1. So that no one can miss his point, Paul states his commitment to the Israelites, that is that it is his “_____________ ____________ and ____________ to God for them” (Romans 10:1) to be saved. One of the things that Israelites had going for them was their _________; however, it was not based upon ______________ (Romans 10:2). To please God, it takes a combination of both of these. Their specific problem was that they were “ignorant of the _________________ that comes from God,” and were “seeking to establish their own.” Because of this, “they did not submit to God’s righteousness” (Romans 10:3). The legalist says, “If I make enough laws and demands on myself, surely God will accept me.” The believer in Christ says, “My righteousness is a gift from God.” Or stated another way, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4).

2. The oppositional nature of the two approaches to righteousness can be seen in the difference between Moses statements and faith statements. Moses statement, based on law, was that “the person who _______ the commandments shall live by them” (Romans 10:5). The one who is living a life of faith knows in her/his heart that there is no need to wait for the Savior to show up. The questions, “Who will ascend into heaven?” or “Who will descend into the abyss?” (Questions that the Israelites were still asking!) are superfluous because Christ has already done that (Romans 10:6-7). The significance of these questions is that they would require Jesus to come back down to earth (again) or to rise from the dead (again) as though he had not done enough. On the contrary, to a person of faith, “The word is near you, in your __________ and in your _______________” (Romans 10:8). It is in the believers mouth because, “If you _____________ with your mouth that Jesus is Lord” and in the believers heart because, if you “________________ in your heart that God raised him from the dead,” the result will be that “you are ____________” (Romans 10:9).

3. Since the above statements are true, Paul quotes two Old Testament scriptures that were familiar to the Israelites to make his point. The first is from Isaiah 28:16, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame” (Romans 10:11). The second is from Joel 2:32, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be __________” (Romans 10:13). Sandwiched between these two quotes is an assertion that is basic to the Christian faith, that is “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him” (Romans 10:12). This is the message Peter had preached on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-40) when the first gospel message was preached and the church had its beginning and it is the message that has been preached ever since (Remember the theme of Romans 1:16-17; see also Acts 10:34-35, Acts 17:30-31, Revelation 22:17).

4. Beginning in Romans 10:14 Paul asks a series of questions. The questions are: “But how are they to call on him in whom they have not _____________? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never ______________? And how are they to hear without someone _______________? And how are they to preach unless they are ___________?” (Romans 10:14-15a). These questions find their answers in the theme of Romans which is presented in Romans 1:16-17. The power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, whether Jew or Greek, is the gospel! This is why Paul declared himself to be “under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish” (Romans 1:14). This is why he stated, “I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome” (Romans 1:15). Calling on the name of the Lord is required for salvation (see Acts 22:16). But one cannot call without believing, cannot believe without hearing, and cannot hear without preaching. And the preaching won’t happen unless preachers are sent! (Romans 10:14-15a). This is why Paul quotes with joy Isaiah 52:7, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the _____________ _________!” (Romans 10:15b).

5. The truth is that not everyone who hears the gospel is going to believe it and call upon the name of the Lord, thus obeying the gospel (Romans 10:16a). This should not have been a surprise to anyone. After all, Isaiah had prophesied this 700 years before when he stated, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” (Romans 10:16b, quoted from Isaiah 53:1, see also John 12:37-43).

6. It is true and accurate that, “Faith comes from ____________, and hearing through the word of ____________” (Romans 10:17). So the question becomes, “Is the reason that the Israelites have not obeyed the gospel because they have not heard?” (Romans 10:18a). His reply is, “Indeed they have” (Romans 10:18b) and then he quotes Psalm 19:4 to remind the Romans that the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) was in fact being carried out. But, if they had heard, perhaps the problem was that they did not understand (Romans 10:19a). He dismisses that as a possibility. In actuality, Moses had predicted that jealousy and anger would be the cause (Romans 10:19b, quoted from Deuteronomy 32:21) and Isaiah was so bold as to say this anger and jealousy would be because of the Gentiles (Romans 10:20, quoted from Isaiah 65:1). He summarizes Israel’s response by quoting from Isaiah 65:2, “All day long I have held to a ________________ and _________________ people.” In other words, God has given them a chance but they, as a nation, had rejected him!