The passage of our sermon this evening comes from Romans 10, 14 to 17, but we are going to read Romans 10, verses 5 to 17. Let us now read Romans 10, verses 5 to 17. This is the word of the living God. For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, do not say in your heart who will ascend into heaven, that is, to bring Christ down, or who will descend into Abyssinia, that is, bring Christ up from the dead. But what does it say? the word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. That is the word of faith that we proclaim. Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, heart one believes and is justified. With the mouth, one confesses and is saved. For the scripture says, everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. For the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then will they call on him whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news. But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Amen. That's for the reading of God's word. People of the Lord, last week we celebrated the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus, who came down to our world in the fullness of time to save his children from the bondage of sin and death. We know that the world didn't accept him, but hated him and killed him. For three days his enemies thought that they were victorious, but only for three days. But the power of the trying God overcome every power against him, even the power of death. So the head of serpent was crushed by the promised seed. As a victorious king, he promises to give eternal life to everyone who believes in his name because he has authority over life and death. We celebrated the victory last week because it is our victory as well. We are called to be witness this victory. We are called to be part of the gospel mission. Today we are going to look Romans 10, 14 to 17 to learn about this gospel mission that our Lord Jesus wants us, wants each one of us to be part of. We are going to look at our passage with four points today. The need for the gospel, the beauty of the gospel, the effect of the gospel, and the source of the gospel. In late 40s, Emperor Claudius, the emperor of Roman Empire, expelled all Jews from Rome around 40 A.D. And that made the church in Rome suddenly a Gentile church because even Christian Jews were expelled. And this event also recorded in our scripture, Acts 18, verse 2. However, they return back in the time of Nero, around 54 A.D. And some scholars hold that the basic aim of the letter is to deal with the problem of the relationship of Jews and Gentiles in the Church of Rome. So Paul especially refers to these problems between chapter 9 and 11. This is important for us to know because our passage is in chapter 10. It is context of this problem. So now we can return back to our passage now. Our first point is the need for the gospel. Let us remember verses 14 and 15 again. How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how they are to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? So Paul starts this passage with three rhetorical questions. We all know the answer. It is impossible. First of all, it is important for us to know that the whole epistle of Romans built on two doctrines. So whole Romans built on two doctrines. First, we are saved by grace alone. And second, we are counted righteous by faith alone. These are the two cornerstone of whole epistle of Rome. So we are saved by God and we are made righteous by faith. So nothing is our accomplishment and we cannot make anyone righteous and we cannot save anyone. But then, what are these verses about? In these verses, Paul has Jews in mind when he says they. Whenever Paul says they, he has Jews in his mind. Why is Paul referring Jews as they? Because Paul is mainly speaking to Gentiles. There were problems, as we mentioned, there were problems between Jews and Gentiles, and Paul's speaking to Gentiles, and he refers Jews as they. Paul targeted Gentiles in this passage, and he states the fact that how can Jews believe in the gospel if those Gentiles don't share the gospel with them? And how can they hear if Gentiles don't go to them? Jews says, we have the law. And Gentiles says, we have Christ Jesus. Jews don't understand the whole Old Testament is about Christ. And Gentiles expect them to figure out everything by themselves without the gospel. So slowly, you can see there is an enmity has been growing between them. And Paul urges Gentiles to share the gospel, to break down this enmity. So if you preach the gospel, if they preach the gospel to them, if they hear the gospel, there may have been a chance to believe it because this is what Paul says in verse 13. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. but they must hear the gospel first. Only the gospel can bring the peace between Jews and Gentiles. Christian Gentiles of Rome were so much like Christians in 21st century, like us. We also often forget the power of the gospel. We forget that when the gospel penetrates into the hearts, it produces reconciliation and peace. This is at least our hope in Middle East. There are so many reasons for people to hate each other in Middle East. This reason might be very superficial but it might be very profound. But the result of this enmity, it has been so devastating. There is only one structure, one place that people can come together from different ethnicity, color, language group, and social economic background. That is the church of Jesus Christ. There is no other constitution or structure that people can come together in peace in Middle East. So how about North America? Do you believe the gospel can bring peace between Christians and others? Or do you think that nothing can change their hearts? So you have given up already? Or do you still have some