Introduction

We can only be saved by belief and trust in Jesus Christ.

Verses
1Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved.
2For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
4For Christ is the fulfilment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
5For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.”
6But the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down);
7or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)”
8But 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:
9that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10For with the heart, one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation.
11For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”
12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him.
13For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher?
15And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace,
who bring glad tidings of good things!”
16But they didn’t all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”
17So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18But I say, didn’t they hear? Yes, most certainly,
“Their sound went out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.”
19But I ask, didn’t Israel know? First Moses says,
“I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation.
I will make you angry with a nation void of understanding.”
20Isaiah is very bold and says,
“I was found by those who didn’t seek me.
I was revealed to those who didn’t ask for me.”
21But about Israel he says, “All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

Questions

1. What was the problem that Paul says the Jews have had?

v 2 and 3 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

2. How does Paul summarise how we are saved?

 v 9 that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 

3. Where does Paul say that faith comes from?

v 17 So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Summary Points

  • v 1 to 4 Paul wants  Israel to be saved. The Jews fail in enthusiastically wanting to be right with God on their terms rather than in God's way through Christ.
  • v 5 Under the law of Moses, we would be right with God by obeying every command
  • v 6 to 8 Being right with God by faith doesn't need us to seek Christ in heaven or the grave, we need to just read God's message
  • v 9 to 13 We are saved by believing in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus
  • v 14 to 16 Scripture tells us what a good work preachers do to enable people to hear the Good News. The prophet Isaiah tells us that some will not listen
  • v 17 to 21 Faith comes from listening to the word of God which is available to all. Moses and Isaiah say that Israel will be annoyed, when people they regard as ignorant listen to the message they have rejected

Timeline AD 60

Audio