The Church in Action. Lesson 3 Lesson Text—Romans 10:8-10 Romans 10:8-11 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart:

The Church in Action

Lesson 3

Lesson Text—Romans 10:8-10

Romans 10:8-118 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;9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.


10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.


Romans 10:12-1412 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.14 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?


Romans 10:15-1715 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!16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.


Romans 10:18-1918 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.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.

Lesson Text—Romans 10:21

Romans 10:20-2120 But Esaias 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.21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

Focus Verse—Hebrews 11:6

Hebrews 11:6But without faith it is impossible

to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder

of them that diligently seek him.

Focus Thought

Faith is the foundation of the Christian experience. By it we

are able to access righteousness and salvation.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessIntroduction

Unlike Paul’s letters to the Corinthians, which appear to be answering questions posed to Paul, the Book of Romans is a treatise proclaiming that faith is the foundation upon which a relationship with God rests. Paul declared that once the debt of sin had been satisfied by the death of the perfect sacrifice, it was futile to attempt to access righteousness by continuing to practice that which was symbolic.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessThis became a stumbling stone to the Jews, who believed they must continue their traditions in attempting to attain righteousness.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul set out to demonstrate that faith—not works—is the foundation upon which salvation rests. A person accesses God’s forgiveness of sins and righteousness by faith rather than by circumcision, animal sacrifice, the burning of incense, or confession to a priest.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessMankind does not have to travel great distances to acquire salvation and forgiveness of sins. It is as close as the faith in his heart.

Many people have stumbled over Paul’s words in Romans 10:6-10. Some have chosen to discard everything else in the New Testament and focus only on these few verses. Paul never intended to supplant the necessity of the new birth. A person can understand this by reading the entire Book of Romans.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessIn the sixth chapter, Paul reminded his readers they had all been baptized into Jesus Christ (Romans 6:1-4). He also declared that it is essential to have within us the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, for without the Spirit one does not belong to Jesus Christ (Romans 8:9).

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessClearly, the phrases “confess

with your mouth” and “believe in your heart” are global, or general, statements concerning salvation and not specific, conclusive instructions as to how one obeys the words of Jesus Christ for receiving redemption. Various New Testament writers used the same kind of statement in a number of other instances. For example, Jesus stated, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22).

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessHowever, for one simply to endure to the end is insufficient if he has not received salvation.

When the pagan Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved, they first gave him a global answer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31). However, after he believed, Paul and Silas “spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway” (Acts 16:32-33).

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessIf baptism were not essential to salvation, it is doubtful the apostles would have baptized them given the late hour of the night.

When the people to whom Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost felt convicted of sin, they asked what they must do to remedy the situation. Peter replied, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessFaith moves the believer from generalities—believing on the Lord Jesus Christ—to the specific plan for salvation. Someone who truly believes on the Lord Jesus Christ will obey the gospel, receive the forgiveness of Christ and His righteousness, and proceed to live a victorious Christian life.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessThe Pursuit

of Righteousness

Righteousness is a term that many people do not clearly understand. In Living by Faith: A Verse-by-Verse Study of Romans, Daniel Segraves defined it as “right standing with God.” Righteousness describes a condition or position that sinful mankind has attempted to attain since his fall from innocence.

A. Attained by Faith A. Attained by Faith

“What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not

after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of

faith” (Romans 9:30).

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessRomans 9:30 presents the crux

of Paul’s argument for attaining the righteousness of God. Faith is an exercise whereby one accesses righteousness. Faith is the foundation upon which salvation is assured—the foundation upon which sins are remitted. Never having the influence of the oracles of God, the Gentiles were suddenly swept into God’s kingdom without following the rituals of the Mosaic law. However, they were not swept into the kingdom of God by the shallow or empty faith expressed by many people today.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessA person’s salvation does not come about simply by his making a statement of belief in a historical Jesus. Rather, he receives salvation by genuine faith in Christ’s redemptive work, which he expresses by obeying the Scriptures.

