The Best Plan to Save Man
Romans 10:13 - 21
Intro: During this election year we have heard and will hear a lot of flowery words on how this person or that person has come up with an amazing plan to save our economy, to secure our borders, to fix our healthcare system, to reduce poverty and unemployment, to improve our education and so on. And the hot air has only just begun! Don’t get me wrong! I think there are some good ideas out there, but many of them are just a different variety or rearrangement of the same old ingredients. I won’t get all political on you this morning, but I do want to say this: Don’t look for a political savior who will waltz in and sweep this big mess away. Our country is a mess because people are a mess! And no amount of legislation is going to fix that!
-We need a real Savior! We need someone who can fix people! We need someone who can change hearts! We need someone who can give hope and encouragement that there is a better way to live and there is power to help us live that way.
-God knew all along that we didn’t have what it would take to save ourselves. Sometimes we think we’ve come a long ways, but even though technology has exploded over the past few decades, humanity is no better off than before. We need someone much greater than ourselves to fix ourselves. That’s why God had a plan from before time began to reach down into our lives and help us connect our lives with Him. And this is only possible through His Son Jesus, whom the Bible calls the Lamb of God who was slain before the foundations of the world. So that is where we plan to focus our attention this morning – on God’s plan to save this world.
I. God has a Plan to Save People (13-15)
Romans 10:13-15 13 For "Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
-Before we jump into the details of this amazing plan of God to save people, let’s talk about what that means and why people need to be saved.
[Show segment from Courageous] We are all guilty because the Just Judge will judge us based on the bad things we’ve done, not the good things. It is not a balancing act. The fact is, people need to call on the Lord to be saved from the consequences of our sin – namely, being separated from God in this life and forever after. That doesn’t have to happen! God had a plan to save people long before He created the first human! It does not surprise or shock Him that we need a Savior! He knew our frailties and weaknesses, which is why He asks us to trust Him. So let’s take a look at His plan to save people from vv13-15.
1. People need to call on the Lord
2. People need to believe the Good News
3. People need to hear the Good News
4. Someone needs to tell them the Good News
5. Someone needs to send the tellers
-Check out what’s behind the phrase “good news.” In the Greco-Roman culture it was a technical term for “news of victory.” The messenger would appear, raise his right hand in greeting and call out in a loud voice: “Rejoice…we are victorious.” By his appearance it is known already that he brings good news. His face shines, his spear is decked with laurel, his head is crowned, he swings a branch of palms, joy fills the city, the temples are garlanded, a race is held, and the messenger is honored with a wreath (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament). If a messenger of an earthly kingdom is this radiant with news of an earthly victory, how much more should we shine as bearers of the best news ever! (Adapted from Brian Bill, sermoncentral.com)
-So, God has a plan to save people. But notice that He plans to use people as His tellers or messengers to speak His eternal word. God uses people like you and me to tell others that there is hope for forgiveness. There is hope for redemption. There is hope for deliverance. There is hope for healing! There is hope for freedom! There is good news that needs to be told!
1 Corinthians 1:21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never find him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save all who believe.
II. God’s Plan is met with a Mixed Response (16-17)
Romans 10:16-17 16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, "Lord, who has believed our message?" 17 Yet faith comes from listening to this message of good news-- the Good News about Christ.
-Faith vs. Unbelief
-Acts 17:32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject."
-If a person is not quite convinced that the Good News is all that good, or they are struggling to piece it all together, that’s one thing. But if they pull away from God entirely and refuse to listen to the Good News about Jesus, then they cannot expect their faith to increase in any way. Faith comes from listening to God’s words – the Good News about Jesus!
III. Are there Short Circuits in God’s Plan? (18-19)
Romans 10:18-19 18 But what about the Jews? Have they actually heard the message? Yes, they have: "The message of God's creation has gone out to everyone, and its words to all the world." 19 But did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God had said, "I will rouse your jealousy by blessing other nations. I will make you angry by blessing the foolish Gentiles."
-What about those who haven’t heard? Is God unjust?
