Romans 10:14-21

We are on our way to figure out why our obligation to God is to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, wholly acceptable unto God and why that is reasonable and worshipful.

Paul has just finished telling us that if we say with our mouths that Jesus is God, and believe in our hearts that God has resurrected Him, we shall be saved.

He went on to say that anyone who trusts in Him (Jesus) will never be put to shame (a euphemism for “going to Hell), and that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

He then begins another section of reasoning.

The Verses

14. One cannot call upon a God one does not believe in…one would just be wasting one’s breath. On the other hand, one cannot believe in a God one has not been told about, by one’s parents, by one’s co-worker, by one’s friend, by one’s pastor, by one’s Sunday School teacher. Here “preaching” does not mean just by the pastor (preacher and pastor are two different things).

15. So, are only preachers “sent?” NO. You have been sent. (Matthew 28:16-20) You have been sent to your neighbor, to your co-worker, to your family and to your fellow church member. (The pastor’s job, according to Ephesians 4:11-16, is to prepare God’s people [that’s you and me] for works of service1, so that we will grow up in our Christian walk.) Isaiah 52:7.

16. Some Jews accepted the GOOD NEWS that Messiah had come…some did not. (Isaiah predicted that some would not believe what we have to say about Messiah [53:20)]).

17. Faith comes when we are told about the GOOD NEWS (the message). The message is heard though the Word of Christ…the Bible…yes, but also by the Holy Spirit (who will NEVER contradict the Word, but instead will point us TO the Word, who is Christ.

18. “They” is a reference to the Jews. They heard. They did not accept. Paul quotes the Old Testament four times: Psalm 19:4; Deuteronomy 32:21; Isaiah 65:1 and Isaiah 65:2)

1What are the works of service? They include: How to serve as a deacon; How to serve in the church office; How to serve in church administration and/or finance; How to serve as an usher; How to serve as a greeter; How to serve overseeing church property; How to serve in the ministry of baptism; How to serve in community projects; How to serve in worship leadership; How to serve in audio/visual ministries; How to serve in music; How to serve in hospitality; How to serve with children; How to serve with Youth How to serve in the Nursery and many, many others. They might also include How to start your new life as a Christian; How to grow as a Christian, etc.