Transparency 2

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessPaul’s statement did not exclude

a conversion experience for the Gentiles—a time in their lives when they began to follow after righteousness. Paul clearly stated this in his first letter to the Corinthians: “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (I Corinthians 6:11).

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessRight standing with God is a

result of faith in “the operation of God,” or the power of God (Colossians 2:12). This is faith that God will do exactly as He promised. It is putting faith in the operation of God whether one is anticipating remission of sins through water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, healing by calling for the elders of the church and being anointed with oil (James 5:14), or receiving a blessing beyond measure through tithing (Malachi 3:10). Faith positions the believer to receive the promises of God.

B. Not Attained by the Works of the Law

B. Not Attained by the Works of the Law

In The Expositor’s Bible: The Epistle to the Romans, H. C. G. Moule makes the following comparison: “[The Israelites] aspired to acceptance. God bade them submit to it. In their view, it was a matter of attainment; an ascent to a difficult height, where the climber might exult in his success.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessAs [Paul] presented it, it was a matter of surrender, as when a patient, given over, places himself helpless in a master-healer’s hands, for a recovery which is to be due to those hands alone, and to be celebrated only to their praise.”

God gave mankind four thousand years to prove that a person could not achieve righteousness through his own works. When Moses gave his last sermon to the people of Israel before entering the Promised Land, he encouraged them to obey all the laws and commands of the Lord.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessThere was one very important reason for their obedience—their righteousness was contingent upon it. (See Deuteronomy 6:25.) It was an expectation sinful human nature could not fulfill, so Israel lived in a perpetual cycle of sin and sacrifice. (See James 2:10.)

This apparent futility caused Paul to pose the following question: “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet” (Romans 7:7).

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessThe problem was not with the law

of Moses but with mankind. The law was necessary to define the will of God—to define right and wrong—but it did not have the power to deliver mankind from his sinful state. The writer of the Book of Hebrews offered, “The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God” (Hebrews 7:18-19, NIV).

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessNo matter how diligently the Israelites sought the law of righteousness, they continually fell short.

C. Faith in Jesus—a Stumbling Stone


The attainment of righteousness became a stumbling stone to the Israelites because they refused to believe in Jesus Christ (Romans 9:32-33). To the Jews, there was no better description of Jesus than to refer to Him as a stumbling stone.


The very Messiah that Israel had longed for had arrived at their feet, and instead of allowing Him to become a light unto their path, they stumbled over Him in their blinded condition. They could not grasp the concept of putting faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Jesus did everything imaginable to demonstrate He was the Messiah, Immanuel—God with us, the Creator, and Redeemer.


When John the Baptist heard of the works of Jesus, he sent for word of assurance that Jesus really was the Christ. (See Matthew 11:3-6.) With all this evidence before them, the Jews still stumbled over Him. Jesus performed miracles, signs, and wonders that unbelievers could not explain away, yet they chose not to believe. They stumbled around as blind people trying desperately to deny or explain away the power of God. When all else failed, they accused Him of being of the devil. (See Matthew 12:24.)

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessPaul explained this blindness:

“But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ” (II Corinthians 3:14). Faith in Jesus removes the veil of blindness. Instead of being a stumbling stone, Jesus becomes a stepping stone into the kingdom of God.

Sadly, many Christians today are as spiritually blind as the Jews of whom Paul spoke. The teaching of evolution has undermined faith in a living, miracle-working God.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessPeople attend church on a regular basis, having a form of godliness, but many deny God’s power—that He still heals, performs miracles, and fills people with the Holy Ghost. (See II Timothy 3:5.) We are to turn away from such unbelief because it undermines the very foundation of a genuine relationship with a living God. (See Matthew 11:21-22.)

Matthew 11:21-22“Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for

if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been

done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long

ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and

Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you” (Matthew 11:21-

22).

