ROMANS 23


     We will begin this lesson in Romans 10:1 " Brethren, my heart's
desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved."

     We have been saying over and over in these lessons how important
it was to Paul that the Jewish people would accept Jesus as their
Saviour. God actually called Paul to the Gentiles, but he could not
help but desire his own people to come to Jesus Christ. We see that
the Lord Jesus desired them to be saved as well as Paul, but they
would not. We see in Luke 13:34 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest
the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often
would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen [doth gather]
her brood under [her] wings, and ye would not!"

     Romans 10:2 "For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God,
but not according to knowledge."

     It is so strange to me that the people who were supposed to know
the Word of God the best did not truly understand what that Word was
saying, and they rejected their promised Messiah. The Scripture above,
says that it was for lack of knowledge. Perhaps, it was for lack of
understanding what they were reading. Hosea 4:6  "My people are
destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge,
I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing
thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy
children."  Even we Christians are warned of the dangers of lack of
knowledge.

     Romans 10:3 "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and
going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted
themselves unto the righteousness of God."

     We see from the following Scriptures, the self righteousness of
the scribes and Pharisees and how it displeased God. Luke 18:9 "And he
spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they
were righteous, and despised others:" Luke 18:10 "Two men went up into
the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican."
Luke 18:11 "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I
thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust,
adulterers, or even as this publican." Luke 18:12 "I fast twice in the
week, I give tithes of all that I possess."  Luke 18:13 "And the
publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes
unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me
a sinner." Luke 18:14 "I tell you, this man went down to his house
justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself
shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."  God
loves the humble in heart who are looking to Jesus Christ for their
righteousness.

     Romans 10:4 "For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness
to every one that believeth."

     Jeremiah 23:6 "In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall
dwell safely: and this [is] his name whereby he shall be called, THE
LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."  This is possibly one of the most beautiful
names of Jesus Christ in all the Bible, and in the name we see what
the Lord has truly done for us. We take on His righteousness, because
our righteousness is but filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6 "But we are all as
an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags;
and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have
taken us away."  We really must depend on the righteousness of Christ
to save us. We put it on when we are washed in the blood of the Lamb
[Jesus Christ].

     Romans 10:5 "For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of
the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them."

     Leviticus 18:5 "Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my
judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I [am] the LORD."
There were literally hundreds of the Levitical laws that had to be
kept to be righteous in the law. There was absolutely no way that a
person could even keep up with them,  much less keep them. Jesus came
and fulfilled them for us that we might live by the grace of God.

     Romans 10:6 "But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on
this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that
is, to bring Christ down [from above]:)" Romans 10:7 "Or, Who shall
descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the
dead.)"

     Deuteronomy 30:11  "For this commandment which I command thee
this day, it [is] not hidden from thee, neither [is] it far off."
Deuteronomy 30:12 "It [is] not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who
shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear
it, and do it?" Deuteronomy 30:13 "Neither [is] it beyond the sea,
that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring
it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?" Deuteronomy 30:14 "But
the word [is] very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart,
that thou mayest do it."  We really had very little to do with the
great gift God gave us of His only Son to give His body on the cross
that we might live. God loved us while we were yet in sin. The gift of
righteousness He provided for us is free, all we have to do is believe
and receive it.

     Romans 10:8 "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, [even] in
thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we
preach;"

     Matthew 10:32 "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men,
him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." Matthew
10:33 "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny
before my Father which is in heaven."  We can clearly see the
importance of the things we say from all of this. Faith, we know is
believing in things we cannot see. If you can see something, it takes
no faith to believe. Jesus Himself said, blessed are those who have
not seen and yet believed. John 20:29 "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas,
because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that
have not seen, and [yet] have believed."

     Romans 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord
Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from
the dead, thou shalt be saved."

     This leaves absolutely no doubt at all what we must do to be
saved. We also read that our father Abraham believed and it was
counted unto him for righteousness. Genesis 15:6 "And he believed in
the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness."

     Romans 10:10 "For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

     Verse 9 and 10 above are used in my messages very often, because
it leaves no doubt at all what you and I must do to be saved. Really
the first baptism takes place in your heart. When you repent of your
sins, Jesus washes your heart with His blood and you receive a brand
new heart with the laws of God written on the fleshly parts of your
heart. It is like a heart transplant. Jesus has given you a brand new
heart, washed in the blood of the Lamb.

     Romans 10:11 "For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him
shall not be ashamed."

     I Peter 2:6 "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture,
Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he
that believeth on him shall not be confounded." If you have really
made Jesus the Lord of your life, you want to tell everybody you see.
Christians are the bride of Christ. Have you ever seen a new bride
that can keep quiet about her groom?

