Sound Doctrine

Jeff Johnson: We need to be examples of who and what the Lord is to us. We need to have a relationship so they can see that relationship, so they can see us praying, hear us singing songs and praise unto God as we put the CD in the car as we're driving to vacation or down to San Diego or wherever.

We're just rejoicing in the Lord. They need to hear us praying for one another. They need to be a part of that. They need to see that. And you need to cultivate that in your home. And that will bless them. That will leave an impact that will impact them for the rest of their lives.

Guest (Male): When you receive some good news, you normally can't wait to tell someone. Maybe you quickly create a post on social media or make a few phone calls. But why is it that we so often clam up when it comes to sharing the greatest news of all?

Today on Sound Doctrine, Pastor Jeff Johnson points out the need for evangelism. When God saves us, He then wants us to pass this good news onto others so that they too can be saved. When you think about it, why would we want to keep such good news to ourselves? Here's Pastor Jeff in Romans Chapter 10.

Jeff Johnson: There is a story in the Maccabees. Maccabees is one of the five books in the Catholic Bible. It's in the Apocrypha, it's called. Those five books in the Catholic Bible were not brought into our canon of scripture, the Bible we have today, because they did not have enough backing as far as manuscripts to cover those books.

There wasn't enough found as far as making them legitimate to put into the real canon of scripture of the Bible, that this is God's word, and they weren't let in. And that's why they didn't get into our Bibles. They're basically, if you read them, they're just history and stories. They're stories.

One of them is about Maccabees, and one of the guys that is in Maccabees is called Eleazar. He's a Jewish high priest. And at that time, Antiochus Epiphanes, a great Roman emperor, entered into the land and he grabbed the high priest at that time and tried to force him to eat pork. And if you know anything about Jews and pork, they don't go together. No thank you.

And it's unclean. And so here they are trying to feed him this pork and they're beating him to a pulp. They're beating him saying, "You will eat it, you will eat it." And he's just, "No, no, no, I'm not going to eat it." Finally, some of the soldiers said, "You know what? Would you take this piece of beef and would you just put it in your mouth and say it's pork, okay? Just so it saves your life."

They couldn't stand to watch him suffering anymore. And this is what they did. And he finally said, "No, I will not." He refused. And as he was dying, he cried out, "For the law's sake, for the law's sake!" Now, that's zealousness because the law says don't eat pork. He's saying, "I'll die for that."

And you'll say, "Well, man, that's kind of a pointless death." Not to him, because he totally believed that in living by the law, he was in the way of God. I mean, he was on his way to God. I mean, this was all about God. And he was convinced of that. And so he died a horrible death.

He was blinded. I mean, he gave his life for not eating pork. It's the same way with the 9/11 Islamic terrorists. Interesting as you look at as they committed suicide flying into those twin towers, they were screaming, "Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar! Our God is great." And here they are crying out that their God is great.

What zeal these guys had. Tremendous zeal for what they believed in. Incredible all the way to the very end, but killing 3,000 Americans. They believed that they would go right to heaven and have 72 virgins, right? What a shock when they ended up in hell.

Can you imagine? You have so much zeal, you believe in what you're doing, and then boom! Oh my gosh, we didn't... what? Just wiped out for the rest of their eternity. The Lord says, "My people are destroyed because of lack of knowledge." So sincere, but zeal will never save. Ever learning and yet never able to come to the truth or to the knowledge of the truth.

Always learning, studying. And some of these cults, they study so hard. They're so zealous, so sincere, but they're sincerely deceived in what they're doing. Now in verse 3, let's continue on now, chapter 10, verse 3. He says, "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness..." What do you think God's righteousness is? What is God's righteousness, anybody?

Yeah, it's Jesus Christ. But notice, ignorant of God's righteousness. They don't have Jesus Christ. "And going about to establish their own righteousness," doing their own thing, "have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." See, God has a way. It is the only way. There is no other way. It's His son, period.