II. The Way to SalvationThe Way to Salvation

Throughout his life, Paul had a passion for his people, the Jews, to accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah. He wanted to see them turn to Jesus and be saved (Romans 10:1). Paul knew that the way to salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ, for the blood of bulls and goats could no longer put a person in right standing with God.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessThe Jews were religious, but they

were ignorant of God’s plan. (See Romans 10:2.) They were good people, but they were stuck in the traditions of their forefathers. They had not comprehended that faith in the work of Jesus Christ replaced their work of continual animal sacrifice. As with many people today, the Jews could not imagine that God had already provided for their righteousness.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessSadly, many Christians today

participate in rituals that will leave them unchanged. Like Cornelius, they are devout, pray to God regularly, and may be generous, but—like Cornelius—they are not saved (Acts 11:14). The twenty-first-century church should possess the same passion that consumed Paul—a passion for lost souls to receive a life-changing new-birth experience with Jesus Christ.

A. Christ—the End of the Law A. Christ—the End of

the Law

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Romans 10:4).

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessEarlier in his letter to the

Romans, Paul explained that the commandment should have brought life, but because of the weakness of sinful flesh it brought death. (See Romans 7:10.) In other words, if every person lived by the commandments, they would have life. However, mankind was unable to keep the commandments of God; therefore, the commandments brought condemnation.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessHow did Christ become the end of the law? Paul declared, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:3-4).

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessThe Greek word translated as “end” in Romans 10:4 comes from the same Greek root word that, in other forms in other verses, is translated as “perfect,” “complete,” or “finished.” For example, in His great intercessory prayer, Jesus stated, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4). When He had met the demands of the law on the cross, He cried out, “It is finished.”

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessThe price for mankind’s

redemption has been paid and the requirement has been fulfilled. There is nothing else upon which we may rely for salvation—only the work of Jesus Christ and the Cross. Our only option for redemption is by faith to embrace the Cross and obey the gospel. Obedience to the gospel will initiate in us a new birth through which we become new creations in Christ Jesus free from the old law of sin and death. (See Romans 8:1.)

B. Faith in Christ B. Faith in Christ

Some of Paul’s words in the Book of Romans may be the most abused and misunderstood of all. (See Romans 10:5-10.) Some individuals might tend to skip over these verses because they do not fully understand them. However, all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and we are not to avoid verses or explain them away. Rather, we should study them to understand them.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessPaul declared that we obtain the

righteousness of God by faith. These verses in no way indicate that we do not need to be born again. However, repentance of sins, baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and receiving the Holy Ghost speaking with other tongues are not mystical actions; they bring about the new birth and the forgiveness of sins because they express a person’s obedient faith in Christ’s work, not the result of one’s own efforts.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessJesus Christ has been sacrificed for all—for the Jew and the Gentile alike. His atoning work alone is sufficient to bring about the new birth in us by faith.

C. Faith—the Common Denominator

C. Faith—the Common Denominator

Faith is the common denominator for all people who desire the blessings of God. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6), but faith in Jesus Christ provides access to the greatest blessing of all—salvation from sins. The birth, life, and atoning death of Jesus Christ destroyed the barrier that once separated Jews and Gentiles and discouraged Gentiles from even attempting to approach God. (See Ephesians 2:14-16.)

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessIt is no longer heritage or

ancestry that opens the door to salvation. No longer do animal sacrifices and the keeping of the Sabbath satisfy the demands of the law. Faith has become the common denominator for all mankind, and Jesus Christ is the central focus of that faith. Peter ushered in this New Testament principle when he preached his first sermon: “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessThat which was a stumbling stone to some became a stepping stone to eternal life for others.

III. The Word of Christ and FaithThe Word of Christ

and FaithThere is a direct connection

between the Word of God and faith. Hearing the gospel results in the development and nurturing of faith. However, the outcome is limited by the will of the individual. (See Romans 10:21.) Knowledge alone is not faith; action always accompanies it. One displays faith when he acts in obedience to the Word of God.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessThe Scriptures declare, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). We should carefully note that the action of baptism is connected with believing. James stated, “Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works” (James 2:18).

A. The Essentiality of the Gospel

A. The Essentiality of the Gospel

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the

word of Christ” (Romans 10:17, NIV).

