Introduction

Throughout church history, God has repeatedly moved in surprising ways. One of the most surprising ways was through the life and ministry of William Carey. He was born into a poor family in 1761, and he never received much formal education. As a teenager he learned how to be a shoemaker, thinking that’s how he’d spend his life. But another young cobbler shared the gospel with him, and at age 17 Carey was saved!

He fell in love with the Bible and began studying Hebrew and Greek so he could better understand the Scriptures. By the time he was 24, he was pastoring a small church. He loved studying the Bible, but he also enjoyed reading the journals of British explorers. He was especially fascinated by their explorations in the South Pacific.

Over time, God used his study of the Scriptures and of those journals to give him a very unusual burden for that time—a burden for world missions. While the English church was thriving, very few had given any thought to the spread of the gospel in heathen lands. But Carey grieved over their lost condition and the church’s failure to reach them. He began to push his local fellowship of Particular Baptist pastors.

At one meeting, Carey made the revolutionary argument that the Great Commission was for the entire church, not just the apostles. But an older pastor interrupted Carey and firmly declared, “Young man, sit down! You are an enthusiast. When God pleases to convert the heathen, he'll do it without consulting you or me.”

Carey would not be dissuaded. In 1792 he published an 87 page pamphlet,  An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians, to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens. In Which the Religious State of the Different Nations of the World, the Success of Former Undertakings and the Practicability of the Further Undertakings Considered. How’s that for a title!

God used it, and the tide began to shift. Later that year, the Particular Baptists formed a missions’ society, and the next year Carey, his pregnant wife, and 3 children sailed for India. And many others followed. Carey sparked one of the most transformational movements in church history. Today, he is credited as the father of modern missions. It is impossible to quantify the impact. The modern missions movement has reached untold millions with the gospel and established gospel lights in many places that had been in darkness for millennia. It all began with a self-trained pastor in a small town with a strong conviction to spread the gospel. Praise the Lord!

I’m sure that Carey loved today’s passage because it urgently appeals to us to aggressively take the gospel to all people, and it urges any unbeliever to respond (read). This passage gives two major challenges, the 1^st for Christians and 2^nd for nonChristians. First, vv. 14–17 challenge those who are saved to…

I.  Spread the gospel (vv. 14–17).

Last Sunday, we saw in vv. 9–13 that the gospel is the very best news. Verse 13 sums it up when it says, “Whoever will…” Anyone can be saved if they “call on” the Lord. This is great news! But vv. 14–15 follow with a sober reality. People cannot call on the Lord if they never hear the gospel. Paul makes his point by describing…

The Great Commission Process (vv. 14–15a): Paul asks 4 questions which work backwards from conversion to commissioning. His urgency jumps off the page. From a human perspective, no one will get saved if we don’t follow these steps for bringing the gospel to them.

Yes, the old pastor who confronted Carey was partially right. God is sovereign, and he will accomplish his sovereign will. But he missed something important. God uses us to accomplish his purpose. If we don’t follow this process, people will never get saved.

That said, the 1^st step required for people to be saved is that they must believe the gospel. That seems obvious, but I don’t want to skip over its significance. For example, if you ever speak with a LDS missionary, they will invite you to read the Book of Mormon and wait for a “burning in the bosom.” Conversion is defined by a feeling not truth. And many other religions are the same way.

But the gospel consists of essential doctrines and historical events. People cannot be saved unless they know these things and believe them.

Some disagree. For example, Clark Pinnock says, “In my judgment, the faith principle is the basis of universal accessibility. According to the Bible, people are saved by faith, not by the content of their theology. Since God has not left anyone without witness, people are judged on the basis of the light they have received and how they respond to that light.”

So, he makes a distinction between faith and theology as if true faith can be separated from theology. You don’t need to believe the gospel; you just need to believe whatever revelation God has given you. But that’s not what God says. You can’t call on the Lord if you don’t believe the gospel.

So, just because some guy in a dark corner of Cambodia calls out to an unknown god for help, doesn’t mean he is saved. He must believe the gospel to call out to the Lord for salvation. The need is urgent!

The salvation of the lost requires a 2^nd step, “How will they believe…” Have you ever shared the gospel with someone, and they replied, “Wow, I have never heard that”? It’s bittersweet. You are so happy this person finally heard, but it’s heartbreaking that he lived for decades before hearing the gospel.

Yet even though we have many churches in our country many people in our own backyard have never heard the gospel. And sadly, their story can be multiplied millions if not billions of times across the world. So many people have never heard a plain explanation of the best news in all the world.

It’s tragic because God says that they cannot believe and be saved unless they hear the gospel. Have you heard the saying, “Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words”? It’s often held up to make the point that a godly life is our greatest evangelistic tool. Yes, a godly life is important, and you can kill your witness without it, but the statement is not true.

