The Responsibilities Of Man Series

The Responsibilities of Man

Receive Jesus Christ by Faith (Romans 10:1-13)

Proclaim Jesus Christ to All (Romans 10:14-21)

Even To those who do not seek (Romans 10:19-20)

Even To those who disobey (Romans 10:21)

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Intro

Good morning. We are still continuing our Series through Romans called Summer in Rome for several more weeks.

Last week, we saw as we studied Romans 9, that God is completely sovereign, in control of all things and able to keep His word and His promises perfectly.

We also saw that He is completely sovereign in regards to the salvation of men and we discussed the doctrine of election and saw how God is motivated by His mercy and compassion toward the salvation of men that He has elected before the foundation of the world for salvation.

We also began discussing that while salvation is completely a sovereign act of God through election, it is also ordained by God to be given to men as they believe and receive Jesus Christ.

While that seems difficult to wrap our minds around completely it is true, and nowhere are the responsibilities of Man more clearly spelled out than in this chapter we are going to look at today, Romans 10, so you can begin turning there.

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If you really think about it, it is amazing that what many men believe to be two strongly opposing doctrines, God’s Sovereignty and Man’s responsibility to make choices and act, are found right here standing side by side in Scripture, without much difficulty in Paul’s mind.

When Charles Spurgeon, that great preacher from the 1800’s, was asked if he could reconcile the truths of divine sovereignty and human responsibility, he said, “I never try to reconcile friends.”

And I think that is where our problem lies. Some people are busy making enemies out of what are friends in Scripture.

God’s Sovereignty and Man’s responsibilities are not diametrically opposed to one another. They are friends and can coexist within Scripture and within our lives as we trust and follow the Lord.

So, as we spoke mainly about the Sovereignty of God last week, we are going to be talking this week about the responsibilities of Man as outlined in Romans chapter 10.

Romans 10

10 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

5 Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That 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 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. 18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:

“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.”

19 Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,

“I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;