Romans 10:17, NIV

Daniel Segraves and other commentators assert that the above translation from the New International Version is the better rendering of Romans 10:17 from the Greek.

“Faith comes as a result of hearing the good news of the coming Messiah. . . . Although faith may come or be increased by reading the Scriptures or by hearing Bible preaching or teaching, that is not what Paul has in mind here.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessHe has in mind the specific word of the gospel message” (Living by Faith: A Verse-by-Verse Study of Romans, Daniel Segraves).

Faith is proportionally related to the gospel message. When the good news comes, faith arises and conversion occurs.

All cultures and religious systems have teachings concerning how to treat others. But without the opportunity to hear the saving message of Jesus Christ, people remain in a sinful state, separated from God.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessEvery soul on earth should have the opportunity to hear the gospel message—the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

B. The Essentiality of the Preacher

B. The Essentiality of the Preacher

Because faith is the result of hearing the gospel, it is essential that someone carry this message to the unsaved (Romans 10:14). Since God knows the potential in the heart of every individual, He could scan the earth and take to heaven those whom He chooses. However, He created mankind and gave him a free will, and He offered the plan of salvation to meet mankind’s need for redemption.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessGod chose to involve mankind in

the plan of salvation. Not only does God ask that we choose to serve Him, but He also asks that we take the message of salvation to others. This is evident in the conversion of Cornelius. (See Acts 10.) An angel could just as well have delivered the new-birth message to Cornelius. Although an angel did visit Cornelius, he was not charged to deliver the salvation plan. Instead, the angel directed Cornelius to another human being who would relate God’s plan. (See Acts 11:13-14.)

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessHad Peter not laid down his net and responded to Jesus as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, or had he resisted God’s call to take the gospel to the “unclean” Gentiles, Cornelius and his household may have died lost. How many people like Cornelius will die unsaved because someone refused to respond to the call of God to preach the gospel? How many will die lost because a preacher never came to them with the gospel?

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessThe church stands commissioned and responsible to a greater number of lost souls today than at any time in the history of mankind. The world needs gospel preachers!

C. The Essentiality of Obedience


Israel’s failure to obtain the righteousness of God was not a matter of not hearing or not knowing the gospel. It was a matter of willingly rejecting the plan of God to access righteousness and, ultimately, salvation, through faith in the finished work of Christ at Calvary.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessOnly faith in Jesus Christ will save us, but only those who demonstrate their faith by obeying the Word of God have genuine faith. Obeying God’s plan of salvation, as Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, is essential and our only hope of redemption.


ConclusionAs any builder knows, the

foundation is the most important part of the building. If the foundation is improperly constructed, the building will not stand no matter how aesthetically pleasing it may be at the time of construction. The Master Builder conveyed this truth when He told the parable of the two builders.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessThe one who built on the sand (a poor foundation) was destined to destruction, while the one who chose to build upon the rock (a good foundation) was able to withstand the forces that would come against the building. (See Matthew 7:24-27.)

Jesus was the stone that the builders rejected. (See Matthew 21:42.) The Jews in Paul’s time could not imagine that they could access righteousness and salvation without some elaborate ceremony.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessThe Galatians were seduced by the same attraction to ritual. Concerning this, Paul cried out, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” (Galatians 3:1).

Many people today have returned to a priesthood, ornately decorated gowns, candles, and even incense in an attempt to gain access to God.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessOthers have discarded obedience to the new-birth message and holiness in exchange for a message of only “believing in their hearts” and “confessing with their mouths,” not understanding that they are not mutually exclusive. To forsake any of these doctrines in exchange for a message of only “believe” and “confess” would be an error of grievous proportions.

I. The Pursuit of RighteousnessFaith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross is the foundation upon which the church and all its doctrines are built. God has gloriously provided this wonderful plan of redemption that is still available for all people today.

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The Church in Action. Lesson 3 Lesson Text—Romans 10:8-10 Romans 10:8-11 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: