romans 10:11-13:

11 Now the Scripture says, No one who believes on Him will be put to shame,

Salvation is open to and available to anyone who believes. The Gospel of JESUS does not discriminate. When a person truly encounters JESUS his or her life is changed for eternity. Others may ridicule you but because of your core faith nothing will put you to shame because you know the truth. You know that you are GOD’S child through the miracle of rebirth. The Holy Spirit indwells you and gives you assurance, enlightenment, power and confidence.

At a time in my life the Lord kept bringing this scripture to my mind. I did not know why until months later. A person who did not like me was trying to hire someone to do the job I was doing. It was not that I was not doing the job but that I was doing too good of a job. It is strange how jealousy manifests itself. I did not know that this was taking place but it blew up in the face of the person who was trying to do this. GOD knew my heart. I was doing a good job because HE was with me and I was in HIS will.

12 for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him.

Salvation is available to every person regardless of race, creed, color, national origin or gender. What does this mean? Let’s read on.

13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Everyone who calls “on the name of the LORD,” underscores a confidence that JESUS is GOD. GOD does not discriminate! This expression in words, calls, constitutes faith in JESUS and reflects the true heart of the person calling on the name of the LORD. Confession is all about the heart; the very core of the person. What is your heart telling you?

The reference to “will be saved” refers back to the fact that GOD has reconciled us to HIM through the shed blood of JESUS. But we must accept HIS gift of reconciliation that is available to us through JESUS. Our faith in JESUS triggers the process of justification, sanctification and glorification. Salvation and justification are instantaneous. Sanctification is the process of being made into the image of JESUS as we walk with JESUS as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Glorification is the final crowning glory GOD reveals when Christians have completed their life upon earth and stand in HIS presence. Glorification is when we hear these words “well done good and faithful servant.”

Every person will stand before GOD one day. JESUS said it best in John 5:24:

24 "I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

True Christians will not come under the wrath of GOD. They will not be judged regarding their salvation because they have already passed from death to eternal life. But they will be given rewards based upon their obedient service to GOD as directed by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

John 3:14-21:

14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,

15 so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.

16 "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.

19 "This, then, is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.

20 For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed.

21 But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God."

GOD loves you and desires for you to accept HIS free gift of salvation through faith in JESUS, HIS Only Son. Now is your opportunity. Do not delay. Eternity is but a heartbeat away. Blessings!!!