Romans 9:30-10:21

This weeks reading concludes our study of Chapter 9, and takes us through Chapter 10.  In the middle of the book of Romans, we find these two chapters speaking to the collision of the old system of the Law and the new system of Christ.  Though the Jews based their faith around the idea of being made right with God through obedience to the Law, a task Scripture clearly paints as impossible, Jesus Christ was "the end of the Law," declaring people right with God through faith alone.

This simple truth has long been a stumbling block for those who hold a merit-based faith, by which our standing with God is directly in proportion to how good we are.

Instead, the heart of the Gospel is presented clearly in one sentence, found here in the heart of Romans 10:9 --

"If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

This reiterates what Jesus plainly taught in John 6:29,

“This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

As you read this week's passage, Romans 9:30-10:21, bear in mind that this message of Christ was not only foolishness to the Jews, but a perceived offense to their very system.  In the big picture, however, God had been laying the foundation for this redemptive plan from the very beginning.

OPENING QUESTION:

Do you long for certain people to find God?  What is the substance of your prayers for them?

STUDY QUESTIONS:

• Read Isaiah 28:16 and Isaiah 8:14, which Paul combines in Romans 9:33.  Looking at Romans 9:30-10:4, what is Paul trying to communicate by saying that Christ, the Messiah, is both a stumbling block and a reliable block?
• In 10:4 Paul says the Messiah, Christ, "is the goal of the law."  Christ is the end, the final purpose of the law, where God's purposes that began with Abraham were headed all along.  The purpose of the law is not to accumulate a treasury of moral merit, but it is the assured status of belonging to God's people.  How does Christ accomplish the purpose of the law?
• In Paul's world, "Lord" was a title for Caesar.  Saying that Jesus was "Lord" meant, ultimately, that Caesar was not.  Today, when we say Jesus is Lord, who or what are we saying is not Lord?
• How does Paul also make the case that even Scripture itself foresaw that those who weren't even looking for salvation from Israel's God would stumble into it?
• At the end of this chapter of Romans we do well to stop and ponder the strange path by which the gospel first made its way into the world, humbling the proud and lifting up the lowly.  Is this what happens with the preaching of the gospel today?  If not, why not?

This is deep material, but praise God, we have the Author Himself to teach us all things!  Come ready to dive in headfirst, and to enjoy our regular fellowship!

Love in Christ,
Pastor Joe

Disclaimer: These questions have been drawn from N.T. Wright’s study guide on the book of Romans, and are posted here to provide a general sample of the in-depth study each chapter entails.  Though the study guide is not required for participation in our weekly study, it is an excellent resource for advanced study of God’s word.