Romans 10-12

Romans 10

Paul expresses love for Israel

• Israel has zeal for God but not according to knowledge
• They pursued righteousness through Law rather than faith
• Christ is “the end of the law for righteousness” 

Salvation Through Faith

• Paul contrasts:
  • righteousness by Law
    • Doing commandments and living by them
  • righteousness by faith
    • Word of faith is in them
• We do not need to impossibly “ascend” as Christ already came and rose again

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” 

Salvation available to:

• Jew
• Gentile
• Same Lord of all

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 

The Need for Preaching

• Chain of logic:
  • how can people call without believing?
  • believe without hearing?
  • hear without preaching?
  • Preach without being sent? 
• Importance of sharing the gospel! 
• Quote from Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful are the feet who preach good news!”

Israel’s Unbelief

• Israel did hear the message
• Paul quotes:
  • Psalms 19
  • Deuteronomy 32
  • Isaiah 53, 65
• Gentiles responded while many Israelites remained disobedient

God says in Isaiah 65:2 “All day long I have held out my hands…” 

Romans 11

God Has Not Rejected Israel

• Paul asks “Has God rejected his people?”
  • “By no means!”
• Paul himself is an Israelite
• Example of Elijah appealing against Israel:
  • “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.”
  • God says: “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 
• Salvation by grace, not works

Isaiah 29 and Psalm 69 quoted

Olive Tree Illustration

• Israel’s stumbling opened salvation to Gentiles
• Gentiles compared to wild olive branches grafted in
  • Jewish unbelieving branches broken off
  • Gentiles however warned not to become arrogant
  • God can graft Israel back in again

Mystery of Israel’s Future

• Partial hardening has come upon Israel
  • “Until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in”
  • This isn’t all of Israel, and not necessarily forever
• Paul speaks of future mercy toward Israel
  • Isaiah 59
• God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable
  • Will not abandon Israel because of disobedience
• God can use disobedience so He may show mercy to all

Verse 26 says“And in this way all Israel will be saved”

• Some think there will be a future widespread turning to Christ from Israel
• Some think Israel includes Gentiles grafted in
• Some think Israel means the faithful remnant 
• God has not abandoned Israel and will keep His covenant 

 Doxology

• “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!” 
• God’s judgments and ways are beyond our human comprehension

“To him be glory forever. Amen.”

Romans 12

Now we shift to how we can live out our Christian life. 

Living Sacrifices

• Believers urged to present bodies as living sacrifices
  • Worship involves whole-life devotion
• Do not be conformed to the world
  • Be transformed by renewing the mind
  • Greek: μεταμορφόω (metamorphoō)

 Humility and Spiritual Gifts

• Do not think too highly of yourself
• Believers are one body in Christ
• Different gifts given by grace:
  • prophecy
  • service
  • teaching
  • exhortation
  • giving
  • leadership
  • mercy

 Marks of a True Christian

• Let love be genuine. 
• Abhor what is evil
• hold fast to what is good. 
• Love one another with brotherly affection. 
• Outdo one another in showing honor. 
• Do not be slothful in zeal, 
• be fervent in spirit
• serve the Lord
• Rejoice in hope
• be patient in tribulation
• be constant in prayer. 
• Contribute to the needs of the saints
• seek to show hospitality.

Responding to Enemies

• Bless persecutors
• Rejoice and weep with others
• Live humbly and peacefully
• Do not repay evil for evil
• Leave vengeance to God
• Overcome evil with good

Application

Salvation is available to everyone who trusts in Christ! Jew and Gentile. We also see that God remains faithful to His promises, despite disobedience. This doesn’t mean we should do whatever we want, but we can marvel in a merciful and loving God. We can then live humbly and lovingly towards others.