We have focused a lot in our Bible study this week on our sins and our need for a Savior. Indeed, God has done great work in our lives. We are not the only ones who have needed the hope that Christ offers. You see, every day, we encounter people who are lost and dying in sin and in need of the hope Christ has to offer. The question is, are we sharing the hope of Christ, or keeping it to ourselves?
The apostle Paul wrote about the beautiful truth that salvation is available for everyone who places their faith in Christ in Romans 10. He wrote in this passage of Scripture, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (verse 9). He continued writing several verses later, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (verse 13). This is the greatest news! Salvation is available to everyone who turns to Him.
Salvation is available to everyone, but Paul continued teaching us in Romans 10 that we are the people responsible for sharing the hope that Christ offers. He continued, writing, "How can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?" (verses 14-15). These questions point us to one crucial truth: we have to go and tell others about Christ! We must not keep the good news of Christ to ourselves. That is why Paul concluded, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!" (verse 15). Indeed, those who bring the hope of Christ to those lost in their sin are beautiful!
The reality is that there are so many people who are lost in their sin and need the hope of Christ. Every day, people are drowning in their sins and without hope. We have an assignment throughout Scripture: to go and make Christ known. Will you take on that task? Will you share the hope of Christ with those around you, or will you let fear, busyness, and lack of compassion keep you from spreading the hope of Christ? Eternity is in the balance. May we all sense the urgency to spread the hope of Christ and make Him known to everyone around us!
Who do you know who needs the hope of Christ? Take a step of faith today and invite them to join you at one of our weekend services. You never know the impact that your invitation may have! Before you invite them, be sure to pray! Pray for God to work in their hearts so that they are receptive to your invitation. Regardless of their response to your invitation, continue to pray that they will come to know the hope of Christ one day.
1Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.
5 For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. 6 But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). 7 And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” 8 In fact, it says,
“The message is very close at hand;
it is on your lips and in your heart.”
And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: 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. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. 18 But I ask, have the people of Israel actually heard the message? Yes, they have:
“The message has gone throughout the earth,
and the words to all the world.”
19 But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said,
“I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation.
I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles.”
20 And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying,
“I was found by people who were not looking for me.
I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.”
21 But regarding Israel, God said,
“All day long I opened my arms to them,
but they were disobedient and rebellious.”
