All the Word to All the World

Posted on November 12, 2006

Romans 10:12-21

Have you noticed how much we like a good fight? Boxing used to be popular, but it is rapidly being eclipsed in popularity by the Ultimate Fighting Championships. Hockey is popular not so much because a bunch of guys chase a puck around on some ice, but because there is always tension, there’s always a fight. I’ve been drawn into baseball games before because pitchers hit batters repeatedly until someone charges the mound.

Baptist have fought many battles of their own. Our history is replete with examples of major wars over the most minute points of doctrine. But then there are some significant battles, such as the battle for the Bible of the last four or five decades. Another is the battle over missions that was waged for about 300 years.

In the early 1600’s, when the first churches going by the name “Baptist” were in existence, there was a war over missions. Baptists found themselves dividing into two camps: the Particular Baptists and the Regular Baptists. The Particular Baptists did not believe in missions because of an overemphasis on the sovereignty of God and the Regular Baptists did believe in missions. Each group has split many times since and we trace our heritage through the Regular Baptists.

What astounds me is that it could ever be a question! When William Carey wanted to go to China, a member of the group of men to whom he was appealing said, “if God wants to save the heathen, He’ll do it without our help.” Carey went anyway and became the founder of modern missions.

Missions is a must, it is a mandate, it is the very heartbeat of the New Testament church!

THE MUSTS OF MISSIONS…

1.         We must keep sharing the Word with the world.

There is tremendous emphasis in the New Testament on preaching the Word. It seems that the church today would rather preach many other things, but Paul’s admonition to Timothy is still our charge today, to “preach the Word” (2 Tim. 4:1) and that’s why “it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (1 Cor. 1:21)

            Why?

            A.         Because God is on mission to reach the whole world. (vs. 12-13)

This passage is about the Jews’ rejection of the message of the gospel, but Paul turns his attention to the fact that the whole world can be saved and must be saved the same way, by calling upon the name of the Lord. If we fail in missions, it turns out to be the neglect of everyone else in the world but ourselves.

            B.         Because God uses His Word to initiate faith. (vs. 14, 17)

                        The Word of God is described in several ways…

·         It is a fire and a hammer, according to Jeremiah 23:29.

·         It is a sword, according to Hebrews 4:12.

·         It always accomplishes its purpose, according to Isaiah 55:11.

            C.         Because God uses people to spread the good news. (v. 14)

·         Why, in Acts 9, did God command Paul to go to Damascus and find Ananias so that he might know what to do? Why didn’t Jesus just tell him what to do?

·         Why, in Acts 10, did an angel tell Cornelius that a man named Peter was coming to share God’s truth with him? Why didn’t the angel just tell him what to do?

·         Why, in Ezekiel 33, did God say that His people were like the watchmen of a city and that if they refused to warn the people, blood would be required at their hands?

·         Why did God call so many prophets to carry a “thus saith the Lord” message?

Because God, in His providence, has chosen to use redeemed people to tell the story of redemption!

And God wants to use you! No matter your gifts and talents, no matter your background, no matter your ability, God wants to use your life!

2.         We must keep sending messengers into the world. (vs. 15-16)

God’s plan for reaching the modern world began four thousand years ago with a promise made to Abraham, the father of the Jews, that someday, through his promised seed, all the nations of the earth would be blessed.

The Great Commission of the New Testament begins with the Jews and extends to the uttermost parts of the earth. (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:20) In fact, when the early church was unfaithful to the missions mandate, God sent persecution to spread them out around the world.

But what are we going to do? How are we responsible?

·         We are to reach our mission field.

·         We are to pray for missionaries.

·         We are to send men to the field.

·         We are to support missions at every level.

3.         We must keep stretching forth our hands to the world. (vs. 18-21)

            There are a couple of amazing truths to be understood here…

            A.         The gospel is a command to be obeyed.

We often think that obedience to the law was the Old Testament way and faith in the gospel is the New Testament way, but there has always been only one way of salvation. Whether given through the law or through the gospel, faith and obedience are to be our response.

            B.         Most people will disobey the gospel.

This chapter is about the Jews’ rejection of the gospel. Paul said earlier in the chapter that Jesus Christ was right in front of them. Now he says that the gospel itself is right in front of them. Nevertheless they reject it.

Chapter eleven will elaborate on the fact that their rejection results in the salvation of the Gentiles, but the reality is that most Gentiles will not obey the gospel either.

            C.         God keeps inviting regardless of the response.

We are to keep stretching forth our hands with the offer of the gospel no matter the response from our hearers. There will be those who reject the message to our dismay. There will be those who receive it to our delight. Either way, we must keep publishing, proclaiming, and preaching God’s Word!

Have you obeyed the gospel? And are you doing your part to share the Word, to support missions, and to stretch out your hands to your own mission field?