What We Have Here Is A Failure To Communicate
Text Romans 10:1-10
I love that old movie, Cool Hand Luke, staring Paul Newman. He was a man with problems—one of which landed him in a southern prison. He kept breaking out of the prison—and he kept getting caught and being brought back.
Now, the warden of this prison was a real mean man; and when they brought “Luke” back each time, the warden (Strother Martin) would explain why trying to break out was a really bad, bad thing to do.
After the warden expressed his displeasure with Luke, he would end each of these lectures with the following comment:
Oh—and “Luke” would be all beaten up and sweaty by this time-lying in the dirt at the warden’s feet, huffing and puffing; but with that “Luke-smile” on his face—anyway; he’d end the lecture telling Luke-in a very Southern drawl
“What we have here—is a failure to communicate!”
That became a “catch phrase” at the time. And you can almost feel sorry for the warden, because Luke really was a trial! “What we have here, is a failure to communicate!
The failure to communicate is still a problem. You would think if there were ever a place where you could communicate, it would be in a court of law. You would think that because, in a court of law, everything is defined. It has been defined for centuries—all the way back to the Roman Empire and Roman law—up thorough English law—then on to American law, which is based on precedent.
If a judge doesn’t know how to rule on a case, he refers back to past rulings on similar incidents. We should be able to communicate when all the terms are defined. But, you know, that is not always the case. Let me tell you about the case of a woman who came to court and told the judge she wanted a divorce.
The judge asked: “Do you have any grounds for divorce?”
The woman replied, “Grounds? We just have 2 acres.”
The judge says, “Lady, that’s not what I’m talking about. What I mean is, do you have a grudge?”
The woman thinks for a minute
and then replies, “Garage? No, we park our car in front of the house.”
By now, the judge is getting a
little frustrated! He sort
of snaps at her, “Ma’m, does your husband beat you up?”
She replies, “No. I wake up way before he does ever morning.”
The Judge practically
yells at her, “Lady, why do you want a divorce?”
The woman looks at the
Judge and replies, “Judge, me and my husband just don’t seem to be able to communicate!”
Now, for several years, the apostle Paul has had a failure to communicate with his brethren of the Nation of Israel. He’d tried to convince them to quit trying to earn their own righteousness—it just wasn’t possible.
But Israel rejected God’s righteousness as revealed in the Scriptures and in the Son of God, the Messiah.
Paul’s heart is in the right place. The desire of his heart and his prayers offered in Israel’s behalf dwell on her salvation.
Romans 10:1
---1---Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.”
The Israelites kept saying—and Paul kept telling them. So, what they had, was a failure to communicate. The things they kept saying were based on their understanding—not fact—of what the Law of Moses said.
Paul could take the high ground because he spoke by the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Everything Paul said was correct—regardless of how the Nation of Israel wanted to receive it.
The inability of Paul and Israel to communicate was not the fault of Paul—it was the fault of Israel. Paul continued to try to communicate in Romans, chapter 10.
Romans 10:2-4
---2---For I bear witness that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.
---3---For not knowing about God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
---4---For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Paul knew of the great zeal Israel had for God; but, Israel was misinformed. And zeal, without the proper knowledge of the Will of God for our lives, can be disastrous. Israel’s misdirected zeal led them to persecute Paul and other Christians. Paul wrote to the church in Philippi to Beware!
Philippians 3:1-3
---1---Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.
---2---Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision,
---3---For we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.
Why was Israel’s zeal for God so misinformed?
· God had communicated His will to them through the Law. They had first-hand experience with God and His righteousness.
· They had witnessed the righteousness of God in the person of Jesus Christ.
· The apostle Paul had made every effort to communicate God’s message to the Nation of Israel. He told them the Law was a blessing from God—“…they were entrusted with the oracles of God…(Romans 3)”.
· The Law was given by God as a revelation of His righteousness and as His standard of righteousness. By means of His Law, all men are shown to be sinners (Romans 3:19-20).
· The Law bears witness to the righteousness of God in the person of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21).
· The Law was given to define sin so that man might recognize it as such (Romans 7:7).
