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Sermon #113 — Romans Series

Title:                                                               A Message to

You Who would be Saved

Text:                            Romans 10:1-13

Subject:                     Faith in Christ

Date:                          Sunday Morning — March 12, 2017

Reading:       Matthew 11:1-30 or John 6:27-58

Introduction:

I believe God has given me a message for you. I have titled my sermon ⸺ A Message to You Who would be Saved. I pray that God the Holy Ghost will enable me to preach it and that he will enable you to hear it. It is specifically A Message to You Who would be Saved.

My Assumption

Let me make an assumption. I hope it is true. I assume that you are here because you would be saved. You know that you are an immortal soul, that you must soon meet God in judgment, and that you will spend eternity either in the bliss of God’s elect in heaven or in the torments of the damned in hell. And you want to be saved.

For some of you, this is more than an occasional desire. Some of you, I am confident, have come here with anxious hearts, seeking the Lord. The Spirit of God has touched your heart. And you want Christ. You want to be reconciled to God. You want to live in communion with your Creator. God has shown you, and you know that…

·      You are a helplessly lost and justly condemned sinner (Romans 3:19, 23).

·      The Lord Jesus Christ, by his precious blood, has obtained eternal redemption for sinners (Hebrews 9:12; Galatians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

·      Salvation is by grace alone, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, without works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

·      Salvation, eternal life, and faith in Christ are both the gifts of God and the operations of God (Romans 6:23).

You know all these things. You are convinced by God, through his Word, that they are true. Yet, you are not saved. If you could have anything in the world, it would be to be saved, cleansed of all sin, forgiven, reconciled to God, and forever accepted with him. ⸺ Have I described you? Have you come here seeking the Lord? If so, give me your attention. I have a message from God for those who would be saved. My message is found in the 10^th chapter of the Book of Romans ⸺ Romans 10. I want you to turn there and read it with me. This is God’s message to you. Read it with me, line by line and verse by verse.

Proposition: Here, the Apostle Paul, writing by inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, shows us how sinners are saved by God’s amazing grace.

My Desire

1^st ⸺ I want you to know the Lord Jesus Christ. It is my prayer, my heart’s desire before God that you might be saved by his grace.

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

Many think that we are anti-Semitic because in preaching the gospel we declare that Judaism, like Islam, is false religion. But, here, Paul who was himself a Jew asserts his desire that the Jews, his brethren according to the flesh, might be saved. Paul was a Jew. God saved him out of Judaism. He was not anti-Semitic. He was not Israel’s enemy, but their truest friend. He was the friend of their souls. Therefore, he told them the truth, denouncing their religion of works righteousness, Paul told them plainly, using their own Bible (the Old Testament Scriptures) that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

It is the heart’s desire and prayer of God’s messenger that those who hear his voice might be saved. We do not preach with stoic indifference, but with passion and zeal.

·      I am preaching to eternity bound sinners.

·      I know that there is only one way of salvation and life (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 13:38-39; 16:31).

(John 14:6) ⁽⁶⁾ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

(Acts 4:12) ⁽¹²⁾ Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

(Acts 13:38-39) ⁽³⁸⁾ 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.

(Acts 16:31) ⁽³¹⁾ Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

·      If you die without Christ, you will forever perish in hell.

·      I want you to know Christ. I want you to trust the Lord Jesus. — I want you to be saved!

Religious but Lost

2^nd ⸺ Multitudes, multitudes are religious but lost, zealous but unsaved, sincere but dead.

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

Most of the people to whom I preach, like these Jews of whom Paul here speaks, have an undeniable, sincere zeal for God. They are religious. They are dedicated. They are sincere. But they are ignorant, altogether void of spiritual knowledge. Most of the people around us, most of our families and friends are just like these Jews. — Religious, but lost! — Devoted, but lost! — Zealous, but lost! And, I daresay, some of you are in the same condition.

·      You are zealous for the Word of God.

·      You are zealous in defending the law of God.

·      You are zealous about moral issues: — Abortion — Drunkenness — Drug Abuse — Adultery — Fornication — Sodomy.

·      You may even be zealous about maintaining the true worship of God.

·      But your zeal is without knowledge. — Your zeal is the fleshly, carnal zeal of spiritual ignorance.

Do not be offended by what I am saying. You may be brilliant about many things, but with regard to the things of God, if you are without Christ, you are utterly ignorant (1 Corinthians 2:14). And you will never learn anything spiritual until you are made to see that you do not know anything spiritual.[1] Men and women are not lost for lack of zeal, or lack of religion, or lack of morality, but for lack of knowledge. — They do not know God (John 17:3).