But these guys are renegades. They don't want that way. They don't want to go God's way. They want to have their own way and they want to do their own thing. So these guys, this chapter is about ignorance. In other words, no spiritual discernment of truth or error. They have a zeal, but no knowledge. And this is not an excusable ignorance. It's what I call a WD, and a WD is willful disobedience.

That's what it is. They would not submit, they did not submit, they would not go that way. And so they turned their backs upon God to do their own thing. Over in Romans chapter 1, if you want to turn there, verse 21. Paul says, "Because that when they knew God..." You see, they knew God. "They glorified him not as God, neither were they thankful for all that God had done."

"But became empty in vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart," notice, "was darkened." Their hearts went into darkness. They began to believe a lie and live the lie. They turned their back upon God. This is the beginning that Paul's talking about here in Romans 1 of man's downhill spiral into sin, gross darkness.

They rejected God's way, Jesus Christ. They put on their own garments, if you will. And that's a big danger, putting on your own garments. You say, "What do you mean, danger?" Well, over in Matthew chapter 22, jot it down, there's a story here in Matthew 22 verse 11. When the king came in to see the guests, this is a wedding party thing, he saw that there was a man that had not on a wedding garment.

There's one guy that stuck out, didn't have the garment that everybody else had at the wedding. He's just standing over there and so the guy went to him and said to him, "Friend, how camest thou in hither and not having a wedding garment?" And the guy just stood there with his mouth open. He didn't have an answer.

Then Jesus is saying this, it's in red in my Bible, "Then said the king to the servants, bind this guy hand and foot, take him away and cast him into the outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen." Wow, danger. It's not about works. It's not about making your way to heaven. You can't do it. It's about receiving His grace for your life. He's your ticket in.

Jesus, He paid the price. He's who you need in your heart. Do you remember the Pharisees? They were so stringent, religious. I can't think of a better word to share what they were like. They would gag at a gnat. In other words, you know what a gnat is, it's a little fly. So they'd be walking on the street and all of a sudden this little fly would fly into their mouth.

You've had that happen. And usually you just go, "Oh, that's good. Oh, yeah." No, maybe not. Some of you might try to spit it out, the others just go, "What the heck, I got my vitamins for today." But not a Jew, not a Pharisee. I mean, he'd get that gnat caught in his throat, he'd just start gagging trying to throw it up.

Why? Because it hadn't been bled yet. Everything he eats has to be kosher. It's all got to be bled. That little gnat wasn't bled. And he's trying to get it out. Now that's a religious guy, right? He's trying to do everything by the book. But then Jesus says this about them, they gag at a gnat and they swallow a camel.

What did he mean by that? Well, they take everything else in and they're not merciful. They're religious, but they're not good representatives of who and what God is. They've taken in the world. They're just acting in their flesh. They swallow a camel. They swallow anything the world gives to them. They're ruining their lives as what he's saying, but they're so religious.

Chinese, they burn pieces of paper for their ancestors and think that they're interceding for them and they're going to get to heaven or wherever. Hindus, they plunge into the filthy Ganges river for their ancestors and thinking by doing that that they're interceding for them. Mormons baptize for their dead and they believe that's going to get them.

Catholics say Hail Marys and do penance and they think that's going to make a difference. Protestants, let's not leave them out, right? Protestants are some of the worst. Why? Because they have a head knowledge of God. They will say God, they will say Jesus Christ. And they have this head knowledge, but they miss the Lord by oh, about 18 inches.

And they miss heaven, they miss the Lord because see, God deals with the heart, not with the mind. You see, a lot of people know about God, know about Christ, but they haven't received Him into their heart. They're not born again. And so that's a detriment right there. "I've been baptized," they say. "I joined a church," they say.

"I don't smoke, I don't chew, I don't go with those who do," right? "So I'm a good guy, I'm going to heaven for sure." But that's not what gets you there. So all of these have no born-again conversion experience. There's no heart change. They have outward standards, they have their holiness things, they've established their own righteousness, which becomes a self-righteous thing.