You can’t preach the gospel without words. People must know who Jesus is, what he has done, and how to believe in order to be saved. God asks, “How will they believe in in Him whom they have not heard?” The answer is they won’t. If they do not hear the gospel from us, they will go to hell. So, who do you know that needs to hear the gospel from you? Are you being a faithful witness? The 3^rd step in the process is…

“How will they hear without a preacher?” The idea behind the Greek term for preacher is a herald. When Caesar made a decree, he would send heralds throughout the empire to proclaim his decree. Their job was to go where he said and to repeat king’s message.

God has given a similar duty to those he has called to preach. It’s not our job to preach our opinions or a Christian spin on the trendiest self-help guru. No, 2 Timothy 4:2 commands us, “Preach the Word.”

So, the specific focus of our text is that for new people to hear the gospel and be saved, we need preachers who are gifted and prepared for the complicated work of world evangelism. They must know the message, they must have the courage to speak it boldly, and they must have the skill to communicate it effectively. God is saying that the Great Commission demands that we send preachers into all the world.

Yes, we all must preach in the places where God has put us. I certainly don’t want to minimize that. Every Christian can share what God has done in his life and we are responsible to do so.

But we are also responsible to raise up godly and gifted missionaries and pastors who can take the gospel to new places. Parents and SS teachers, I hope you see that as part of your mission. Look for potential and urge children to consider. Of course, God doesn’t just call kids. He calls adults too, sometimes in surprising ways. Could God be calling you? The need is great. But thankfully, we are not alone. The 4^th step in the process is…

“How will they preach unless they are sent?” The sender is God. A faithful preacher doesn’t go on his own initiative or merely the initiative of a local church, though that is important. No, God gifts and calls him and sends him to do his work. That’s why Jesus commanded us, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest” (Matt 9:37–38).

We need the Lord of the harvest to raise up preachers. Are you praying that he will? Are you investing in the next generation of preachers and Christian workers? Finally, are you fulfilling your stewardship in the harvest fields? You may never be able to preach like Spurgeon, but you can share the gospel and what it has done in your life. Someone in your life needs to hear. Will you tell them how they can be saved?

God has designed an incredible process for reaching the world. Every Christian should passionately participate in this process. There are few more important reasons why you are on this earth. And we should be glad to participate. Notice in v. 15b…

The Glory of the Process (v. 15b): This is a quotation of Isaiah 52:17. Isaiah was looking ahead to God’s redemption of Israel in the end times, and he pictures a herald running across the mountains around Jerusalem sharing the good news of victory. His message will be music to Israel’s ears, so they will praise his beautiful feet for swiftly bringing the good news. And Paul is saying that a gospel messenger is also a wonderful blessing.

If you are a Christian, aren’t you thankful for the person or people who brought the gospel to you? They changed our lives. You can be that person for someone else. Sure, some people will get upset along the way. But imagine God using you to convert a sinner from condemnation in hell to eternal glory. It’s a marvelous privilege.

So go quickly with the gospel. That’s the idea behind beautiful feet. We must go rapidly with the message of salvation. And we must partner together in seeing it run swiftly to new places. Our missions giving has really fallen off this year. That makes it hard for us to take on new partners. Where are you wasting your money that could be better used for the gospel? There’s no greater cause imaginable. Let’s partner in the process. Then notice that v. 17 drives home…

The Necessity of Evangelism (v. 17): Sometimes the world’s evils are overwhelming. Corruption is everywhere, and our culture’s philosophy is simply wicked. In comparison, the church feels so small.

What do we do about it? How do we stay relevant? How can we make the widest impact? Fear often motivates Christians get creative. Maybe we just need to show the world that we are good people by giving them food, being nice, and avoiding confrontation. Maybe we need to put an awesome show and sprinkle some Jesus in. Maybe can push through a political savior. On it goes. Christians are always grasping for new powers of influence.

There may be some value in some of those things, but don’t ever forget where our real power lies. It is the “word of Christ,” the gospel. Romans 1:16 declares, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”

Our superpower, our greatest weapon, and the only hope of sinners is the preaching of the gospel. Sure, we want to be winsome, and we want to put our best face forward, but the gospel is our superpower. “Faith comes from hearing…the word of Christ.”

Don’t forget that as you work in the ministries of our church. The programs, the games, the snacks are not what saves. The gospel saves. So, preach the gospel. The same goes for your daily witness. Yes, maintain a good testimony. Give people a good taste for Christianity. But remember, “Faith comes from hearing…the word of Christ.” So, make sure you get to the gospel. Tell people who Jesus is, what he has done, and how they can be saved. Don’t forget your superpower.

God won’t save everyone. Some people may be offended. But the Spirit will work as you faithfully proclaim the gospel. He will give faith. He will save some. So, preach courageously, compassionately, and confidently expecting God to work.

The challenge for Christians is clear. Spread the gospel. Do it in your personal life and partner together in the church to spread it to the ends of the earth. But this passage also includes an important challenge for everyone else.

II.  Respond to the gospel (vv. 18–21).

As we study these verses, we must remember that Paul’s primary concern throughout Romans 9–11 is Israel’s rejection of Jesus. Why had God’s chosen people rejected their Messiah?

