The Call To Faith     December. 11, 2005     Romans 9:1-4, 8-18 b, 21
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Introduction

I love to hear an individual’s testimony about his call to faith in Christ.  Our text contains one of the clearest calls to faith.  Everyone in Sunday School needs to be exposed to this clear call.  Is everyone in your class a Christian?  Please do your best to make sure everyone understands this Call To Faith, and understands how to make a commitment to Christ.  Did you remember the conservative resurgence in our convention requested these evangelistic lessons every quarter?  I am thankful for them.

1.    The . . Concern of The Call To Faith.        10:1-4

    A.    The Call To Faith A . . Personal Concern.  10:1-2

    1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God concerning them is for their salvation!  2 I can testify about them that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

    B.    The Call To Faith A . . Pondering Concern.  10:3-4

        1.    Pondering Their . . Righteousness.  10:3 a

            Because they disregarded the righteousness from God and attempted to establish their own
            righteousness, . . . "

        2.    Pondering Their . . Relinquishments.  10:3 b -4
            ". . . they have not submitted to God's righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for
            righteousness to everyone who believes.

        Paul certainly expressed his deep personal concern for his kinsman.  Every Christian needs this kind of concern. As Paul thought about his countrymen he pondered their self-righteousness and how that caused them to relinquish the righteousness provided by the Lord.  They relinquished God’s righteousness because they did not submit to Him, nor believe the message of Christ.

2.    The . . Conditions of The Call To Faith.  10:8-10

    A.    The . . Nearness of the Conditions.  10:8

            8 On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.

            This is the message of faith that we proclaim:

    B.    The . . Necessity of the Conditions.  10:9-10

        1.    The . . Cautious Necessity In the Conditions.  v 9 a
                9 if you confess”

        2.     The . . Confessional Necessity In the Conditions.  v 9 b
                 " confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord,"

        3.    The . . Commitment Necessity In the Conditions.  v 9 c
                ". . . believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

        4.    The . . Converting Necessity In the Conditions.  v 10
                10 With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses,
                resulting in salvation.

            As we further evaluate, it will be good to note several conditions in the Call To Faith.  One condition focuses on the nearness of the call as the scripture says the message of faith rests in their mouth. This is possible because they had memorized so many scriptures. What a shame that a person quotes scripture but does not understand them.  The important word, “if” demonstrates a necessary condition of caution.  Knowledge does not grant faith, but confession attached to a personal commitment is necessary.  These acts result in conversion.  Many times I have done immediate follow up after a person expressed faith in Christ.  I asked, did you confess, did you believe? Then I would ask, what does this verse say happened to you?  Of course the answer is “they received salvation.”

3.    The . . Certainties of The Call To Faith.  9:11-10

    A.    Certainty One: People will Share the Call.  10:11-13

11 Now the Scripture says, No one who believes on Him will be put to shame, 12 for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Israel's

    B.    Certainty Two: Preachers Must . . Sound the Call.  10:11-14

        11 Now the Scripture says, No one who believes on Him will be put to shame,  12 for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Israel's  14 But how can they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher?

C.    Certainty Three: Preachers Must . . Spread the Call.  10:15

        15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How welcome are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things!

        These verses present at least three certainties.  One: People who truly convert to Christ will share their faith.  Will you pass that test?  Too many who claim to know Christ rarely share their faith.  Many ask what will happen to a person who never hears of Christ?  C. H. Spurgeon said “the question should not be: “what about the man who never heard, but how can we hear and not tell.”  Two: Preachers must sound the Call To Faith; and Three: Preachers must spread the Call To Faith.  Have you ever heard these verses called the Indian verses because of the word “how” being used five times?

4.    The . . Communication of The Call To Faith.  10:16-21

    A.    The . . Prophetic Communication.  10:16-18

16 But all did not obey the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message?  17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.  18 But I ask, "Did  they not hear?" Yes, they did: Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the inhabited world.

    B.    The . . Providential Communication.  10:19-20
            19 But I ask, "Did Israel not understand?" First, Moses said: I will make you jealous of those
            who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that lacks understanding.  20 And Isaiah says boldly: I was found by those who were not looking for Me; I revealed Myself to those who were not asking for Me.

    C.    The . . Persistent Communication.  10:19-20

        21 But to Israel he says: All day long I have spread out My hands to a disobedient and defiant people.

        Of course this call has been, and must be communicated.  There has been a prophetic communication as voices of the Old Testament Prophets went out to the ends of the inhabited world.  The providential hand of God watched over this communication, and assured the persistence of His call. We share a special joy because we personally received The Call To Faith.  Amen?  Amen!