Romans (Youth) 10 - Part 1

Israel’s Present: Choosing Effort Instead of Faith

Exposure to Exposition & Exploring the Scriptures: (10-15 mins)

• Bible Drills (Memorization of OT & NT Book order)

• Guide the children to Romans 10:1-13 in the Bible. (Help them as needed, NT vs OT)

• Say: We are going to continue through Paul's letter to the church of Rome.

• We will learn that the gospel is God’s power to save everyone who believes, and we should never be ashamed of Jesus.

• Read aloud. (Ask kids to start their pointer fingers on V1 and follow along)

Opening Question

What do you think God asks us to do to be saved—try harder or believe in Jesus?→ Explain your answers!

Notes on What We Learned in Romans 9:

• Last week we learned that God is always in control of who receives His mercy, and He keeps every promise He makes.

• Long ago, God promised (through Hosea) that Gentiles—people who were not Jewish—would one day know Him and receive His mercy.

• God knew Israel’s rejection of Jesus, and He used it as part of His plan to save the world.

• God also promised that Israel would not be forgotten forever. He would always keep a small group of believing Jews, called the remnant, who trusted Him.

This happened not because God broke His promises, but because:

• Israel chose pride instead of faith, through the Law.

• And God, in His sovereignty, allowed mercy to go to the Gentiles for a time because they rejected Jesus.

• God was not unfaithful. He did exactly what He said He would do.

Opening Romans 10, Paul turns to an important question:

• Is God being fair to Israel right now?

In Romans 10, Paul will answer questions like:

• Did Israel deserve salvation because they were so serious about God’s law?

• Did God fail to explain His plan clearly to them?

• Is God unfair for helping Gentiles while Israel struggles?

Romans 10:1-13 NLT
Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.
5 For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. 6 But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). 7 And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” 8 In fact, it says,
“The message is very close at hand;
    it is on your lips and in your heart.”
And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: 9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

• Paul begins this next chapter by making one thing very clear:

  • He loves Israel.

  • He wants them to be saved.

  • And God is still faithful—even now.

• V1-4 Trying hard can’t save the Jewish people or anyone—only trusting Jesus can.

  • Paul explains that Israel truly wanted to follow God—but they tried to be right with God in the wrong way:

    • They worked hard to obey the Law instead of trusting Jesus, who is the only way to be made right with God.

  • Paul Truly Loves His People (v.1)

    • Paul calls the Jewish people his brothers and sisters.

    • He wants them to be saved and prays for them.

  • Zeal Without Truth Isn’t Enough (v.2)

    • Paul says Israel had a strong passion for God.

    • They worked hard to obey God and protect His Law.

    • But their passion was missing something important—truth.

  • They Tried to Make Their Own Righteousness (v.3)

    • Israel tried to be “good enough” for God by obeying rules through the Law.

    • They didn’t understand that God’s righteousness must be given, not earned.

    • No amount of good works can erase even one sin.

  • Jesus Finished the Job (v.4)

    • Paul says Christ is the end of the law for being made right with God.

    • Jesus lived perfectly and fulfilled the Law for us.

    • Anyone who believes in Jesus receives God’s righteousness as a gift.

  • Kid Point: Nobody earns God’s righteousness—we receive it by trusting Jesus.

Romans 10:5-10 For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. 6 But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). 7 And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” 8 In fact, it says,
“The message is very close at hand;
    it is on your lips and in your heart.”
And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: 9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

• V5-10 Being right with God comes from believing in Jesus, not from being perfect.

  • Paul explains the difference between trying to obey God perfectly and trusting what God has already done through Jesus:

    • God’s way to be made right is not about doing more—it is about believing.

  • The Law Required Perfection (v.5)

    • Paul reminds Israel what Moses wrote in the Law.

    • God said a person would live only if they obeyed everything perfectly.

    • This showed that no one could earn righteousness by keeping rules.

  • God Never Hid the Answer from His People on How to be Saved (vv.6–7)

    • Moses also taught that righteousness was not far away.

    • No one needed to go up to heaven or cross the sea to find it.

