Sermon Audio & Review
Romans 9:30-10:4
Pastor Tim Potter
- Category: Not Ashamed (Romans)
- March 4, 2018
Have You Built on or Stumbled over Christ?
In Romans 9, Paul explained how God sovereignly saves. In chapter 10, he discusses how people respond. God saves faithfully, mercifully, and particularly. The righteousness of Christ has changed you and me! This settles our heart when distressed over those yet to be saved.
Paul signals another transition of thought by using a question in Romans 9:30.
Religious people don't often reject a knowledge of Christ. They may know about Christ, but they reject a relationship with Him by faith. Righteousness by faith is easier for those without a religious background to understand than those who have been taught to pursue salvation by good works.
Relying on religious works shackles people and convinces them they are safe in following rules. God didn't want to make it that hard! Romans 9:31 makes it clear that we cannot achieve perfection. Verse 33 describes the disappointment of living by religious rule.
People fall into one of two categories: either trying to reach Heaven through a standard of conduct or turning from their efforts to Christ's righteousness in order to be made perfect. The point of "stumbling" over Christ is to stop and consider Him. He will change a person if they desire.
Romans 10:2 parallels Paul's testimony in Philippians 3:4-9. He was a person who pursued righteousness by good works until Jesus changed him.
The word "end" in Romans 10:4 does not fully mean that Christ is the goal or purpose of Moses' Law. It's more simple than that. As one author described, If Israel are runners and the Law is the race, Christ is the finish line. The point of the Law is to persuade people that we are imperfect and need perfection from another source.
Application Points
- Although difficult, it's never too late for a religious person to be saved. Believers, keep praying!
- When sharing the Gospel with our religious friends, we must be careful not to spend too much energy decrying religious works. Ambassadors are not debaters. Focus instead on who Jesus is, how He changed you, and how He can change your friend!
- Religious person, you have a choice to make. You can never achieve perfect righteousness on your own. Will you turn to Christ to supply you with righteousness by faith?
A Hymn to Encourage: "To the Praise of His Glorious Grace"
What astonishing mercy and power:
In accord with his pleasure and will
He created each planet, each flower,
Every galaxy, microbe, and hill.
He suspended the planet in space
To the praise of his glorious grace.
To the praise of his glorious grace.
To the praise of his glorious grace.
With despicable self-love and rage,
We rebelled and fell under the curse.
Yet God did not rip out the page
And destroy all who love the perverse.
No, he chose us to make a new race,
To the praise of his glorious grace.
To the praise of his glorious grace.
To the praise of his glorious grace.
Providentially ruling all things
To conform to the end he designed,
He mysteriously governs, and brings
His eternal wise plans into time.
He works out every step, every trace,
To the praise of his glorious grace.
To the praise of his glorious grace.
To the praise of his glorious grace.
Long before the creation began,
He foreknew those he’d ransom in Christ;
Long before time’s cold hour-glass ran,
He ordained the supreme sacrifice.
In the cross he removed our disgrace,
To the praise of his glorious grace.
To the praise of his glorious grace.
To the praise of his glorious grace.
We were blessed in the heavenly realms
Long before being included in Christ.
Since we heard the good news, overwhelmed,
We reach forward to seize Paradise.
We shall see him ourselves, face to face,
To the praise of his glorious grace.
To the praise of his glorious grace.
To the praise of his glorious grace.