According to Paul, the Law is “spiritual” (Romans 7:14); the Law is “Holy, righteous and good.” (Romans 7:12). He says our failure to live up to the standards of the Law demonstrates the weakness of our own flesh and the evil of sin (Romans 7:17-22).
Paul tells us the Law’s requirements are met by those who walk in the Spirit (Romans 8:4). Those who love one another fulfill the Law (Romans 13-8-10).
Our Lord, Himself, stated that He did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17).
The righteousness, the Law demands——
Jesus offers to sinful man.
Jesus produces His righteousness in those who believe and obey Him.
With all of this information, why is there a problem with communication? Paul provides the explanation—Israel’s problem was self-righteousness. Israel wanted to establish her own righteousness—their self-righteousness had blinded them to the righteousness of God!
Israel refused the free gift of Grace that came from God through the One, Jesus Christ. She wanted to save herself with works, and thus establish her own righteousness. Israel had a zeal for God, not according to knowledge—and the reason is, she chose not to communicate with God.
What About Our World Today?
Do we have people making the same mistake today that Israel made in Paul’s day? Anyone who rejects Christ and His gospel, and still plans to be saved, must be thinking he can achieve it on his own. That decision would make the person self-righteous.
If a person can be saved by his good works and living an ethical life, then God wouldn’t have needed to send us a Savior. Yes…we need Jesus, the Savior.
Today, this person could be a member of our own family, or a friend, or a neighbor living down the street. He lives a socially acceptable life, treats his wife and children good, obeys the laws of the land, gives money to charities, and volunteers his time to community projects. Being “good” is commendable—but being “good” does not make a person righteous. We can never be made righteous enough on our own!
Today, we have people who have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. Being religious doesn’t necessarily make us righteous. Jesus confronted the Pharisees in Matthew 15:6-9, and told them this—
---6---“And thus you invalidated the Word of God for the sake of your tradition.
---7---You hypocrites! Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you saying,
---8---This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me.
---9---But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.”
They were teaching the keeping of the Law for salvation. Even today, a few still try to do that; but, we could be guilty of the same principle if we create our own laws and traditions.
Paul writes to Timothy in 2nd Timothy 4:2-4—
---2---“…preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
---3---For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires;
---4---And will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.”
Paul writes to Titus in Titus 2:1—
---1---“…but as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine…”
Well, the question for us is, Can we appear to be religious and not be righteous? I believe we can.
Can we have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge? I believe we can.
Another thought might be, Can we have knowledge and have no zeal? We could fall into that trap too, couldn’t we?
Do we have a problem communicating with God?
Romans 10:5-8.
Paul now turns to a contrast—
Works righteousness vs. Faith righteousness.
Paul writes in Romans 10:5-8—
---5---For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness, which is based on Law shall live by that righteousness,
---6---But the righteousness based on Faith speaks thus, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down),
---7---Or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
---8---But what does it say? The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart, “That is, the Word of Faith which we are preaching….”
This section of scripture has made great scholars scratch their heads concerning the exact meaning. To understand it, we should realize that Paul goes back to the OT scripture to make his point, for those living under the New Covenant.
First, look at God’s relationship with Israel generations before. The problem was this: How could a Holy God dwell among sinful and rebellious people—His people, the Children of Israel.
In Exodus 33:3, God said (concerning the Nation of Israel)—
---3---“…if He would go up with them, He would destroy them on the way…”
God made several provisions for His people so as to dwell in their midst—in a way that would not result in their deaths due to His holiness and their sin.
First, God provided a Law that His people were to follow so as to know His righteousness and not offend it. He provided the people with a sacrificial system for their sins. He did not forgive their sins, because the blood of animals could not do that; but, He chose to forget their sins for one year.
God provided the tabernacle as a provision whereby a Holy God could dwell in their midst. They could approach—but not too close… They were to keep this Law, but it was never going to atone for sin, and it was never going to make them righteous.
The Law was designed to bring them to righteousness found in Christ Jesus. If it could have produced righteousness, there would never have been a need for Jesus to come to earth and die on the cross.
In verses 5 through 8, Paul is drawing a parallel to what Moses said in Deuteronomy, chapter 30. This is a reference to the words that were found there to prove his point—and not necessarily to the context of the situation that existed at that time.
