For the next three weeks, I will be teaching from the Book of Romans. We have gone through a chapter by chapter…not quite verse by verse…study of Romans on Sunday mornings. Now we will go look at three of the most difficult chapters in Paul’s writings, Romans 9, 10 and 11. I am calling these next three sermons “A Mission of Mercy”.
In Romans 9: A Mission of Mercy to Those You Deeply Love. The Apostle Paul is struggling with the idea of God’s salvation for the Jewish people who seem to reject Jesus. Paul himself is Jewish and his entire life was spent in Judaism. Now that he is a follower of Jesus what does that mean to his family, friends and the Jewish nation? He has a longing, a very deep longing to see the nation of Israel come to faith in Jesus Christ. Who do we long to see come to know Him? Who do you pray for with deep longing, that they would come to know Jesus as Messiah?
In Romans 10: A Mission of Mercy Involves Action. Paul reminds the church of God’s plan to love the whole world. The Good News of what God did through His Son, Jesus, is for the whole world. It is a call to do more than just believe in Jesus and to believe in world missions. It is our call to join God in what He is doing to reach the world. How does JIBC, your connection group, join in what God is doing across the street, across the river and across the ocean?
Then in Romans 11: A Mission of Mercy With or Without You. Paul takes a tough line addressing the spiritual issue of pride and spiritual blindness. It is a harsh reminder that God’s mission rolls on even if God’s people will not. In experiencing God we learned that you cannot stay where you are and go with God. It will always cost to do God’s will. It will cost more not to.
See you this Sunday as we begin a three week journey through Romans 9, 10 and 11.
Pastor Tom