Read on…

Romans 10:3 ⁽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.

This is the charge Paul laid at the feet of the Jews in his day. And this is the charge I lay at the door of the professed church of our day. 21^st century Christianity is a religion as void of the knowledge of God as Judaism, or Mohammedanism, or Hinduism, or Shintoism!

Three Damnig Evils

And I lay this charge at the feet of every unbeliever. If you do not trust the Lord Jesus Christ, it is because of these three things, these three damning evils. These three damning evils will carry you headlong into hell, unless God prevents it, unless he saves you by his omnipotent mercy.

1.    If you refuse to trust Christ, it is because you are ignorant of God’s righteousness.

·      The Righteousness of God’s Nature — Perfect Holiness!

·      The Righteousness of God Required in law — Perfect Obedience and Complete Satisfaction!

·      The Righteousness of God Revealed in the Gospel — Christ!

2.    If you refuse to trust Christ, it is because you are going about to establish your own righteousness. This is the thing that keeps you from Christ. You are seeking, by some means or another, to establish righteousness for yourself that will put you in good standing with the holy Lord God.

·      Legal Works of Obedience

·      Moral Reformation

·      Religious Works, Services, and Sacrifices

·      Bible Reading and Prayer

·      Feelings, Experiences, or Knowledge

·      Repentance, Remorse, or Guilt

When a man or woman is seeking to establish righteousness before God, no toil is too great, no pain is unbearable, no sacrifice is too costly, no service is too demanding.

·      Celibate Priesthood

·      Mormon Missionaries

·      Islamic Martyrs

But the work is like setting up a pile of stubble before a blazing fire. It will not last long. It is like standing a corpse on its feet. It is sure to fall. It is like a house built on sand. It is certain to collapse.

When a sinner begins to see his guilt and sin, when he begins to sense the danger of everlasting condemnation by an angry, just, and holy God, his first inclination is to make himself righteous, to do something to atone for his sin and make things up with God. — The religious world capitalizes upon his ignorance and says, “You’ve got to get right with God.”

When the Philippian Jailor cried out to Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do toe saved?” they did not say to him, “You need to get right with God,” or “You must say this prayer,” or “You need to start serving the Lord,” or “You must give your heart to Jesus,” or “You need to make your decision for Jesus!” They said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved!” Today, when sinners ask, “What must I do to be saved?” the whole religious world responds, unanimously, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and…”

·      “do good,”

·      “get baptized,”

·      “join the church,

·      “read the Bible every day,”

·      “pray morning and night,”

·      “keep the commandments,”

·      “go to church.”

3.    If you refuse to trust Christ, it is because you are seeking to establish your own righteousness, it is because you will not submit to the righteousness of God.

You may, perhaps, see the doctrine of the gospel and acknowledge that righteousness is in and by Christ alone, that Christ is the righteousness of God, but you will not submit to it. You will not trust the Lord Jesus Christ for righteousness, because…

·      You vainly imagine that you are righteous!

·      You vainly imagine that you can produce righteousness!

·      You vainly imagine that you can do something to atone for your sin!

You will never be saved. You will never submit to the righteousness of God in Christ until you give up your own righteousness.

Illustration: The Artist and the Beggar

Law’s End

3^rd ⸺ Paul tells us, again, that Christ is the end of the law.

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

Now, understand what Paul says here. ⸺ This is the universal testimony of Holy Scripture. Salvation does not come by the works of the law. Sinners are saved without works (Romans 3:20, 28; Galatians 2:16; 5:1-4; 2 Timothy 1:9-10; Titus 3:5-6).

(Romans 3:20) ⁽²⁰⁾ Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

(Romans 3:28) ⁽²⁸⁾ Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

(Galatians 2:16) ⁽¹⁶⁾ Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

(Galatians 5:1-4) ⁽¹⁾ Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. ⁽²⁾ Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. ⁽³⁾ For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. ⁽⁴⁾ Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

(2 Timothy 1:9-10) ⁽⁹⁾ Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, ⁽¹⁰⁾ But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

(Titus 3:5-6) ⁽⁵⁾ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; ⁽⁶⁾ Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

“Christ is the end of the law,” the termination, the fulfilment, the accomplishment, the finish of the law.

·      The Ceremonial law

·      The Moral law

·      Christ is the Object of the law.

·      Christ is the fulfilment of the law.

