Romans 10:14-17

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 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.

Chapter 10 of Paul’s Letter to the Romans is a treasure chest for the Mission of God. What’s more, unpacking this treasure chest is like finding jewel after jewel from the Lord. It is not uncommon to become fixed on the brilliance of the shining Gospel mission of verses 14-17. Indeed, they glow with, “So faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ.” However, we dare not miss the strand of precious treasures of the Mission of God shining the way to God giving faith through hearing the word of Christ.

The treasures of Romans Chapter 10 really begin in Chapter 9 with verse 30. Paul asks and answers a question to demonstrate how the Mission of God brings His life-transforming treasures to people. Paul asks, “What shall we say, then?” Then, he answers: “The Gentiles (non-Jews) who did not pursue righteousness have attained it.”

Some treasure hunt!

Paul points out that the Gentiles (non-Jews) get what the Jews were pursuing, without hunting for it. What do they get from God? They receive righteousness by faith. God makes them right with Him and they can rely on Him by faith in Christ, not faith in themselves. The Jews, who had God’s covenant through which God chose to be their God out of undeserved love and gave them a worship pattern focused on sacrifice for forgiveness and a promised Savior, thought they had to make themselves right with God in order to attain righteousness.

However, the Mission of God is God showing people what it is to be right with Him. No one can make himself or herself righteous or perfect before God. We are always struggling, failing, falling, and dying.

Paul has set forth the greatest treasure there is: being right with God through Christ and receiving righteousness as a gift through faith. As Paul further unpacks the jewels of this treasure store in Romans 10, he makes known his heart’s desire for those who think they have to make themselves right with God. He longs for them to stop treasure hunting and simply enjoy the Mission of God to rescue them through the actions of Jesus Christ.

Before Paul further uncovers the shiny gems of Romans 10, he reminds his listeners of how useless fake jewels are. Trying to obey every single Commandment and thus shine bright with self-made righteousness is impossible. It cannot be done! Paul observes this would be like going up to heaven to get a hold on Jesus and bring Him down to earth, or to go down into the grave and drag Him to the surface. The Mission of God is Jesus coming to people on earth. He came to suffer, die, and come back from the dead to ultimately overcome death.

The jewel Paul calls “the word of faith” shines with brightness in our mouths and hearts through Jesus coming to us. We depend on what Jesus did with His perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection. We can confess, yes, affirm confidence in Him because He gives us that confidence. In addition, He helps us to rely on Him, from deep within hearts. Indeed, this jewel of the Mission of God glows within us as our hearts are set right with God. The warmth of internal peace with God made by Jesus’s sacrifice is unlike any earthly contentment. It is a peace that surpasses human understanding. This fulfilling treasure of being made right with God does not stay in the heart only. It flows from the mouth with the brilliant glow of announced salvation in Christ alone.