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Sunday School Special : Romans - Lesson 61

Text: Romans 10:5-8
15 September 2024

SENIOR SUNDAY SCHOOL 15 September 2024

Text: Romans 10

Subject: “The righteousness of faith”

5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”

6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above)

7 or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):

Romans 10:5-8

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT MOSES TAUGHT

“For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” Romans 10:5

The reference is to a text in Leviticus

You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord. Leviticus 18:5

1. The statutes and judgments

They must be kept

2. One must live by the statutes and judgments given by God

3. Question

Can anyone fully the laws of God?

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT COMES BY FAITH

“But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way” Romans 10:6a

1. This righteousness by faith is offered in contrast to the righteousness that comes by the law

2. This was a very different way of understanding righteousness that comes from faith

3. But Paul had ably explained this in the earlier chapters (Romans 4-5)

a) God has to impute righteousness
b) It is impossible for man to earn salvation by works
c) Man’s sinful state will end up with judgment and condemnation
d) But when one has faith in the Lord Jesus
i) His sins are forgiven
ii) God justifies him
iii) He has the righteousness of the Lord Jesus imputed to him
iv) He becomes a child of God
v) He has the Holy Spirit given to him as a Seal and a Guarantee of salvation

OBJECTIONS RAISED

1. Question 1

Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) Romans 10:6

a) Who can ascend to heaven to confirm things?
b) Can the Lord Jesus Christ come down from heaven to prove this doctrine?
c) This is a spurious line of questioning
d) The facts were clear that the Lord Jesus had come from heaven to offer salvation and righteousness through faith
e) The Gospels contain the teachings of the Lord Jesus
f) It is clear that He is the Messiah, the Christ!

2. Question 2

Or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). Romans 10:7

a) Paul would have to mention that the Lord Jesus died for our sins
b) He would also have to teach that the Lord Jesus rose from the dead
c) There were many witnesses to the fact that the Lord Jesus rose from the dead
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.
6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
1 Corinthians 15:3-8

THE WORD OF GOD IS AT HAND

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): Romans 10:8

1. Paul cited from Deuteronomy

11 “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off.

12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’

13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’

14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.

Deuteronomy 30:11-14

2. He borrowed the words of Moses

a) The word of God is not too mysterious
b) It is not far off
c) One does not ascend to heaven to find the word of truth
d) It is not beyond the sea
e) The word of God is very near
i) In your heart
ii) In your mouth

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To understand afresh the doctrine of Justification

(Review Romans 4-5)

2. To be able to articulate clearly what imputed righteousness is

3. To hold fast to this glorious truth

4. To share our faith freely