·      Christ is the end of the law, the terminating point, the conclusion, the finishing, the completion, the cessation of the law.

Now, this is what that means. ⸺ In Christ, by faith in Christ, we are free from the law, totally, completely, absolutely, eternally free from the law (Romans 6:14-15; 7:1-4; 8:2-4).

(Romans 6:14-15) ⁽¹⁴⁾ For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. ⁽¹⁵⁾ What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

(Romans 7:1-4) ⁽¹⁾ Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? ⁽²⁾ For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. ⁽³⁾ So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. ⁽⁴⁾ Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

(Romans 8:2-4) ⁽²⁾ For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. ⁽³⁾ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: ⁽⁴⁾ That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

“Christ is the end of the law for righteousness.”

·      In Justification

·      In Sanctification

“Christ is the end of law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” ⸺ Faith looks to Christ alone, finding perfect righteousness in him. Faith has nothing to do with law. The only hope faith has is grace, the free grace of God in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30-31; Galatians 2:21; 3:13-14; 5:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

(1 Corinthians 1:30-31) ⁽³⁰⁾ 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 2:21) ⁽²¹⁾ I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

(Galatians 3:13-14) ⁽¹³⁾ 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.

(Galatians 5:1-4) ⁽¹⁾ Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. ⁽²⁾ Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. ⁽³⁾ For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. ⁽⁴⁾ Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

(2 Corinthians 5:21) ⁽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.

Do or Done

4^th ⸺ In verses 5-8, God the Holy Ghost shows us the difference between every false, counterfeit gospel and the gospel of God. The difference is just two letters. All false religion, every counterfeit gospel puts you to work and says “Do.” The gospel of God calls you to rest and says “Done.”

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

Here Paul refers to Leviticus 18:5, showing us that he and Moses are in full agreement with one another. The law was never intended to be a means of salvation. It was not given to be a means by which sinners could make themselves righteous. No commandment was given, or could be given, that would bring redemption, forgiveness, and eternal life (Galatians 3:21; Hebrews 10:1-22)

(Galatians 3:21) ⁽²¹⁾ Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

(Hebrews 10:1-22) ⁽¹⁾ For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. ⁽²⁾ For then would they not have ceased to be offered? Because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. ⁽³⁾ But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. ⁽⁴⁾ For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. ⁽⁵⁾ Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: ⁽⁶⁾ In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. ⁽⁷⁾ Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. ⁽⁸⁾ Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; ⁽⁹⁾ Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. ⁽¹⁰⁾ By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. ⁽¹¹⁾ And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: ⁽¹²⁾ But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; ⁽¹³⁾ From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. ⁽¹⁴⁾ For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. ⁽¹⁵⁾ Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, ⁽¹⁶⁾ This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; ⁽¹⁷⁾ And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. ⁽¹⁸⁾ Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. ⁽¹⁹⁾ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, ⁽²⁰⁾ By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; ⁽²¹⁾ And having an high priest over the house of God; ⁽²²⁾ Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

The Difference

Back here in Romans 10:5, Paul tells us that those who seek righteousness by the law say, “Something must be done.” Those who seek righteousness by faith declare, “Everything is done. Christ did it all!” As old John Bunyan put it…

“Run, Don, run, the law commands,

But gives us neither feet nor hands,

Far better news the gospel brings ⸺

It bids us fly and gives us wings.”

Here is the difference between Law Righteousness and Gospel Righteousness. Law Righteousness says “Do and live.”

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

Gospel Righteousness, “the righteousness which is of faith,” says “Done that you may live.” 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) ⁽⁶⁾ 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 faith in Christ, just like Paul did, and just as God’s 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) ⁽¹¹⁾ 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) ⁽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) ⁽¹³⁾ Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

(Deuteronomy 18:15-19) ⁽¹⁵⁾ 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.

This is Paul’s doctrine; and this is Moses’ doctrine. This is God’s doctrine. ⸺ The whole work of righteousness and redemption is a done deal, fully, perfectly accomplished for needy sinners by the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no work for you to do. There are no conditions for you to meet. There are no qualifications for you to satisfy. The word of life is the gospel we preach. You do not need to concern yourself about anything but faith in Christ. ⸺ “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?”

“Nothing, either great or small,

Nothing, sinner, no;

Jesus did it, did it all,

Long, long ago.

When He from His lofty throne

Stooped to do and die,

Everything was fully done:

Hearken to His cry: ⸺

‘It is finished!’ Yes, indeed,

Finished every jot:

Sinner, this is all you need,

Tell me, is it not?

