Text:
Romans 10:17:
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Theme:
The Word of God
Introduction:
- In Romans, Paul is writing to a group of people who are the heart of the Gentile nation. These are a people who do not and cannot relate to the strict traditions and rhetoric existing in the Jewish community. They couldn’t understand “Old folk talk”. They needed things to be broken down to plain and simple terms that relate to their real existence. Paul did just that. He wrote Romans closer to the “How To” methodology than any of his letters.
- The church in Rome was begun by Christians after Pentecost and had in its population a large number of Romans or Gentiles.
- Paul’s purpose is to explain the great “truths” of the gospel to the Jewish-Gentile church in Rome
- It is unique in that it is a systematic exposition of the gospel of universal applicationàSalvation is free to all.
- In the scripture of our text, we are instructed that it all begins with the Word of God!
- We need FAITH
- Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
- We only get faith by HEARING
- Romans 10:13-14, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”
- The only hearing that is life changing is the WORD OF GOD!
- Luke 11:28, “But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”
- We need FAITH
Body:
- What is the WORD OF GOD?
- Jesus, the Christ
- God made it that way!
- John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
- Jesus is the manifestation of God’s Love and Promise to mankind
- John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
- Jesus is the manifestation of God’s Word, Will, & Way that spoke to us UNTO salvation
- John 14:9-11, “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.”
- God made it that way!
- The Holy Bible
- 2 Testaments
- 66 books
- 1,189 chapters
- 31,173 verses
- 773,692 words
- 3,486,589 letters
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- The Bible so called because the writers of its several books were God’s organs in communicating his will to men. It is his “word,” because he speaks to us in its sacred pages.
- 2Timothy 3:15-16, “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. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
- This Word is infallible, because written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and therefore free from all error of fact or doctrine or precept.
- 1Peter 1:23, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
- All saving knowledge is obtained from the Word of God. In the case of adults it is an indispensable means of salvation, and is efficacious thereunto by the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit
- Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
- THE NAMES OF HIS WORD USED ARE…
- WORD OF GOD
- Luke 11:28, “But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”
- Hebrews 6:5, “And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,”
- BOOK OF THE LORD
- Isaiah 34:16, “Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.”
- BOOK OF THE LAW
- Nehemiah 8:3, “And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.”
- HOLY SCRIPTURES
- 2 Timothy 3:15, “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.”
- LAW OF THE LORD
- Psalms 1:2, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
- ORACLES OF GOD
- 1Peter 4:11, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
- SCRIPTURES
- 1Corinthians 15:3, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”
- SCRIPTURES OF TRUTH
- Daniel 10:21, “But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.”
- SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
- Ephesians 6:17, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”
- THE WORD
- 1Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”
- WORD OF CHRIST
- Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
- WORD OF LIFE
- Philippians 2:16, “Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”
- WORD OF TRUTH
- 2Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
- WORD OF GOD
- The Bible so called because the writers of its several books were God’s organs in communicating his will to men. It is his “word,” because he speaks to us in its sacred pages.
- The Holy Spirit
- The third person in the blessed Trinity. He is said to proceed from the Father, and to be sent by the Father and the Son upon disciples
- The Holy Spirit is God’s agent for getting things done!!
- God’s “Active Force”
- John 14:16-17, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
- Nature
- God reveals Himself through Nature
- Psalms 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”
- God reveals Himself through Nature
- The Life of the Believer
- God speaks to a dying world through us!
- Through Ministry — Romans 15:16, “That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.”
- Through Service — Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
- Through Suffering — 2Peter 1:10, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”
- Through Testimony – As with the blind man healed by Jesus, John 9:24-25, “Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”
- God speaks to a dying world through us!
- Jesus, the Christ
- THE WORD OF GOD IS…
- Near to us
- Deuteronomy 30:14, “But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.”
- Romans 10:8,“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;”
- Good
- 1Kings 18:24, “And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.”
- Settled in Heaven
- Psalms 119:89, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”
- Corrective
- Proverbs 13:13, “Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.”
- Our Guide
- Psalms 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
- Pure
- Psalms 119:140, “Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.”
- Given
- Isaiah 45:23, “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”
- Amazing
- Luke 4:36, “And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.”
- Permanent
- Isaiah 40:8, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
- Near to us
Conclusion:
- For me, the Word of God manifests itself through…
- My Personal Study – I can see Him better
- My Secret Prayer – I am drawn closer to Him
- My Children – His Love is manifested
- My Service to Him – I know that I am doing His Will
- My Sufferings – His Election is realized
- My Challenges – His Glorification is required
- My Failure – His Power is needed
- My Joys – His Deliverance is affirmed
- My Sorrows – His Comfort is sought
- My Salvation – His Plan is culminated
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