When we read what Moses said in Deuteronomy 30:11-14 and what Paul wrote in Romans 10:6-8, I believe we can understand the meaning.
Deuteronomy 30:11
---1---“…for this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach.”
Now, notice that in Romans 10:6, Paul is still writing; but, notice who speaks…
---6---“…but the righteousness based on faith speaks thus, ‘Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is to bring Christ down)…”
Then, in Deuteronomy 30:12-13, Moses says—
---12---“It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’
---13---‘Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’.”
Romans 10:7
---7---“…or who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is bring Christ up from the dead.)”
Deuteronomy 30:14
---14---“But the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.”
Now Paul writes in Romans 10:8—
---8---“But what does it say? ‘The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart—that is, the Word of Faith which we are preaching…”
I believe Moses is telling Israel, or warning them, not to concentrate on that which is unknown, unrevealed, and speculative. Rather, they are to focus on that which has been clearly communicated through the law. They don’t have to strive to obtain—God has provided it—so they just need to receive and believe it.
In Romans, chapter 10, Paul says the righteousness based on faith speaks—you don’t have to do anything to obtain it. It is near you—in your mouth and in your heart. “It is the Word of Faith that we are preaching…” God provides this for us—for you and for me!
This all leads to a big point Paul is making in Romans 10:9-10—
---9---“…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved;
---10---For with the heart, man believes; resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
When we were talking about the Judge and the woman earlier, they were failing to communicate. The Judge would ask her a question; however, she would respond as if asked a different question altogether! The woman was not hearing or deciphering the actual question the Judge was asking—therefore, her answer was wrong!
You see, they were not saying the same thing!
In Romans 10:9-10, we were introduced to a Greek word that means “to say the same thing”—it’s the Greek word “homologeo”— homo = same; legeo = say). This is the word that is translated “confession”; and Paul tells us that confession is part of what we are to do to be saved. “Confession means “to say the same thing”.
What did Paul want the Jews to say, or to confess? He wanted them to confess that Jesus Christ was (and is) Lord and is the true Son of God!
Have you ever heard that old saying, “Confession is good for the soul.”. I believe that is true. Do you remember in Matthew 16, when Jesus asked the apostles, “Who do they say I am?” Peter replied that, “…some say Elijah, or John the Baptist, or another of the prophets…”. Jesus looked at Peter and asked, “Who do you say that I am?” To which, Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God…”
Do you remember in John, chapter 11, when Lazarus died? Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Martha replied, “Yes, Lord; I believe you are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”
I believe, based on Romans, chapter 10, that God wants us to say the same thing—based on what we believe in our hearts. We confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, raised from the dead, and that He is the true Son of God, Himself.
The apostle Paul wrote to the young evangelist, Timothy, in 1st Timothy 6:11-12—
---11---“But flee from these things, you man of God; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
---12---Fight the good fight of Faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good “Confession” in the presence of many witnesses.”
Why Does God Want This Confession?
I’ve thought about this all week, and I’ve come to the conclusion that if I were God, I would want me to speak with my mouth what is in my heart, and I believe that you would too. We should all say the same thing.
If we do that, then God understand who we are and all those around us understand who we are. We should all confess with our mouths before witnesses that we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God!
Think of it this way…a man stands in front of witness at his wedding. The preacher says, “Do you take this woman to be your wife, to love till death do you part?” The man replied, “I do.”
Then the preacher says to the bride-to-be, “And do you take this man to be your husband, to love and honor, till death do you part?” And the bride just stands there and refuses to give her pledge. What would any of us think? Do you want to be married to her?
So, you see, we need to confess and say the same thing.
Some people think after we follow what we’re told in Romans 10, and confess Jesus as the Son of God, we can forget all about what He told us to do in Romans 6. In Romans 6, we were told to be buried with Christ in baptism and to rise up and walk in newness of life.
I don’t know why he would have written chapter 6 of Romans to tell us to just forget about that part of it by the time he finished Romans, chapter 10! I believe Paul intended for all of the book of Romans to go together in obedience to the Gospel.
Confess and be baptized!
If we do this, we don’t have a failure to communicate with God!
Invitation.
Do we have a failure to communicate with God this morning?
You can solve that!
