That The World May Hear Series

ROMANS 10: 13-17

THAT THE WORLD MAY HEAR

[Romans 1:16-17]

The preceding verses have been disproving that salvation is only for the Jews, or the chosen people. [The Scriptures have powerfully argued that eternal salvation is by faith in Christ and not by good works, heritage, or law keeping.] We have learned that God’s way of salvation is open to all. But in order for any one to be saved they must call on the name of the Lord Jesus. Verse 13 says, "whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved."

In fact it is the desire of God that all men everywhere call on Him and must call upon Him if they are to be saved. If the way of salvation is open and intended for all, then we not only have the justification but the obligation (Rom. 1:14) to preach the gospel everywhere to any and every one.

The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one who believes. God desires that every person have an opportunity to respond to the gospel and call upon Him (CIT). Since Jesus Christ is Lord of all, the Gospel should be proclaimed to all. Once that understanding of the desire of God’s heart has been acknowledged, it will probe deep into listening hearts with the question; "Are you willing under God to do your part ‘that the world may hear’ the Gospel?"

So men everywhere are urged to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus and be saved. If men though must call on Jesus to be saved, how is it going to occur? Hence arise the necessity to proclaim worldwide the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Faith in Jesus depends on a knowledge of Jesus. People must hear the gospel before they can respond to it. For it is the Word that creates faith in the heart of the hearer.

I. The Progression of the Gospel Witness, 14-15a.

II. The Proclamation of the Gospel Witness, 15.

III. The Proposition of the Gospel Witness Unheeded, 16.

IV. The Productivity of the Word, 17.

I. THE PROGRESSION OF THE GOSPEL WITNESS, 14-15a.

We just finish studying verse 13 which says, "whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved." But have all had a good opportunity to call on the name of the Lord? In order to demonstrate the indispensable necessity of sharing the gospel or evangelizing verses 14 & 15 ask four questions. Verse 14 emphasis man’s responsibility in salvation’s opportunity. "Therefore how could they call upon One in whom they have not believed? And how could they believe in whom they have not heard? And how could they hear without one preaching?"

Paul understood that what God had said through the ancient prophets was that all men should call on Him for their salvation. Thus having stated why all men can be saved he now argues for how men can be saved. Paul moves from theological support to practical application.

At the very outset of the Christian Mission Jesus charged His followers, His Church, those who would receive the power of the Holy Spirit, to be His "witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." By being witnesses the church gives men, women, boys and girls everywhere the opportunity to call out to Jesus for salvation.

"Estamos bien en el refugio, los 33. " ("We are well IN THE SHELTER, the 33.") That seven-word message set off a wave of euphoria in Chile and around the world. It had been written in red letters on a scrap of paper and taped to a drill bit that penetrated an area of a gold and copper mine just north of Copiapó in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile-written by the 33 miners who had been trapped 2,300 feet underground 17 days earlier.

The Copiapó mining accident, as the world came to call it, became the most watched rescue mission in world history. There was every reason to believe that the miners had not survived the initial cave-in and, if they had survived, they would likely starve to death before they could be reached. Rescuers on the surface had no idea where they were in the labyrinth of tunnels, ramps, and rooms that spread out underground like arteries, veins, and capillaries.

But "the 33" survived the blast and took refuge in an area three miles from the entrance to the mine. Then 17 days later, when a 6 ½ inch exploratory drill bit punched through the roof into their pitch-black sanctuary, they let the world know: "Estamos bien"-"We are well."

As soon as rescuers discovered the miners were alive, a collaborative effort began to devise a way to get them out. The rescuers included three international drilling rig teams, every ministry of the Chilean government, engineers and technicians from NASA, and more than a dozen multinational corporations. On October 13, 2010, fifty-two days after the miners were discovered-69 days since the cave-in-all 33 were brought to the surface alive.