Whosoever calls on the name of the Lord 

• A zeal for God… vs.  1-4
  • Prayer for Israel…
    • Having concluded chapter 9 – stating Israel had failed believe – be saved…
    • Paul open’s with his heart felt desire – his prayer for the salvation of Israel
    • For all they had seen – Jesus preaching / teaching / healing – Israel still did not believe…
    • But that did not mean Paul gave up on them – he still prayed they would get saved!
    • Inevitably we know people who are stubborn – refuse to give up their sinful lifestyle…
    • We may wonder if they will even come to know Jesus – don’t give up on them!
    • Whether they cannot see because they are blinded by their sin…
    • John 3:19-20 – “The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.  They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness. They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed…”
    • Or they are blinded by the God of this evil world – satan…
    • II Corinthians 4:3-4 – “If the Good News we preach is veiled from anyone, it is a sign that they are perishing.  Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News…”
    • Pray that God opens the eyes of the spiritually blind – so they see they NEED Jesus!
  • Misguided faith…
    • Israel did have a great desire for God – but they missed the whole truth…
      • They understood some things about God – but they only followed part of the truth
      • They did not know (refused to see) / would not submit – to God’s righteousness…
      • Instead they tried to establish their own – be ‘good’ by their own efforts and merit…
    • The problem was not a lack of faith – it was where the faith was placed…
      • We all have faith – lots of it – our problem is we don’t always put our faith in Jesus 
      • I’ve seen extraordinary faith in ‘faith healers’ – but they have not power to heal…
      • I’ve seen stubborn faith in money – but money disappears as quickly as it comes…
      • Far too often we put our faith in our own abilities – or the abilities of others
      • And when we or they fail – then we blame God for not taking care of us
    • There are many faiths today that have a fervor and extremism for God…
      • There is no end the extremes men will go to in order to be ‘right’ with God…
      • Muslims who are willing to strap bombs and blow themselves up for Allah…
      • Hindu worship demands you pull heavy carts with hooks attached to your body
      • ‘Christian’ who practice flagellation and crucifixion (usually during Lent)
      • The problem is these are all the ideas of men – and miss God’s solution…
  • Jesus is the end of the Law for righteousness…
    • In Jesus God brought and end to the Law – no longer a need for the Law…
      • Matthew 5:17 – “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
      • Not that Jesus destroyed the Law – far from it – He was the ONLY one to ever keep it!
      • Jesus did what no one ever had – lived a PERFECT life – keeping the whole Law!
      • In that He fulfilled the Law – He had the ‘right’ to go to heaven…
      • We on the other hand – all failed to keep the Law – Romans 3:23 – deserved hell
    • But Jesus chose to pay our price for sin – He suffered and died on the cross…
      • Because He paying our price – we can now receive His perfect righteous life…
      • It’s the switching of the grades – the ‘A’ for the ‘F’
      • The only way to be right with God – is through Jesus – God’s solution for sin…
        
• Righteousness – having a right relationship with God… vs.  5-8
  • There are only two options for being right with God – the Law / or Faith…
  • The righteousness of the Law…
    • Moses said – Leviticus 18:5 – those that follow the Law – will live by the Law…
    • That does not mean you will be justified by the Law – you will be judged by the Law!
    • James 2:10 – “Whoever keeps the whole law, yet stumble in one point, is guilty of all.”
    • The Law of God – following all 613 commands – is an all or nothing proposition…
    • Either you are perfect – never making one mistake (in thought or action)…
    • Or you stand to be judged by the Law – condemned to death and Hell…
    • The Law only serves to teach us how ‘bad’ we really are – and how much we need Jesus!
  • The righteousness of faith…
    • Paul quotes from Deuteronomy 30:11-14 – speaking about salvation by faith…
    • The truth about how to be saved is not hard to find – or difficult to understand…
    • We do not have to ‘go up to heaven’ so we can hear and understand…
      • The thought being to bring Jesus down – to prove to us He is the answer…
      • The religious leaders of Israel saw Jesus – and His miracles – and did not believe…
      • Even if we saw Jesus – we would not believe if we did not want to…
      • I heard a guy arguing the other day – ‘how do you know you will go to heaven…’
      • ‘Have you been there?’ – We do not need to go to heaven to know how to be saved…
    • Neither do we have to ‘go to hell’ so that we can see…
      • The thought being showing Jesus really did rise again from the grave…
      • When the Roman soldiers saw the Angel role the stone away…
      • They were amazed – but they did not believe – because they did not want to…
      • You can go to Israel today and look into the empty tomb…
      • But unless you want to – you still will not believe in Jesus!
      • We might think if only people could see hell – could see what waits for sinners…
      • Then they would believe – but we do not need to go to hell to believe…
    • The truth is right here in front of us – it’s not hidden – the Gospel of Jesus…

