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Miscellaneous Sermon #2341[i]

 

Title:                           Righteousness, Salvation,

                         Preaching

 

Text:                            Romans 10:1-21

Subject:                     Righteousness, Salvation, and Preaching

Introduction:

 

My message is Righteousness, Salvation, Preaching. I want to talk to you about those three things — Our text will be the 10th chapter of the Book of Romans. I want us to look at these 21 verses and see what God the Holy Ghost here teaches us about — Righteousness, Salvation, and Preaching. — Romans 10:1-21 — Righteousness, Salvation, and Preaching. As we read this chapter together, I want to show you seven things clearly revealed in this portion of Holy Scripture.

 

Righteousness in Christ

 

1.    Righteousness is to be found only in the Lord Jesus Christ (vv. 1-4).

 

God requires righteousness (Matthew 5:20). But no man can make himself righteous. Righteousness is to be found only in Christ, who, by his obedience unto death as the sinnersÕ Substitute, brought in everlasting righteousness.

 

(Romans 10:1) Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

 

I am here today to preach the gospel to youÉ

  • For the glory of God.
  • Because I want you to know the Lord Jesus Christ. I want you to trust the Son of God. I want you to be saved by the grace of God.
  • Because I know there are some people God is going to save by the preaching of the gospel. — All the Elect! — All the Redeemed!

 

(Romans 10:2-3) For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

 

ÒZeal without knowledge is as wild fire in a foolÕs hand. It is like the devil in the demoniac, that casts him sometimes into the fire and sometimes into the water.Ó — John Trapp

 

(Romans 10:3) For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

 

(John 17:3) And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

 

Now, read verse 4. — Here is righteousness, the only righteousness there is, righteousness that will fit you for heaven. It is this righteousness of which every heaven-born soul is convinced by God the Holy Ghost by the revelation he gives of our blessed Christ (John 16:7-11).

 

(Romans 10:4) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

 

ÒChrist is the end of the law the termination, the fulfilment, the accomplishment, the finish of the law.

á      The Ceremonial Law

á      The Moral Law

 

ÒChrist is the end of the law for righteousness

á      In Justification

á      In Sanctification

 

ÒChrist is the end of law for righteousness to every one that believeth

 

(1 Corinthians 1:30-31) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (31) That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

 

(Galatians 3:13-14) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (14) That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

 

(2 Corinthians 5:21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

Christ GodÕs Salvation

 

2.    The righteousness of God in Christ is salvation (vv. 5-9).

 

The Lord Jesus Christ is GodÕs salvation. He alone is righteous. He alone performed righteousness. He alone makes sinners the righteousness of God. In these verses (5-9), Paul shows us the difference between Law Righteousness and Gospel Righteousness. Law Righteousness says ÒDo and live.Ó

 

(Romans 10:5) For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

 

Gospel Righteousness, Òthe righteousness which is of faith,Ó says ÒDone that you may live.Ó In these next few verses, God the Holy Ghost tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ is that One of whom Moses in the Law spoke when he told the children of Israel what God required in the Law (Deuteronomy 30:11-16; 18:9, 13, 15-19).

 

(Romans 10:6-8) But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) (7) or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) (8) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach.

 

This is exactly what Moses spoke prophetically back in the Book of Deuteronomy. Moses, in the Law, preached Christ and salvation by faith in Christ, just like Paul did and just as GodÕs servants do today.

  • Righteousness Required by God
  • Righteousness Accomplished by Christ
  • Righteousness Revealed by God the Spirit
  • Righteousness Received by Faith
  • Righteousness Without Works

 

(Deuteronomy 30:11-16) For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. (12) It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? (13) Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? (14) But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. (15) See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; (16) In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

 

(Deuteronomy 18:9) When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

 

(Deuteronomy 18:13) Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

 

(Deuteronomy 18:15-19) The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; (16) According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. (17) And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. (18) I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. (19) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

 

(Romans 10:9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

 

To confess Christ with your mouth is to call upon him, to worship him, like the publican in the LordÕs parable. — ÒGod be merciful to me, a sinner!Ó We worship him as God our Savior, believing him with our hearts.

á      Faith in Christ is more than knowledge about Christ. It is knowing Christ.

á      Faith in Christ is a heart work.

á      Faith in Christ is a work wrought in our hearts by the Spirit of God.

 

And believing him, we are saved.

á      Saved by Christ!

á      Saved by grace!

á      Saved forever!

 

Salvation GodÕs Gift

 

3.    This great salvation is free, the free gift of God, to all who trust his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (vv. 10-13).

 

(Romans 10:10-13) For with the heart man believeth unto (with reference to) righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto (with reference to) salvation. (11) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (12) For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

In every regenerate soul there is a heart-felt knowledge of the Person, and work, and glory of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls sinners from death to life, out of darkness into light, as he creates life and faith in us, convinces every heaven-born soul of the Person and work of Christ, as the Christ. He reveals the infinite merit, sufficiency, and efficacy of ChristÕs blood and righteousness and convinces us to trust him as the Lord our Righteousness. He puts Christ in our hearts and causes us to trust him and confess him.