So, even as vv. 14–17 talk glowingly about the spread of the gospel to the nations, Israel is not far from Paul’s thoughts. Notice the tragedy of v. 16. The verb translated “heed” comes from the same root as the verb for “hear.” It’s not enough to hear the gospel; you must also obey the gospel. Otherwise, it does you no good.

Maybe you have heard the gospel plenty of times. You’re not hostile; you smile and nod. But you’ve never obeyed the gospel by confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior. Please understand that hearing will not save. You must believe and then call on the Lord to save. Please do that today.

But again, Paul’s primary concern is with Israel. Paul and the other apostles had boldly preached the gospel to the Jews for almost 30 years by the time Paul wrote Romans, but most refused the message. It was heartbreaking, but it shouldn’t have been surprising.

Paul quotes Isaiah 53:1 to make this point. That’s fascinating because Isaiah 53 is one of our most beloved OT prophecies about Jesus. 700 years before Jesus came, Isaiah accurately described how he would suffer as a sacrifice for sins. It’s great news, but Israel wanted a political savior, not a spiritual Savior. Isaiah said they would not believe. And that’s exactly what happened.

Similarly, the Bible warns us that most people will not respond to our witness. The fact that people get mad when you share the gospel or are uninterested doesn’t mean you are doing something wrong. It certainly doesn’t mean you should quit. Keep sharing because it honors God, and God will save some. That said, vv. 18–21 return to the Israelite conundrum. Why didn’t they believe? Paul first points out that…

Israel heard the gospel (vv. 18–19). It’s not hard to imagine the conversation among the “Committee for Jewish Evangelism.” “If the Jews aren’t getting saved, we must be doing something wrong. Paul, maybe you aren’t preaching clearly enough. Maybe you are biased, and you are ignoring the Jews.”

Paul responds that hearing is not the problem (v. 18b). Of course, Paul didn’t believe that the gospel had reached every person on the planet. He will say in chapter 15 that his ambition is to continue taking the gospel to brand new fields such as Spain. Rather, his point is that the gospel was rapidly advancing. The Jews were hearing the gospel.

It’s tragic to hear some people’s excuses as to why they will not get saved. Have you heard things like, “My uncle was a Christian, and he was a jerk. So, I don’t want any part of Christianity.” Or, “My pastor growing up was boring, or he was too confrontational. I didn’t like his tone, so I’m not going to get saved.” Or, “My parents made mistakes, I don’t want to be like them.” If you are using that kind of excuse not to get saved, please see that it’s not going to impress God someday.

You’ve heard the gospel today. It could have been presented better, but you’ve heard it. You are accountable to respond. That’s the only thing that will matter when you stand before God, not what your parents, a Christian teacher, or a pastor could have done better. So, please respond.

Sadly, Israel didn’t. Verse 18 says they heard, and v. 19 says the knew. The fault was with them. And then v. 19 quotes Deuteronomy 32:21 to say that God always knew they would reject him (v. 19b).

We talked about this a couple weeks ago. Before Israel even entered the land, Moses said they would not obey the Law, and God would judge them. God said he would make Israel jealous by a Gentile nation. That’s exactly what happened in Paul’s day. Israel heard the gospel, but they refused to respond. Then Paul closes the chapter by quoting Isaiah to make the point…

Israel disobeyed the gospel (vv. 20–21). Notice the contrast between these two verses. Paul is clearly making a contrast between the Gentile response to the gospel and the Jewish response. He notes that the Gentiles were not seeking after God.

Most of Paul’s Gentile converts were saved out of paganism. They had never heard of the true God, they weren’t trying to obey the Law, and they weren’t looking for Messiah. But when they heard the gospel, they were deeply convicted about their sin and the truth of Christ. Many were getting saved!

But how did Isaiah describe Israel? They were “disobedient and obstinate.” They were so familiar with the truth that they missed its true glory. They had heard it so many times that they stopped listening. They became so focused on what they wanted God to be saying that they missed what he was truly saying. They were so stubborn, and their view was so distorted that they didn’t even recognize Jesus when he came or when they heard the gospel later. It was terribly tragic.

Sadly, it sounds like a lot of people I have known who have grown up in church or in Christian families. They know it all in their heads, or at least they think they do. They’ve let the familiarity of the gospel breed contempt in their hearts. They’ve used the failures of God’s people as an excuse to be bitter at God or to dismiss his Word as false. Others become so enamored with their righteousness that they don’t think they need any grace.

I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what’s going on in the hearts of some teenagers or young adults in this room. If you’ve been hurt, I’m sorry. We’d love to help you work through it. If you are frustrated, let’s talk about your frustration. But don’t run from the hope of the gospel. See the beauty of Christ and be saved. Receive him truly as your Lord and Savior and give everything to him. Rest in Christ. You won’t regret it. Respond to the gospel.

And Christian, keep spreading the gospel. The gospel is the power of God to salvation. Don’t be ashamed. Let’s go to all the world with the best news and the only news that can really change their lives.