fragments of hope for them? Beloved, if you don't share the gospel, how are they to believe in him whom they have never heard? If they don't hear, how will they call on Jesus in whom they have not believed? The gospel is your best device to bring down the walls of enmity. It is not your power that you can rely on, but it is the power of the Word, and the Spirit works through you." People of God, the very last words of Christ Jesus that are recorded in the Scriptures are about the gospel mission. Jesus says to His disciples in Acts 1.8, you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. He also speaks his disciples in Matthew 28. We know that passage as the Great Commission. He says, go therefore and make disciples of all nations. The last words of someone is very precious and always remembered by their loved one. If someone asks you to do something before he dies, she dies, that wish has to be fulfilled by others because it is so precious. The last wish, the last words. Christ Jesus wants you to proclaim the good news and he wants you to be witness. He wants you to go. He wants you to make disciples. This is his last words. So we pray, as it is written in Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 48, rule us by your word and spirit so we may accomplish the desire of our Lord. And Paul says, how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news. Paul quotes from Isaiah 52. Messengers used to travel on foot very long distances and their feet certainly not beautiful to eyes because they bore all the difficulties of their journey. The prophet Isaiah speaks of the messenger who brought the good news of Israel's imminent release from Babylonian captivity. He carries the message of freedom to Israelites. He says, to those who are captivity, your God reigns. Sing with joy. Those feet carried the goodness from miles afar to Israelites. So how could be more beautiful than this messenger's feet, who carries the message of salvation and freedom? In Turkish, we thank our guests by saying, health to your feet. Glad you came. This is how we express our thankfulness to our guests. Because we wish health to their feet because their feet carried them all the way to our home. But the feet of messenger of the gospel don't only bring fellowship, it brings so much more. The messenger declares in Ezekiel chapter 30, you shall know that I am the Lord when I open your graves and raise you from your graves, all my people. I will put my spirit within you and you shall live. I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, I have spoken, I will do it, declares the Lord. The gospel gives lives to dry bones, freedom to slaves and salvation to captives. You are the messenger of the Holy One of Israel. You are the messenger. But how then will they call on him? in whom they have not believed. And how are they to believe in whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? And if you don't go. So we proclaim how beautiful are the feet of Christ Jesus crucified, who sits by the right hand of the Father and intercedes for us day and night. Brothers and sisters, verse 13, Paul says, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. However, Paul also says in verse 16 that, but they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord who has believed what he has heard from us. So Paul speaks about you who had all the prophecies, who all the law, but yet did not believe Jesus Christ. It was no different in the Old Testament. Because there were many unbelievers among the Jew. Being a part of covenant people has never been about ethnicity or coming from a Christian family. The Lord always looked into heart of his people and searched for faithfulness. He searches our heart as well and we cannot hide anything from him. We cannot hide if we are unfaithful to him. But in verse 16, Paul talks about two effects of the gospel. This is important for us to understand. The gospel either softens or hardens hard. So gospel has two effects. In 2 Corinthians, we read that clearly. We are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To one, a frankness from death to death, and to other one, a frankness from life to life. So you are either carrying the message of salvation or you are either carrying the message of damnation. Because whoever believes in him, he is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. So it means that when you share the gospel, there is no way for you to fail because you will certainly accomplish the will of the Lord. When you share the gospel according to Scripture, you are 100% successful. The success is not just to see people coming to Christ, yet we want to see that from the depths of our hearts. We want to see people coming to the Lord. But it is not for us to decide. It is the work of the Spirit. But when you share the gospel with someone, if that person believes in Christ, praise the name of the Lord and be encouraged by the work of the Spirit and the Word. But if that person doesn't believe the gospel and start judging you and hating you, do the same. Praise the name of the Lord and be encouraged by the work of the Spirit and the Word. In both case, you would know that God is at work. Don't lose heart. God has already told you this might happen. And don't be ashamed of the gospel. What is there to be ashamed of? You should be ashamed of because the wonderful work of Christ Or you should be ashamed of when you say people, oh, you are sinners, even their own works testify their own sinful acts. Or you should be ashamed of because you share the only way of salvation, and you want them to save from the coming death and judgment. These are all truths. There is nothing to be ashamed of the gospel. Paul says in 1 Corinthians, the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God. They are folly