And when you have a self-righteous thing, you look down on others. "I've made it, you haven't. Oh, I'll pray for you." Like the Samaritan story, the priest and the Levite went on the other side of the road and said, "Oh, I see you're beat up and you need help. God bless you and I'll pray for you and see ya." And that's what they would do because they're not supposed to get near a Gentile.

So religious, looking down on others, and it's a horrible thing to be caught up in. So they have their own self-righteousness. Israel's condition was in ignorance and they had lots of effort, but they had so much failure with a zeal and no knowledge. It wreaked havoc within their ranks.

And those that look to them to represent God well, when they looked to them, God says through Paul that people blaspheme God. They cursed God because of what they saw in the Jewish religious people, that they were hypocrites maximum.

You see, this is where it should speak to us. There's always going to be hypocrites. Hey, there's a bunch here, right? There's hypocrites here that say one thing and do another. You're always going to have them. But God help us to seek to be a good representative and not go that way. Not to become religious, to realize that it is a relationship and that you do want us to shine for you.

And yes, we do need to represent you to our children number one, right there in the home. What's in the refrigerator? What's on the TV? Come on, think about it. God help us, He will. And we'll be able to share with our kids what it is to have a relationship with the Lord and how to say no to the things of the world. How to just say, "No kids, you watch me. I'm following Jesus. You watch me because I'm following Him."

That's what Paul said, didn't he? He said follow me because I'm following the Lord. That we would seek the Lord and be good representatives. Verse 4, this is a strong and very powerful statement. Verse 4, check this out, Romans 10 verse 4. He says, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness." Christ is the end of it to everyone that believeth.

So what is important today for us? It's to realize that it's not by our works, it's by our belief. It's who we believe in. Now the word belief is that you trust in, you rely upon, you cling to, you're adhering to the Lord. Belief is a strong word. I believe, Lord, I believe. And man, I'll tell you this, this one verse is all anybody ever needs to get saved.

Christ is the end of your own righteousness. He gives you His righteousness. Paul said this in Philippians, Philippians chapter 3 and verse 9. He said, "I just want to be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." By believing. That's what I want. That's how I want to be found. I want to have His righteousness. I appreciate that. It's right on.

Now there is no other way but to submit yourself to the Lord. To call upon the Lord. To ask the Lord to humble you, to bring you into this place of repentance. And once you're in that place, James says the devil will flee from you. If you draw near to God, He'll draw near to you. If you call upon the name of the Lord, He'll hear you. He'll save you. And that's important.

Have you submitted? Notice the word there in verse 3, "have not submitted." Have you submitted yourself? Have you believed? That's important. Then verse 5, "For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law, that a man which doeth those things shall live by them." You see, the law always says you need to do, do, do, and then live. But no one ever has been able to live by the law.

The law was just a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ to show us that none of us can make it. That's what the law was for. The law's always been for that. It's good. It busts a lot of people. It convicts them. And they realize, man, I've lusted after a woman, I've hated my brother. You've blown it. You need forgiveness. You need Him in your life.

The law never brought life. In fact, in the Old Testament, remember at Sinai there were 3,000 killed in one day by the law. Why? Because they broke the law. The law always brings death. But in the New Testament it changed, didn't it? In Acts, there were 3,000 that came to the Lord. How? By God's spirit.

See, the flesh, the law, will always bring death. The spirit, the life that's in the Lord, will always bring life, new life and salvation. Now notice verse 6, "But the righteousness which is of faith speaks on this wise. Don't say in your heart, who shall ascend into heaven? That is to bring Christ down from above." Don't get into this stuff of "I need God consciousness. I want to go and bring God to me, that he might realize that I am God," and it's kind of like bring down the God of the heavens into your own situation.

"I want to look through my third eye. I want to be in that place of peace with God consciousness." See, that's like what he's saying here. We're not going to bring God down to us. And then in verse 7, "Who shall descend into the deep? That is to bring up Christ from the dead." In other words, I want to go deeper. I want to go deeper with theology. I want to learn about the deeper things of God.

I want to go deeper in philosophy and I want to learn about man and just how man is relating to God. All these things, it's not going to get you anywhere. It's not about us learning, going deeper or bringing the heavens to us. He says simply in verse 8, "Then what saith it? The word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart. That is the word of faith which we preach."