•  Salvation by faith… vs. 9-13
  • If you confess with your mouth – that Jesus is Lord…
    • And you believe in your heart – God raised Him from the dead – you will be saved!
    • With you heart you believe – making you righteous – ‘right with God’
    • With you mouth you confess – bringing salvation!
      • The simple Gospel message – there is nothing you have to do – just believe…
      • We do not have to do anything to earn it – we just receive the free gift from God…
      • Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God…”
      • It couldn’t be simpler – it could not be more obvious – just believe and confess Jesus!
      • See your need for Jesus – that you are not ‘good’ – believe what He did on the cross…
      • Then go and tell someone – tell anyone – tell everyone we believe in Jesus!
    • God did not make salvation hard – He wants everyone to be saved – II Peter 3:9
      • But at the same time – it is your choice – you heaven or hell / life or death…
      • God doesn’t make you go to heaven – He just provides the way for those who believe
    • Jew or gentile – it makes no difference – whoever calls on the Lord…
      • It does not matter who you are – what your background is – anyone can be saved!
      • You can be rich or poor / from any nation / have lots of sin or think you’re ‘good’…
      • The only way to get to heaven – believe and confess Jesus as Lord and savior!

• Beautiful are the feet… vs. 14-17
  • How can people believe in someone they have not heard about…
    • The message of salvation is simple and powerful – but people still need to hear it…
      • How can someone believe in Jesus – unless they hear about Him…
      • How can someone hear about Jesus – unless someone goes and tells them…
      • How can someone tell them – unless they are willing to step out and go…
      • Each on of the steps is (Indicative) – except ‘go’ which is (Subjunctive)
      • Meaning if there are those who are willing to go – people will believe and be saved!
      • Blessed are the feet who bring the message of salvation – quoting from Isaiah 52:7
    • A simple – and very logical – encouragement to share Jesus with others!
      • How can people believe – be saved – if we are not out there sharing the Gospel…
      • We know LOTS of people who do not believe in Jesus – what are we doing about it
      • We are called to ‘go’ – into our workplace / our families / our back yards…
      • And tell people about Jesus – give them the message of salvation…
      • It is easy to say people need Jesus – but it is not so easy to go and tell them…
  • Not everyone will believe – Isaiah 53:1…
    • The reality is not everyone who hears the Gospel – will believe…
    • As a matter of fact most likely only a small portion of those who hear will believe…
    • Matthew 7:13-14 – “For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
    • When we share the Gospel with others – they may reject us / mock us / ridicule us…
    • But consider the alternative – there is a VERY real consequence to rejecting Jesus…
    • We don’t share Jesus because out of some sense of obligation – or for some reward…
    • We share cause of the very real danger of Hell – the destination for any who reject Jesus
    • Hell is not temporary – hell is the 2^nd death – eternal separation from God – no hope…
    • Keeping people from Hell is worth a little ridicule – worth being made fun of…
    • We are talking about men’s eternal destination – people are worth fighting for!
  • Faith comes by hearing…
    • Don’t worry about what you will say – just give people God’s Word…
    • Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…”
    • That is why we take so much time – so many studies a week – to simply teach the Bible
    • Faith in Jesus – faith to believe – faith to grow – comes from hearing God’s word…

Romans 11…

Into all the earth… vs. 18-22

But Israel did hear about Jesus – the whole world heard!

God even – reaching out to Israel – tried to provoke them to jealousy…

He saved the Gentiles – those who were not even a nation – Deuteronomy 32:21

A people who were not even looking for God – Isaiah 65:1

Yet even though God continued to reach out to Israel – they remain disobedient…

Raising the question – is God through with Israel…