    • Paul explains that people don’t bring Jesus down from heaven or raise Him from the dead by good works.

    • Jesus came and rose again because we could not keep the Law.

    • God had to do the work to give people salvation.

    • People who trust God don’t ask how to earn righteousness.

  • Paul says God’s message is near—in our mouths and hearts. (v.8)

    • This means God’s way of salvation is simple and reachable.

    • We don’t work for it—we receive it.

  • Confession and Belief Work Together (vv.9–10)

    • Paul explains that Moses was pointing to faith in God’s words.

    • Moses spoke of the mouth first, then the heart, so Paul follows the same order.

    • To confess means to agree with what God says.

    • To believe means to trust something is true even when we can’t see it.

    • We confess that Jesus is Lord (He is God).

    • We believe that Jesus died and rose again.

  • Kid Point: We are saved by believing in Jesus, not by trying harder to be good.

Romans 10:11-13 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

• V11-13 Anyone who trusts Jesus will be saved—God’s promise is for everyone.

  • Paul explains that anyone who believes in Jesus—no matter who they are—will be saved.

    • God made the way of salvation clear, simple, and open to everyone.

  • Believing in Jesus Never Disappoints (v.11)

    • Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah.

    • Isaiah promised that anyone who believes in the Messiah will not be disappointed.

    • Trusting Jesus gives us what we hope for—being right with God.

    • People who trust themselves will be disappointed, but people who trust Jesus won’t be.

  • God Treats Everyone the Same (v.12)

    • Paul says there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles when it comes to salvation.

    • God is the Lord of all people.

    • God offers the same rich blessings to everyone who calls on Him in faith.

  • God Always Planned This (v.13)

    • Paul quotes the prophet Joel 2:32.

    • God promised long ago that anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

    • This promise was always meant for all people, not just one group.

    • God did not hide the way to salvation—it was clearly written in Scripture.

  • Kid Point: Anyone—anywhere—who trusts Jesus and calls on Him will be saved.

Observation Questions (What did it say?)

1. What did Paul want most for the people of Israel? (Paul wanted them to be saved. v.1)

2. What problem did Israel have when they tried to follow God?(They were very serious about God, but they didn’t understand how to be saved. vv. 2-3)

3. Who can be saved according to Paul? (Anyone—Jew or Gentile—who calls on the name of the Lord. Vv.12-13)

Understanding Questions (What does it mean?)

1. Why couldn’t Israel become righteous by keeping the law? (Because no one can keep the law perfectly—only Jesus did. vv.3-4)

2. What does it mean that “Christ is the end of the law”? (It means we don’t earn salvation by rules anymore—Jesus fulfilled the law for us. v.4)

3. What two things go together or work together in salvation? (Believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. vv.9-10)

Application Questions (What should I do?)

1. How can I avoid making the same mistake Israel made? (By trusting Jesus instead of trying to be “good enough” on my own.vv.3-4)

2. What should I do if I believe Jesus is Lord? (Confess Him openly, talk about Him to others, and trust Him with your whole heart. Vv.9-10)

3. Who can I tell about Jesus this week? (Anyone!)

Activities

Remind them: What is the Gospel?

Jesus’ perfect life paid for the sins of all who believe. Jesus died on the cross as the punishment for sin. But Jesus did not stay dead, three days later He rose to life (resurrection) defeating the power of death. Believe, and you will be saved!

• We are all sinful. We all deserve the consequence of sin- death.

• Jesus is what saves us from the sin we all have in our bodies. And one day, he’ll even give us a new body.

Supporting Truths Kids Can Grasp:

• God never stopped loving Israel, and He never stops wanting people to be saved. (Romans 10:1).

• People can be very serious about religion and still miss God if they don’t trust Jesus. (Romans 10:2-3).

• The Law shows us God’s rules, but only Jesus can make us right with God. (Romans 10:4).

• You don’t have to be born into the right family or follow special rules—faith is for everyone. (Romans 10:9,12).

• God saves people who call on Him, anyone and everyone. (Romans 10:13).

Extra handout for families:

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Activity

Romans (Youth) — Romans (Youth) 10 - Part 1

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.