He's saying this word that you need so badly is very close to you. It's the word of life, it's righteousness, it's abundant life, it's salvation. It's right there on your lips. That's how close it is. People don't understand that. They want to debate about God. They want to argue about these things. Well, there shouldn't be any argument.

I mean, God already said it. That settles it. It's true. I believe it. It's done. There shouldn't be any argument or debate. And if you do, you're going to miss the simplicity that is in Christ. A lot of people say, "Well, this Christianity thing, you mean it's just if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth and your whole life's going to be changed?" Yeah.

"Well, that's too simple, man. Come on, don't you have to go up the Himalayas and stand on your head and tie your legs up and 'om' or something?" No, you don't have to do any of that. Right now, right here, right today you can just confess. But before you confess, there's a heart thing that needs to be dealt with.

And I thought this is interesting. He says He's even near your mouth and in your heart, that is the word of faith, that word of just simply believing, which we are sharing with you. Be careful you don't miss the simplicity of Christ. Paul said this in 2 Corinthians 11:3. He said, "I fear and I am so afraid that you're going to be deceived like Eve was with the subtlety of the enemy."

Keeping Eve from that simplicity that is in Christ. And he was so caring about those that were listening to the word. He didn't want them to be deceived from that simplicity. It is simple. A little child can understand what it is to be born again and they can receive the Lord and their life.

I remember when I prayed with my daughter. She was called Holy Terror, and her name's Tara, but she was called Holy Terror. I spanked her more than any kid I've ever spanked. And I had a wooden spoon, broke many of them. She was a terror. You talk about seeing sin in a little child. Unbelievable. But when she prayed and she came to the Lord, her life was transformed at five years old.

You say, "Come on, five?" Yeah, some get it. And some of them don't. And you might have some that don't, but mine at five got it. And from there on was used of the Lord and was precious the remaining years of her life, continues to be. Parents, we need to be examples of who and what the Lord is to us.

We need to have a relationship so they can see that relationship, so they can see us praying, hear us singing songs and praise unto God as we put the CD in the car as we're driving to vacation or down to San Diego or wherever. But we're just rejoicing in the Lord. They need to hear us praying for one another. They need to be a part of that. They need to see that. And you need to cultivate that in your home. And that will bless them. That will leave an impact that will impact them for the rest of their lives.

Guest (Male): Pastor Jeff Johnson with Sound Doctrine from the book of Romans. And this is Sound Doctrine. We'll get back to Pastor Jeff in a moment. It is our sincere hope that you've been blessed by the word spoken today by Pastor Jeff as we continue verse by verse through the great book of Romans. The 16 chapters in this amazing epistle from the Apostle Paul contain some of the most important lessons we can learn about being a believer in Jesus in the 21st century.

Now, if you'd like to hear this study again, there are several ways to do that. The first is online at sounddoctrineradio.org. By the way, you can also donate to this radio ministry right there at sounddoctrineradio.org. The second way to listen is through the Sound Doctrine Radio podcast app. Look for us in your favorite app store. The podcast version of Sound Doctrine can also be heard wherever you enjoy podcasts, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Now let's turn back to Romans chapter 10 for a minute or two.

Jeff Johnson: Look at verse 9. "And if thou wilt confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus..." Now he begins to show us how simple it is. Just confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. And you start to think, wow, it's just confessing with your mouth. Just with your lips.

But wait a minute, that's not the first thing that needs to happen because he talks about the heart. Notice verse 10. "For with the heart man believes unto righteousness." That relationship begins. "And with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." And there, you're saying, "Lord, be my Lord and my savior." You're confessing, you're saying, "Come into my heart."

See, first the Lord touches the heart. This is the inner being, the inner core of man. This is his morals. The heart. But it's the heart that God deals with. That's what's important. Thanks again for joining us today and we'll catch you back here next time when we'll again be encouraged to be an evangelist. Sound Doctrine with Pastor Jeff is presented by Calvary Chapel Downey.