The Need for the Gospel - Lessons from Romans 10:1-13

THE NEED FOR THE GOSPEL - LESSONS FROM ROMANS 10:1-13

By Ezekiel Kimosop

Do you sense the need for a faster approach to the taking of the gospel to the lost among the people of this world? This article examines this need and urgency in the context of the message of Romans 10:1-13. We begin with the study of text and conclude with the evaluation of its message.

TEXT

10 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” 6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 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 preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

BACKGROUND ANALYSIS

This passage is part of Paul's long argument that started in Romans 9 and terminates in Romans 11. Paul made a spirited argument to the Church of Rome, a Christian community that consisted of Jewish and Gentile people.

Paul speaks to both communities but more so his native Jewish people who had rejected the gospel. In Romans 3:23 Paul declares that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory and hence the need for a savior. Later in Romans 5:8, Paul recognizes the divine solution to human sin which God graciously offered to us in Christ. He says "... God commended His love towards in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." In Romans 6:23, Paul speaks about God's justice for sin and its solution in Christ. He says "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus."

Christ's atonement completely frees the believing sinner from God's condemnation in Adam and ushers in a new life of obedience in Christ (Romans 8:1-2; cf. 2 Corinthians 5:17). The believer is granted sonship and adoption into God's household and is entitled to God's heritage in Christ (Romans 8:12-17). Paul states that our Christian suffering in this world is temporal as compared to the glorious hope that awaits us in Christ when He is revealed (cf. Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 1:6-12). Meanwhile God is preserving His saints and building them in Christ through sanctification in order to conform them to the image of His Son (Romans 8:18-30)

In conclusion, we can observe that Paul took time to describe not only the depravity of sin but the power of the cross in bringing victory over it and the newfound life of victory, hope and joy in Christ Jesus.

ISRAEL'S NEED FOR A SAVIOR

Having laid the foundation for his argument, Paul then turns to his Jewish community in Romans 9. In this long thesis, Paul laments over Israel's rejection of Christ. His pain is revealed in Romans 9:1-5. The Israelites had done the unthinkable; they rejected God's grace in Christ even though they were enlightened through God's election of them as a special people (Romans 9:6-13). 

God was patient with Israel despite their rebellion. He provided Jesus as Israel's seed through whom their redemption would come. Unfortunately, the Jews still rejected Him. Meanwhile, God reached out to the Gentiles and brought them into His fold even as He longed for Israel's return to Him (Romans 9:22-33; cf. Ephesians 2:11-18). 

BACK TO THE PASSAGE OF CONTEXT

This brings us to our passage of context of Romans 10:1-13 where Paul argues about Israel's need for the gospel. This rallying call is definitely not restricted to Jews alone. It is a Macedonian, so to speak, that underscores the yearning for a savior among the global Gentile communities that have not been reached with the gospel. It should therefore inspire our evangelical effort in taking the gospel to the dying world within our reach.

The Jews were lost in their self-righteousness in the law which was not effective in justifying them before God. Hebrews 10:1 says “For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. The law of Moses was merely a shadow of things to come when Christ, the Passover Lamb of God will be slain ass the perfect atonement for those who will believe the gospel. This was fulfilled at Calvary more than 2000 years ago.

Paul says that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (Romans 10:4). What does this mean? Christs death and resurrection brought to a close or fulfilled and superseded the ritual sacrificial system outlined in Moses. Christs atonement was the ultimate object to which the law pointed. In Romans 10:5-13, Paul outlines the procedure by which the sinner should come to faith. They should accept God's atonement in Christ and place their faith in Christ (Romans 10:8-10).

Paul's closing statement in Romans 10:12 is instructive of the universal offer of God's atonement in Christ. It is meant for the Jews and the Gentiles alike. 

CONCLUSION

This message of Romans 10:1-13 should inspire our Christian witness to unbelieving communities or people around us. It provides the assurance that God's grace in Christ is intended for all humanity irrespective of their ethnic, racial and geographical distinctions. God is still calling on all men to come to Christ while the window of God's grace remains open. We should not tire in presenting and articulating the gospel to those in our communities of context. The need for the Gospel is perhaps of greater urgency now than it was 2000 years ago because Christs coming and the conclusion of human history as we know it is closer and closer.  

Do you and I share in Paul’s affliction of heart concerning the urgency and necessity of the gospel?