How Will They Hear?How Will They Hear?

Romans 10:1-17Romans 10:1-17

Grace Community ChurchGrace Community ChurchSeptember 7, 2008September 7, 2008

Romans 10:1-4Romans 10:1-41 1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God

for them is that they may be saved. for them is that they may be saved. 2 2 I bear I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. but not according to knowledge. 3 3 For, being For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. righteousness. 4 4 For Christ is the end of the For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who law for righteousness to everyone who believes. believes.

Romans 10:5-8Romans 10:5-85 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is For Moses writes about the righteousness that is

based on the law, that the person who does the based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. commandments shall live by them. 6 6 But the But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) is, to bring Christ down) 7 7 or “ ‘Who will descend or “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). the dead). 8 8 But what does it say? “The word is But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); is, the word of faith that we proclaim);

Romans 10:9-12Romans 10:9-129 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that because, if you confess with your mouth that

Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. saved. 10 10 For with the heart one believes and is For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. is saved. 11 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 12

For there is no distinction between Jew and For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. his riches on all who call on him.

Romans 10:13-15Romans 10:13-1513 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the For “everyone who calls on the name of the

Lord will be saved.” Lord will be saved.” 14 14 But how are they to call But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? without someone preaching? 15 15 And how are And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”preach the good news!”

Three ObjectionsThree Objections1.1. If God is sovereign, why evangelize?If God is sovereign, why evangelize?

2.2. Evangelism is imposing your personal Evangelism is imposing your personal beliefs on other people.beliefs on other people.

3.3. It is wrong and exclusive to claim to It is wrong and exclusive to claim to have THE TRUTH…have THE TRUTH…

If God is Sovereign?If God is Sovereign?In 1786, when William Carey laid the burden of In 1786, when William Carey laid the burden of

world missions before a ministerial meeting in world missions before a ministerial meeting in Northampton, England, the eminent Dr. Ryland Northampton, England, the eminent Dr. Ryland said to him, “Young man, sit down! When God said to him, “Young man, sit down! When God pleases to convert the heathen, He will do it pleases to convert the heathen, He will do it without your aid or mine!”without your aid or mine!”

Because we are commanded - Matthew 18:18-19, Because we are commanded - Matthew 18:18-19, John 20:21, Acts 1:8, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, 2 John 20:21, Acts 1:8, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, 2 Tim 4:5, 1 Peter 3:15Tim 4:5, 1 Peter 3:15

Evangelism is imposing…Evangelism is imposing…• To Impose: To Impose: to make people agree to to make people agree to

something or comply with something by something or comply with something by having superior strength or authority…having superior strength or authority…

• If it IS true, why wouldn’t we share it?If it IS true, why wouldn’t we share it?– We do don’t really believe it.We do don’t really believe it.– We do believe it but you do not care.We do believe it but you do not care.– We care, but we care more about what We care, but we care more about what

people may think of us than their souls.people may think of us than their souls.– We care, but don’t know what to share.We care, but don’t know what to share.

Truth claim too exclusive.Truth claim too exclusive.• All religions claim truth and are by All religions claim truth and are by

definition exclusive.definition exclusive.

• To claim there is no truth is a truth claim.To claim there is no truth is a truth claim.

• Exclusive - Jesus is the only way.Exclusive - Jesus is the only way.

• Inclusive - ANYONE can come.Inclusive - ANYONE can come.

Romans 10:13-15Romans 10:13-1513 13 For “For “everyoneeveryone who calls on the name of the who calls on the name of the

Lord will be saved.” Lord will be saved.” 14 14 But how are But how are theythey to call to call on him in whom on him in whom theythey have not believed? And have not believed? And how are how are theythey to believe in him of whom to believe in him of whom theythey have never heard? And how are have never heard? And how are theythey to hear to hear without without someonesomeone preaching? preaching? 15 15 And how are And how are theythey to preach unless they are sent? As it is to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of written, “How beautiful are the feet of thosethose who preach the good news!”who preach the good news!”

Romans 10:16-17Romans 10:16-1716 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. But they have not all obeyed the gospel.

For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” what he has heard from us?” 17 17 So faith So faith comes from hearing, and hearing comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.through the word of Christ.

Will anyone hear?Will anyone hear?