-What if some people don’t really understand God or their need to be saved? They might say, “It’s just too complicated! I don’t have time to mess with that! Who can really know what’s true anyway – everybody has their own ideas. We’ll just have to wait and see who is right.”
-According to the Bible, not only Jews, but everyone has heard enough about God to either move toward Him or away from Him. Romans 1:19-20 says, “For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts. 20 From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities-- his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.”
-So, what about those who have never heard or don’t understand? All I can say is that God will be totally fair and totally merciful. In His providence, I believe He somehow gives everyone ample opportunity to respond to His grace. Nobody will be able to say, “I had no idea there was a God or that He expected anything from me. Nobody told me.”
-God’s plan is as perfect as He is! It may look messy or haphazard to us sometimes, but His word will always accomplish what He sent it to do. That’s why we need to speak and share His word with those around us. That’s how faith begins – hearing God’s word.
IV. God is actively seeking willing people (20-21)
Romans 10:20-21 20 And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God: "I was found by people who were not looking for me. I showed myself to those who were not asking for me." 21 But regarding Israel, God said, "All day long I opened my arms to them, but they kept disobeying me and arguing with me."
-Are you willing? 2 areas: Are you willing to call on the Lord? He has been reaching out His arms to you all of your life! Since we have no excuse for not responding to who God is, and since we have heard and understood the fact that God loved us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to this world to die as a substitute sacrifice for us to forgive us and save us, are you willing to call on Him? There is no plan B! There is no other way to get right with God except through faith in Jesus!
-Secondly, maybe you’ve already done that. You have responded to God’s love for you and have found forgiveness in the embrace of God’s grace. Now, are you willing to let God use your life to bring others to Him? What part of the process is God calling you to? People need to call on the Lord. People need to believe so they can call. People need to hear so they can believe. People need to go to others and tell them the Good News about Jesus. People need to be sent to tell others that they can know God through faith in Jesus. They can be saved from their sins and from a Godless life that leads to death. Will you tell? Will you go? Will you help send others?
-One of the primary reasons there is a Christian Life Center is to reach people with the good news about Jesus. So we need to be involved in preparing and sending people to go and tell others the good news about Jesus so they can hear, understand, believe, and finally call on the Lord! Because, whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved! We need senders! We need goers! Often we may fit into both categories. But let me say that it is not God’s plan for you to remain aloof or disengaged in His great plan for mankind! He came to seek and save those who are lost. We aren’t being very much like Jesus if we remain disconnected from that process!
-Now let me just say that sharing your faith may look different for each of us. But we believe that as a church God has called us to build friendships with people to show them who He is in us. That is how most of our outreach events are structured. We want to create opportunities for people to see Jesus in you! And as you open yourself up to others, they will see Jesus living in you!
-Another area of evangelism that we don’t talk nearly enough about is that of missions. We currently support eight missionary families who are actively sharing the good news about Jesus in various parts of the world.
Darrell & Sandy B. - ministering to families in the Philippines
John M & Carolyn S. - winning the lost in Indonesia
Mark & Jeannine P. - meeting critical needs in Africa
Robert & Jeanel S. - equipping believers in Uganda
Tamara H. - helping the children of Romania
Jim B. - discipling believers worldwide through Global University
Jamie & Alisha D. - transforming the OSU campus through Chi Alpha
Daren & Heidi W. - reaching out in Mexico
-How will they go unless they are sent? The early church in the book of Acts began sending people out to other regions to tell people about Jesus and establish new churches. Today, at least 2 things are required to send missionaries out: 1. Prayer, and 2. Financial Support. I would encourage you to ask God what He would have you do in these areas. Begin praying for one of our missionary families each week. Ask God what He would have you give so their expenses will be covered and they will have resources to spread the good news about Jesus.
-Are you willing to invest yourself in something that lasts forever? All of the possessions and houses and land that you accumulate on this earth is going to burn one day. You can’t take it with you. Somebody else gets it for awhile after you’re gone, then they too have to give it up! Being part of God’s plan is something that will last forever and ever!
-What does the Lord expect from us? Call on the Lord. Do all you can to help others call on the Lord. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!
