why isn’t being good enough - good enough?

Romans 9:30-33 What then shall we say Romans 9:30-33 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the “stumbling stone.” As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

Romans 10:1-4 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

Romans10:5-7 Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

Romans 10:8-10 But what does it say Romans 10:8-10 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Romans 10:11-13 As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:14-15 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

You can’t have a relationship with God on your own terms!

I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the “stumbling stone.” - 9:32

I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. A. If you could have obeyed the standard it could have brought you life. Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.” - 10:5

I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. A. If you could have obeyed the standard it could have brought you life. Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.” - 10:5 Leviticus 18:5 - Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them. I am the LORD.

I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. A. If you could have obeyed the standard it could have brought you life. 1. But to be justified by that standard, you would have to obey it perfectly. James 2:10 - For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. A. If you could have obeyed the standard it could have brought you life. 2. Law keeping tends to develop an attitude of selfishness and arrogance, not dependence and love. Luke 18:9-14 & Romans 7:14-25

I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. A. If you could have obeyed the standard it could have brought you life. B. What you believe does bring life.

B. What you believe does bring life. I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. B. What you believe does bring life. 1. The word = the gospel message, the story of the Lord’s life, death and resurrection. Romans 10:8 - But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”  (Quote from Deuteronomy 30:14)

I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. B. What you believe does bring life. 2. How do you benefit from the message – “Jesus is Lord”? That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. - 10:9-10 Joel 2:32 - And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved . . .

I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. B. What you believe does bring life. 2. How do you benefit from the message – “Jesus is Lord”? a. You trust in it and make it true in your life.

I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. B. What you believe does bring life. 2. How do you benefit from the message – “Jesus is Lord”? b. You proclaim it at your baptism and in your witness to others.

B. What you believe does bring life. I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. B. What you believe does bring life. 2. How do you benefit from the message – “Jesus is Lord”? c. This message is called “The Good Confession” I Timothy 6:12-14; Hebrews 4:14; 10:23; Philippians 2:11

I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. B. What you believe does bring life. 3. Who is it for? As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him . . . - 10:11-12

I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. B. What you believe does bring life. 3. Who is it for? As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him . . . - 10:11-12 a. Salvation is for everyone who trusts in the Lord Jesus. Isaiah 28:16 - the one who trusts will never be dismayed.

I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. B. What you believe does bring life. 3. Who is it for? As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him . . . - 10:11-12 b. Everyone means you!

I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. B. What you believe does bring life. 4. How is this salvation obtained? “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” - 10:13-15

I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. B. What you believe does bring life. 4. How is this salvation obtained? “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” - 10:13-15 (Quote from Isaiah 52:7)

I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. B. What you believe does bring life. 4. How is this salvation obtained? “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” - 10:13-15

I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. B. What you believe does bring life. 4. How is this salvation obtained? “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” - 10:13-15

I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. B. What you believe does bring life. 4. How is this salvation obtained? Lord Jesus offers you salvation as a free gift - But you’ve got to reach out & take it!

I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. II. Because You Make a Stumbing Stone Out of the Rock of Ages. As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” - 9:33

II. Because You Make a Stumbing Stone Out of the Rock of Ages. A. Lord Jesus provided the way of escaping the standard (the Law). Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. - 10:4

II. Because You Make a Stumbing Stone Out of the Rock of Ages. A. Lord Jesus provided the way of escaping the standard (the Law). Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. - 10:4 Colossians 2:13-14 - When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you  alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

II. Because You Make a Stumbing Stone Out of the Rock of Ages. A. Lord Jesus provided the way of escaping the standard (the Law). He lightens the load for those of you that would pick up that cross!

He lightens the load for those of you that would pick up that cross! II. Because You Make a Stumbing Stone Out of the Rock of Ages. A. Lord Jesus provided the way of escaping the standard (the Law). He lightens the load for those of you that would pick up that cross! Matthew 16:24 - If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

He lightens the load for those of you that would pick up that cross! II. Because You Make a Stumbing Stone Out of the Rock of Ages. A. Lord Jesus provided the way of escaping the standard (the Law). He lightens the load for those of you that would pick up that cross! Matthew 16:24 - If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Matthew 11:30 - For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

II. Because You Make a Stumbing Stone Out of the Rock of Ages. B. When you reject the cross, you automatically return to the standard (the Law). Romans 9:33 - See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame. Isaiah 8:14 - . . . but for both houses of Israel he will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare.

II. Because You Make a Stumbing Stone the end of the Law for you Out of the Rock of Ages. B. When you reject the cross, you automatically return to the standard (the Law). Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. - 10:4 Lord Jesus is only the end of the Law for you if you trust in Him!

II. Because You Make a Stumbing Stone Out of the Rock of Ages. B. When you reject the cross, you automatically return to the standard (the Law). The symbol for “righteousness” in Chinese is the Lamb & “I” or “me”.

I. Because You Think More of What You Achieve Than What You Believe. II. Because You Make a Stumbing Block Out of the Rock of Ages. III. Because You May Have Plenty of Steam But No Direction.

III. Because You May Have Plenty of Steam But No Direction. Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. - 10:1-2

III. Because You May Have Plenty of Steam But No Direction. A. Before Christ, God’s will was not fully revealed. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. - 10:3-4

III. Because You May Have Plenty of Steam But No Direction. A. Before Christ, God’s will was not fully revealed. The Old Testament didn’t present the whole story – you need the New Testament to fully understand God’s plan!

III. Because You May Have Plenty of Steam But No Direction. A. Before Christ, God’s will was not fully revealed. B. Example of the Work-Your-Way-to-Heaven-on-Your-Own-Efforts Method.

III. Because You May Have Plenty of Steam But No Direction. B. Example of the Work-Your-Way-to-Heaven-on-Your-Own-Efforts Method. 1. The Jews today accept the Old Testament, but reject the New Testament.

III. Because You May Have Plenty of Steam But No Direction. B. Example of the Work-Your-Way-to-Heaven-on-Your-Own-Efforts Method. 2. When Jesus died on the cross, the standard (the Law) was fulfilled. Colossians 2:13-14.

How is your way of getting to heaven? “I am the way, the truth & the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me!” - Jesus - John 14:6