Our Mission is Clear … 2
Our Mission is Clear
Series: Romans: What’s Going on Here?
Preacher: Pastor Dale Sutherland
Date:
Primary Text: Romans 9:30–10:13
Big Idea
Righteousness has never come by human effort—it comes by faith in Jesus, the cornerstone. When we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts, we are saved, and rescued people join Jesus in rescuing others.
The Clear Gift
Paul contrasts Gentiles and Israel to show a simple truth: “The Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it… by faith,” while Israel, pursuing law-keeping, “did not succeed” because they treated it as works (Rom. 9:30–32). Salvation has always been a gift, not wages. The Old Testament and New Testament sing the same melody: eternal life is received, not achieved.
In Paul’s day, many added layers of commentary and tradition to God’s Word, turning a promise into a performance plan. That burden still sneaks into modern hearts. Grace dismantles it. God saves not because we’ve climbed high enough, but because Christ stooped low enough. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Rom. 10:13)
The Clear Foundation
Jesus is the cornerstone (Rom. 9:33). In ancient building, the cornerstone set the alignment, bore the weight, and even carried the building’s identity. Think of the massive Herodian stones—carefully cut, fitted without mortar, and used to true up the whole structure. That’s Jesus for a human life: the first stone down, the line that makes every other line straight.
Paul says Israel’s leaders “stumbled” over that stone. That’s what happens if we try to build without Christ: we trip where we could have rested. To trust Jesus as the cornerstone is to align our beliefs, loves, and choices to him. He carries the weight we can’t.
The Clear Road
Romans 10:9–10 lays out the gospel with breathtaking clarity: “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.”
Confess: openly acknowledge Jesus without shame. For Jews in Paul’s audience, calling Jesus “Lord” identified him with the personal name of God. For Romans, it defied the empire’s command that “Caesar is Lord.” For us, it’s still decisive: Jesus gets the keys—leader, ruler, Lord.
Believe: entrust yourself to the risen Christ from the heart. Not bare agreement, but a transfer of trust. It changes what you love. Paul ties it to the resurrection: we believe God raised Jesus bodily, and so we lean our full weight on a living Savior.
Pastor Dale told a story about driving in England—wrong seat, wrong side, wrong roads. Lost feels terrible. Then a local pastor offered, “Ride with me.” Moving from self-driving to riding with a trusted guide turned chaos into calm. That’s the picture: stop white-knuckling your life; get in with Jesus.
The Clear Mission
“Rescued people rescue people.” If sharing your faith feels daunting, you’re normal. Courage grows with clarity and simple starts. Here are practical paths the message highlighted—choose one and begin:
- Email the gospel: send a clear one-minute gospel clip with a personal note: “This helped me—curious what you think.”
- Share with your kids weekly: the future of the church runs through living rooms. Keep it simple, creative, and consistent.
- Pray that leads to conversation: ask a server or coworker, “How can I pray for you?” and be ready to explain the hope you have.
- Go on a mission trip with Citylight: spend a focused week practicing gospel conversations and serving.
- Write your testimony: a gracious email to family and friends telling how Jesus saved you, with the gospel clearly stated.
- Intercede for the nations: join Christ’s work by praying daily for specific people and places you may never visit.
- Use tracts wisely: leave a thoughtful tract (with a generous tip, if at a restaurant). God loves to use the written word.
- Record short videos: one-minute testimonies or apologetics notes to your kids or friends.
- Support evangelists and planters: fuel the work financially through Citylight centers.
- Teach the next generation: serve in Citylight Kids or Students and speak the gospel often and clearly.
- Join School of Mission: learn, go out, and grow through regular outreach rhythms.
Love like Paul in Romans 10:1—pray earnestly for people by name and trust God to open doors. Then walk through them.
Next Steps
- Respond to Jesus: confess with your mouth and believe in your heart. Tell a trusted friend today.
- Pick one practice: choose a single item from the list above and schedule it within the next seven days.
- Write your story: draft a 300–400 word testimony and send it to two people you love.
- Pray daily: set a reminder to pray Romans 10:1 for three names until they believe.
Reflection
- Where do you still treat salvation like wages instead of a gift? Confess that to Jesus.
- What would aligning to the “cornerstone” change in your calendar, money, or relationships?
- Who is God putting on your heart to pray for and pursue this month?
- Which “clear mission” step fits your wiring right now? What’s your plan and when will you do it?