What makes people acceptable to God? Let’s begin with Paul’s prayer for Israel?
Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire is for Israel’s salvation. That’s my prayer to God for them. (Romans 10:1 CEB)
What was Israel’s biggest issue? Can Christians have the same problem?
I know they love God, but they don't understand 3 what makes people acceptable to him. So they refuse to trust God, and they try to be acceptable by obeying the Law. (Romans 10:2-3 CEV)
Who is the end, culmination or fulfillment of the law? What does believing mean?
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Romans 10:4 ESV)
Is there a different righteousness than that by the law?
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: The one who does these things will live by them. 6 But the righteousness that comes from faith speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, “Who will go up to heaven?” that is, to bring Christ down 7 or, “Who will go down into the abyss?” that is, to bring Christ up from the dead. (Romans 10:5-7 HCSB)
Do the heart and mouth have anything to do with righteousness that is by faith?
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; 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. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:8-10 KJV)
What is the key?
For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” (Romans 10:11 NASB)
Do Jews and Gentiles have different paths to salvation?
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.” (Romans 10:12-13 NIV)
Who brings this message?
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? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:14-15 NKJV)
Does everyone welcome the Gospel?
But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?” (Romans 10:16 NLT)
How does faith come? What message must preachers bring?
So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 WEB)
Did Israel hear or understand or look for God?
But I ask you, didn’t they hear it? Definitely! Their voice has gone out into the entire earth, and their message has gone out to the corners of the inhabited world. 19 But I ask you again, didn’t Israel understand? First, Moses says, I will make you jealous of those who aren’t a people, of a people without understanding. 20 And Isaiah even dares to say, I was found by those who didn’t look for me; I revealed myself to those who didn’t ask for me. (Romans 10:18-20 CEB)
Did God reach out to a stubborn people?
And Isaiah said about the people of Israel, “All day long the Lord has reached out to people who are stubborn and refuse to obey.” (Romans 10:21 CEV)
Israel lacked faith in God. Are we Christians sometimes just as guilty? Do we look to the 613 commandments of the law but ignore the commandments of Christ? Do we trust our ability to keep the works of the law perfectly or do we trust in Jesus? You decide!