     Romans 10:12 "For there is no difference between the Jew and the
Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon
him."

     Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in
Christ Jesus."  We see from this that the only thing that can keep us
from receiving Christ is ourself. If we refuse to receive Him, in our
life, He will not force Himself on us. If we truly want to receive Him
He will not deny us. Revelation 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride
say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is
athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life
freely."

     Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved."

     Acts 2:21 "And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call
on the name of the Lord shall be saved."  We see from these 2
Scriptures that God answers when we call on Him. His greatest desire
is that all will come to Him.

     Romans 10:14 "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?"

     Now, we see the reason God chose preachers to work here on the
earth.  I Corinthians 1:21 "For after that in the wisdom of God the
world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of
preaching to save them that believe."  We, also, see by the foolish
things of this world God confounded the wise. I Corinthians 1:27 "But
God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise;
and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the
things which are mighty;"

     Romans 10:15 "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!"

     Isaiah 52:7  "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of
him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth
good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion,
Thy God reigneth!"  We see, here, almost the exact Scripture. The God
of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New Testament.
Matthew 28:19  "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"
Matthew 28:20 "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of
the world.  Amen."

     Romans 10:16 "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias
saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?"

     Hebrews 4:2 "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto
them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with
faith in them that heard [it]." As we have said in so many of these
lessons, it is not profitable to just hear the Truth, we must accept
it and live by it, also.

     Romans 10:17 "So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God."

     Luke 11:28 "But he said, Yea rather, blessed [are] they that hear
the word of God, and keep it."  It is the Word of God that is
powerful, that convicts us of our sin and sets us on the road to
salvation. Look at the next Scripture and see just how powerful this
Word is. Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful,
and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

     Romans 10:18 "But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their
sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the
world."

     Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached
in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the
end come." With the advantage of television and satellite dishes, we
have seen this Scripture above fulfilled. Man is without excuse before
God; we have been forewarned.

     Romans 10:19 "But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith,
I will provoke you to jealousy by [them that are] no people, [and] by
a foolish nation I will anger you."  Romans 10:20 "But Esaias is very
bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made
manifest unto them that asked not after me." Romans 10:21 "But to
Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a
disobedient and gainsaying people."

     We will see that the Gentiles were not God's first choice to
bring the salvation message to, but when the Jewish people rejected
Jesus, then salvation was offered to the Gentile. Jeremiah 35:15 "I
have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early
and sending [them], saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way,
and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and
ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your
fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me."
God gave them literally thousands of years to repent and follow Him
and they did not.

                                 Notes




























                             Questions 23

1.  In verse 1 Paul's desire for Israel was what?
2.  In Luke ch.13 v.34, who did Jesus say killed the prophets?
3.  Paul said the Jews had a zeal for God, but not to what?
4.  In Hosea ch.4 v.6, the people were destroyed for what?
5.  What was wrong with the righteousness of these Jews?
6.  In Luke the 18th chapter, which of the two men who went to the
    temple pleased God?
7.  Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to whom?
8.  In Jeremiah ch.23 v.6, what name is the Lord to be called?
9.  Where do we find the Scripture that says our righteousness is
    filthy rags?
10. How do the Christians fulfill the law?
11. Explain what is intended in Romans ch10 v.6.
12. How close is salvation to us, that we read about in Deuteronomy
    ch.30 v.14?
13. What did Paul say he preached in verse 8?
14. Who will Jesus confess before the Father?
15. In John ch.20 v.29, who are the blessed?
16. Quote Romans ch.10 v.9.
17. What was counted unto Abraham as righteousness?
18. With the _____ man believeth unto righteousness.
19. What happens to your heart when you repent of your sins?
20. Have you ever seen a bride who can keep quiet about her groom?
21. Is there a difference between the Jew and Greek?
22. What is the only thing that can keep us from receiving Christ?
23. Where do we find the Scripture that says, whosoever will can come
    to Christ?
24. What is the greatest desire of Jesus toward us?
25. Romans ch.10 v.4 says, how shall they hear without whom?
26. It pleased God by the foolishness of _________ to save them who
    believe.
27. How shall they preach except they be ____?
28. What part of the body is mentioned as being beautiful of those who
    preach the gospel?
29. Matthew ch.28 v.9 explains to baptize in whose name?
30. It is not profitable to just hear the gospel, we must do what?
31. How does faith come?
32. Luke ch.11 v.28 says who are blessed?
33. What Scripture tells of the power of the Word?
34. When shall the end come?
35. When the Jewish people rejected Jesus, who was the salvation
    message brought to?

                                 Notes