NT Fire Starters – Day 218: Romans 9:30-10:21

READ: Romans 9:30–10:21

THINK: Receiving spiritual salvation and eternal life is not complicated. You can’t earn these gifts. All you need to do is receive them, exchanging your old way for new life provided by Jesus. It’s as simple as asking God to forgive you and surrendering leadership of your life to Jesus. But simple as it is, people can’t make this decision unless they receive and believe Jesus’ message. And that can only happen if they hear the message or someone communicates it to them. That’s where your part comes into the process. Whether you’re spreading the word yourself or helping to send someone else to deliver it, you can ensure that people everywhere receive the life-saving message of Jesus.

RESPOND: In what ineffective way did many Israelites try to pursue a right relationship with God? (See 9:32 note.) Who is the “stone” and the “rock” (v. 33) and why did people stumble and fall over this rock? What knowledge were many zealous Israelites lacking (vv. 2-3)? In all of their efforts to live by the law, what part of God’s law did many Israelites miss that kept them from being right with God (v. 4)? What simple steps of submission are essential in receiving spiritual salvation? (See 10:9-10 note.) What’s the significance of confessing “Jesus is Lord”? (See 10:9 first note.) How should Jesus’ Lordship affect a Christian’s life? Why is it absolutely imperative for Christians to believe that God raised Jesus from the dead? (See 10:9 second note.) What is a “Gentile”? (See 10:12 note.) What are the implications of the statement, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”? (v. 13; see 10:13-15 note.) What must happen before someone can call on the Lord and be saved (v. 14)? In what various ways can you take part in the process of helping others hear about and receive Christ? (See 10:13-15 note.)

PRAY: Give God thanks for the simplicity of surrendering to Him and receiving His gift of spiritual salvation. Pray that you’ll always submit to His authority as Lord of your life. Ask Him to help you do what you can to communicate His message to others, including helping to send others to places you will never be able to go with the message.

ACT: See pages 2279–2294 of the Campus Missions Training Helps section for tips on communicating Jesus’ message and helping to send others to do so. Take some things you learn from these helps and apply the ideas today. Also, set aside extra money this week to give to missions efforts through your church.