 

There is in every child of God a heart-felt enjoyment of our blessed Savior as all our salvation. He is beheld and trusted, accepted and received, with holy joy and thanksgiving, as the Christ of God. As Robert Hawker put it, ÒThe affections are all in it. The soul is won to Christ, and the soul wins Christ, and desires to be found in him.Ó

 

(Proverbs 8:17-21) I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (18) Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. (19) My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. (20) I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: (21) That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

 

And in every saved sinner there is a continual coming to Christ, leaning upon him, cleaving to him, looking to him, just as at the first (Colossians 2:6). — ÒTo whom coming!Ó The more we trust him, the more we know we must trust him for all our salvation! The longer we trust him, the more we know we must have him!

 

I must have Jesus! I must have Jesus!

There is no other who can atone.

I must have Jesus! I must have Jesus!

Jesus can save me, Jesus alone!

 

I am talking about matters of the heart. — ÒWith the heart man believeth unto righteousness.Ó — Oh, the blessedness of knowing and enjoying Christ!

 

Salvation and Preaching

 

4.    Salvation in Christ is brought to poor, needy sinners by the preaching of the gospel (vv. 14-17).

 

Preaching isÉ

á      Giving the sense of the Scriptures (Nehemiah 8:8).

á      Proclaiming Christ crucified from the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 2:2).

á      Calling sinners to worship Christ as God our Savior, by the Scriptures (Romans 10:9-13).

á      GodÕs ordained means of grace and salvation (Romans 1:16).

 

No man can give himself faith in Christ; and no preacher can give anyone faith in Christ. Faith in Christ is the gift and operation of God the Holy Spirit in his people (Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 1:29; Colossians 2:12). And God, who gives life and faith to chosen, redeemed sinners, has ordained the means by which he will perform this marvelous work of grace The Preaching of the Gospel. That is what the Spirit of God tells us in verses 14-17.

 

(Romans 10:14-17) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? — (You cannot worship Christ, if you do not trust him.) — And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? — (You cannot trust Christ if you do not know who he is and what he has done.) — And how shall they hear without a preacher? — (You cannot know who Christ is and what he has accomplished, unless somebody tells you.) — (15) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? — (The only person who can effectually preach Christ to you is one who is sent of God to do so.)[1] —As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? (17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

(1 Peter 1:23-25) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. (24) For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (25) But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

 

(Hebrews 4:12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

(James 1:18) Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

 

How blessed are they to whom God sends a preacher, preaching the gospel in the power of his Spirit!

á      Ruin by the Fall!

á      Redemption by the Blood!

á      Regeneration by the Holy Ghost!

 

(Acts 13:38-39) Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (39) And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

 

Preaching Our Responsibility

 

5.    It is our great privilege and our great responsibility to preach the gospel through all the earth (vv. 18-19).

 

(Romans 10:18-19) But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. (19) But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

 

(1 Thessalonians 2:4) We were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

 

(1 Timothy 1:11) According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

 

(1 Timothy 6:20) O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called.

 

(2 Corinthians 4:7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

 

Preaching GodÕs Seeking

 

6.    By the preaching of the gospel God seeks out and finds his elect, and saves them by his grace (v. 20).

 

(Romans 10:20) But Esaias is very bold, and saith (Isaiah 65:1), I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

 

Christ, the Good Shepherd, seeks and finds his sheep, and brings them into his foldÉ

á      By His Work of Redemption.

á      By the Work of His Spirit.

á      Through the Preaching of the Gospel.

 

Preaching GodÕs Call

 

7.    In the preaching of the gospel, the Lord God graciously stretches out his hands to sinners and calls stubborn rebels to be reconciled to him (v. 21).

 

(Romans 10:21) But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

 

(2 Corinthians 5:17-21) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

(2 Corinthians 6:1-2) (1) We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (2) (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

 

Illustration: The Handkerchief

 

(Matthew 11:28-30) (28) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 

(Proverbs 1:22-33) How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? (23) Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. (24) Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; (25) But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: (26) I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; (27) When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. (28) Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: (29) For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: (30) They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. (31) Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. (32) For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. (33) But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

 

Oh, what a privilege it is for any man to be called, gifted, and sent of God to preach the gospel of his grace and glory in Christ to poor sinners! Oh, what a privilege it is for any poor, fallen sinner to have a man sent of God to him preaching the gospel! — ÒAs it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!Ó

 

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                         


 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] It does not matter who the man is that God sends. The only thing that matters is the message God sends him to preach. Sometimes he uses a Balaam to preach redemption, grace, and salvation by Christ (Numbers 23:21).



[i]    Danville — Sunday Morning — March 12, 2017

     Sovereign Grace Assembly, Kannapolis, NC — (06/11/17)

 

Reading:    Matthew 11:1-30