Needed to hear the gospel. Faith comes through hearing. The same is the case for all those who have a true knowledge of the Saviour.
Romans 10:
1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.
2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
The Message of Salvation to All
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.
6 But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down)
7 or "'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
11 For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world."
19 But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, "I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry."
20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, "I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me."
21 But of Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people."
Things to think about…
1. Paul has a heart for the salvation of his countrymen, Rom 10:1. He speaks about the Jews having a zeal that is not according to knowledge, Rom 10:1-4. When you visit Israel this zeal without knowledge is best expressed through the religious observance of the Sabbath. We know that Christ of course is the fulfilment of the Sabbath, but not according to modern Jews. Venues in Israel will be closed, other non-Jewish staff, generally Muslim Arabs, are called upon to work to fulfil shifts on the Sabbaths and even the lifts are ‘Sabbath’ regulated – they went automatically, because pressing a button to operate a lift on the Sabbath is considered work. Yeshua (Jesus) is the fulfillment of the Sabbath. He is our rest. As our Lord says “the sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath”, Mk 2:27. Hebrews 4 speaks of the rest that comes in Christ, not just through an earthly land of rest (Canaan), but a rest in Christ, now and into eternity. Righteousness is only possible through Christ, this is Paul’s point, vs 4.
2. What’s Paul’s point in Rom 10:5-21? Simply this, that belief in Christ and not in the law is the only thing that saves. There is no better news than Rom 10:9 “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved”. The law of Moses is silent in the light of this truth. May we not add or take away from this truth. No one will be left behind who calls on Him, vs 13.
3. Paul asks in Rom 10:14 how will they hear without a preacher. But he says they have heard and he quotes Isaiah saying those who bring the good news have beautiful feet, but Israel rejected the word. Paul says in vs 16 “For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" He says they did hear, vs 18, but, vs 20 they were “a disobedient and contrary people." Sadly, this is also true for post Christian Australia.
4. Faith of course is the key ingredient that must be mixed with the gospel. This is a work of grace. This being the case the church must cry out for the Holy Spirit to grant the gift of faith, Eph 2:8 on those who do not seek it. Will this be your focus for 2024, or will another year go by where you have lamented the spiritual fervency in yourself and others?
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Cell groups off over the school holidays.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for Angie as she lost her mum. Praise the Lord for the gift of faith and the example she has been to many. Continue to lift Angie and family in your prayers. Celebration of life at Victoria Point Baptist Church on Wednesday.
2. Pray for the new year that 2024 may be when the Lord visits his people. May He begin with me.
3. Pray for the families that have lost loved ones in the storms over the new year period. Pray for Christ’s peace.
4. Pray for the new arrivals at Christmas to CBC, may they find a home with us.
5. Please continue to pray for Glenys Zawada. Back for rehab as a day patient.
6. The conflicts in Israel and Ukraine. Praise for the peace of Jesus to reign.
7. Mathys has a prayer time at church on Monday afternoons. He would be happy for you to join him and to send prayer requests.
8. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you to be saved. Pray for the blessing over the new pastoral care and hosting program.
9. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Praise god for Sunday’s message and ministry – Thanks Graham, Ben, Zac, Suzy, Ashley, Ric, Bec, Doug.
2. Praise God for the new year. Pray He gets the glory as we make our plans that He guides our steps.
3. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
2. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for January...
Q. 16. Who were our first parents? A. Adam and Eve.
