The Foolishness of Preaching the Gospel

The Foolishness of Preaching the Gospel Romans 10:14-21 Pg. 836 (pew Bible)

Let’s Read Romans 10:14-21

Romans 10:14 • How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?

Romans 10:14 • and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? • and how shall they hear without a preacher? Our Job WE MUST SOW SEEDS

Three Sowing Options Preach to the Lost. Bring “Preaching” to the Lost. Get the Lost to Preaching.

Christians Sowing is God’s Plan • 1 Corinthians 3:6 • I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. • Jesus said: • Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. (Luke 8:11)

Romans 10:15 • And how shall they preach, except they be sent? • as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

1 Corinthians 1:21 • For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. The goal is to get people under the sound of gospel preaching.

What do Christians believe that the world would consider utter “foolishness” or most ridiculous? Question

Foolishness • There is a CREATOR God. • Adam and God walked together. • Satan, a fallen angel, influenced Adam to disobey God inflicting upon all a sin nature. • God gave divine words to primitive, nomadic tribal warriors, like Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah and others.

Foolishness 5. These promises have been preserved for 4000+ years in a book called the Bible. • Hebrew • Aramaic • Greek • Latin, • German, • English, Spanish etc. etc.

Foolishness 6. The Messiah left the glories of heaven, became the God-Man in the womb of Mary and was born of a VIRGIN, who named him Jesus because an angel told her to do so. 7. God incarnate, Jesus lived a perfect life. 8. This same Jesus performed many miracles demonstrating supernatural power.

Foolishness 9. He voluntarily laid down His life in order to redeem a multitude of people groups throughout human history. 10. That God the Father forgives sin and declares humans righteous because of the shed blood and sinless death of His Son. 11. Jesus rose from the grave demonstrating victory over death and the god of this world.

Foolishness 12. King Jesus is presently on the right hand of His Father interceding on our behalf and at the Father’s command is coming again to judge all. • The dead will rise first • Those alive will meet Christ in the air

The Ultimate in Foolishness • The worst sinner can turn to God, with true repentance and faith ALONE in the Person and work of Christ on the cross and can be declared righteous, saved from the wrath of God, and spend all eternity in place far better than anything this world has to offer.

More Foolishness of the Gospel • We believe that God took away the legal demand for our transgressions of the Mosaic Law (the Commandments) by nailing the debt to the cross of Jesus. Colossians 2:13-14

It Is Well with My Soulby Horatio G. Spafford My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!My sin, not in part but the whole,Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

More Foolishness of the Gospel • We believe that Jesus our High Priest took His innocent, perfect blood to the Most Holy Place, in a heavenly Tabernacle (not made with human hands) to secure our redemption and establish a New Covenant between God and man, with Himself as the mediator. • See all of Hebrews 9

More Foolishness of the Gospel We believe those who trust in Christ for their salvation have God’s Spirit living in them. • Ephesians 1:13 • In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Required Human Response What does GOD expect?

Intellectual Assent is NOT enough • Romans 10:16 • But they have not all obeyed the gospel. • For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believedour report?

Authentic Repentant Obedient F A I T H

Faith for Faith • FAITH to Believe • Romans 10:17 • So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Consider this Genesis 12 - It was the Word of God that created the first Jew.

Commentary • As the NEB puts it, “Faith is awakened by the message.” • Although it is true that faith is our response to the gospel, it is also true that the message itself awakens and makes faith possible. • God is at work even in our response to his gracious offer of forgiveness. • Robert H. Mounce

Everyone is W/O X-cuse Romans 10:18 • 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.

Much Like in America, Israelites Could not honestly say I had no idea there was a person named Jesus who some consider both God and Savior?

2 Timothy 3:15 • The Jews should have recognized God’s saving purpose through Christ Jesus To Timothy • And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Israel Should have known Romans 10:19 • 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. • God had always planned to save Gentiles; the first Jew was a Gentile.

Romans 10:20 • But Isaiah is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. Lest we forget what saved by grace really means, to the glory of God, Paul reminds us God found me when I wasn’t even looking for him!

What is the last thing Paul presents about God in this chapter?

Romans 10:21 • But to Israel he saith, • All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a • disobedient and • gainsaying [obstinate/contrary] people.

Question As a follower of Christ, what should I take away from God’s example to Israel?

The Foolishness of Preaching the Gospel