Weary, working, plodding one,

Why toil you so?

Cease your doing: all was done

Long, long ago.

Till to Jesus’ work you cling

By a simple faith,

Doing is a deadly thing,

Doing ends in death.

Cast your deadly doing down,

Down at Jesus’ feet,

Stand in Him, in Him alone,

Gloriously complete!”

⸺ James Proctor

Saving Faith

5^th ⸺ In verses 9-13, God the Holy Spirit shows us what true, saving faith in Christ involves. I have said to you, many times, that the Scriptures nowhere give us a definition of faith; but the Scriptures do show us very clearly what faith in Christ involves.

·      It involves your head.

·      It involves your heart.

·      It involves your will.

·      It involves your life.

Confessional Faith

The very first thing Paul tells us about true, saving faith in Christ is that it is confessional. True faith confesses Christ (v. 9). The gospel of Christ is “the word of faith which we preach.” And that word of faith, the gospel of God, is all about the Lord Jesus Christ, God our Savior. And Christ is the One we confess.

Romans 10:9 ⁽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 the mouth is to make a true, sincere confession of him to God. We confess to God, the thrice holy Jehovah, that which he has taught us in our hearts by grace.

·      We confess the Lord Jesus as the Christ of God. ⸺ “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” (1 John 5:1).

·      I confess that Jesus is Christ my Prophet, by and in whom God is revealed in me and known by me.

·      I confess that Jesus is Christ my Priest, by whom atonement has been made for my sin.

·      I confess that Jesus is Christ my King, to whom I willingly surrender all things, my Lord and my Savior.

This confession of Christ arises and flows out to God from heart faith in Christ, believing in my heart that God has raised him from the dead.

·      The Lord God has accepted Christ as my Passover, my Sacrifice, my Lamb, my Substitute, my Surety.

·      And, accepting him, God accepts me in him (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Let me stay with this for a minute. ⸺ To believe “that God hath raised him from the dead” is to believe that…

·      Christ once came to live in this world, God in human flesh (John 1:14).

·      Christ died upon the cursed tree as the sinner’s Substitute (2 Corinthians 5:21).

·      Christ satisfied the law and justice of God by his death (Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 1:18-19).

·      Christ’s one sacrifice for sin was effectual, made an end of sin and brought in everlasting righteousness, for God raised him from the dead (Romans 8:33-34; 1 Corinthians 15:13-22).

(1 Corinthians 15:13-22) ⁽¹³⁾ But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: ⁽¹⁴⁾ And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. ⁽¹⁵⁾ Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. ⁽¹⁶⁾ For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: ⁽¹⁷⁾ And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. ⁽¹⁸⁾ Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. ⁽¹⁹⁾ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. ⁽²⁰⁾ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. ⁽²¹⁾ For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. ⁽²²⁾ For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Here is God’s promise to all who trust his dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. ⸺ “Thou shalt be saved!” Oh, what a promise!

·      Believe on Christ, and you can’t go to hell!

·      Trust Christ, and you can’t be damned!

·      Come to Christ, and you can’t be cast out!

·      Look to Christ, and you can’t perish!

(1 John 5:10-13) ⁽¹⁰⁾ He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. ⁽¹¹⁾ And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ⁽¹²⁾ He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. ⁽¹³⁾ These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Conclusion

Here is the conclusion of the matter. If you would be saved, hear what God says (vv. 10-13).

Romans 10:10-13 ⁽¹⁰⁾ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto 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 heaven born soul there is a heart-felt acquaintance with the Person, and work, and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ: seeing him, believing him, coming to him, leaning on him for salvation. ⸺ Being convinced by God the Holy Ghost of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, we trust Christ alone for redemption, righteousness, and salvation.

In every saved sinner, in every soul taught of God to know Christ, there is a blessed, heart-felt enjoyment of him and his finished work. It is called “the joy of faith” (Philippians 1:25). It is the…

·      Joy of Forgiveness!

·      Joy of Reconciliation!

·      Joy of Acceptance!

·      Joy of Grace!

In every believing soul, there is a continual coming to Christ, leaning upon Christ, cleaving to Christ. ⸺ Oh, the blessedness of knowing and enjoying Christ! “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness!”

Illustration:   The Boy Selling Grit in Chicago —

                                                                        “Would you like to be my Son?”

                                                                        “Free, for nothin’?”

                                                                        “Free, for nothin’!”

Amen.

Don Fortner

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