to him. But he says, we have the mind of Christ. Yet let us not forget that we were also living in the darkness. Jesus Christ has brought us from the darkness into his marvelous light. Don't forget the days of darkness because millions of people still living in the darkness. So I implore you, brothers and sisters, don't miss the opportunity of sharing the gospel because you are feeling ashamed or feared. because they might not have any other opportunities. In the Old Testament, there were prophets that sent by God. But in this last day, you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, holy nation, a people for his own possession. that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of the darkness into his marvelous light, says 1 Peter. It is your responsibility to proclaim the gospel because you are witness of this marvelous light. But Paul states an important fact in verse 16, the hearing, the word doesn't produce the faith. Did not Israelites hear? Did not Pharisees see the Christ with their own eyes? Did not Judas hear the Lord for three years before his betrayal? So Louis Barkoff helped us to understand a very important thing. The Word brings the Spirit to the heart, and Spirit brings the Word into the heart. They are worked together. The Word doesn't work by Himself, and the Spirit doesn't work by Himself. They work together. The Word and Spirit together produce the faith. Without one of them, there can be no faith. As messenger, your responsibility to proclaim the Word and to leave rest to the Lord. And in verse 17, Paul presupposes that the source of the faith, the source of the faith is the gospel. He says, let us read verse 17, so faith comes from hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ. Sometimes we might be mistaken about the source of faith, especially when we struggle with the idea of sharing it to others. Sometimes it becomes so difficult when we're supposed to share. So what happens on those times? On those times, there are so many peoples in those situations. There are so many questions come into the mind. And people, unfortunately, do so many different things rather than sharing the gospel. So I would like to mention two streams that millions of Christians think that these are the right way today. First, it is called spiritualism. According to spiritualism, the only thing you need to do is to pray. You don't need to share. Just pray. So if you want someone to come to Christ, just pray. It is not your responsibility to share the gospel. They believe that God works only through His Spirit, and there is no need for administration of the Word. Second one is called rationalism. As you can guess, this is the complete opposite of spiritualism. And unfortunately, rationalism is becoming one of the biggest problem in the Western church. According to rationalism, all you need to do is share the gospel again and again and again until it starts make sense to others. Because believing is all about mental activity. The work of the spirit is largely ignored in rationalism. But how cannot they believe that? The rationalist says this, how cannot they believe that Jesus died for their sins? How cannot they believe it? And rationalist says, don't they know they are sinners? Isn't it better to believe something rather than believing in anything? people of God, we should respond spiritualist as Paul charges Timothy. Preach the Word and we should respond rationalist as Paul rebukes Galatians. Are you so foolish? Heaven began by the Spirit. Are you now trying to be made complete by the flesh? People of God, let us think about this passage today again and again. Let us not let our hearts and minds forget about these questions. Let us not forget we are not given an option, but the Lord commands us. The Word and the evil ones want you to stay silent. because what you have is what they hate. As long as you stay silent, you would fulfill their desire. But as long as you proclaim the gospel, you would fulfill the desire of your father. As the Apostle John says, you are from God and have overcome them. And he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. So we have the most important message for people to hear. Thousands of people are dying every day and we know the cure. We have the cure. Millions of people are in pursuit of finding a meaning in their lives because They cannot find any reason. They are separated from their creator. They are completely lost. Sin separated them from God. And they are like sheep without shepherd. Christ Jesus is the only one who can restore the fellowship between them and God. These people are all around us. They are not far. We know them. We know their names. They are our neighbors, they are our colleagues, they are our friends. They are not far. If we stay silent, how then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? If we stay silent, how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? Sometimes all you need to do is just to take a small step of faith and trust the Lord for the rest. Don't forget we are only heralds, but as James says, my brothers If anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." Will save his soul from the death and will cover multitude of sins. May the Lord give us, give all of us to see the privilege of witnessing sinners come unto Christ. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, amen. Our merciful God, who is pleased to condescend to speak us through your word. Grant us all grace that we may not be mere hearers of your word, but doers also. Give us the grace of your Holy Spirit that we may believe what has been proclaimed to us. May we bring glory and honor to your name in all that we do, and you conform us to image of your Son, Christ our Lord. All of this, gracious Father, we ask in the name of Jesus Christ.