Introduction

A few years back I went to Lakeland Pig Fest with my father-in-law. There was BBQ everywhere and it was amazing. However, there was something else that I walked away loving that day, in addition to BBQ, which I already loved. There was a small stand set up in the middle of the walking path from Community Coffee. They were giving out free samples. Now, many people were simply walking by and not partaking of the free samples. However, I’m a free sample kind of guy. So, I took the coffee and it was absolutely delicious. Since that time, I have fallen in love with the smooth delicious test of Community Coffee. Now, here’s the thing: that coffee was available for anyone to taste. Anyone could have experienced the deliciousness that was offered and fallen in love with it forever. However, not everyone did.For the last few weeks, we have learned about the sovereign choice of God in His election of His people. The biggest reality that we’ve learned is that there is a lot of mystery to election and the bottom line is that it’s God’s business. Today, we’re going to that our business is how we respond to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Community Coffee is amazing. However, anyone who partakes of the Lord Jesus will experience the sweet aroma and the satisfying delight of the deep love of God found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.Today’s sermon is entitled, “There’s No Shame When You Call On His Name.”Before we go any further, let’s go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to speak to us.(prayer)

So, as we continue in Romans 9 and 10, let us recognize that this passage is all about Jesus and the beautiful salvation that He offers.

First, let us grasp that . . .

I. Jesus is Final (4-5)

We talked about this for a moment last week. Remember, we covered through verse 4 last time. So, let’s pick it up in verse 4 and go from there. Look at verses 4 and 5:

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes, 5 since Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: The one who does these things will live by them.

So, here in verse 4, Paul says Jesus is the end. The word used for “end” here communicates that Jesus is the final stage, the endpoint, or the goal.

Jesus is the final stage of the law. He is the goal of the law.

You see, church, we can spin our wheels trying to find righteousness in the law of God but we’re not going anywhere. We will never find our end. It’s like driving towards a destination on a long road trip but no matter how far you drive, no matter how many hours you put in, you’re not getting any closer.

Paul explains in verse 5 that if we could keep the law we would be alright. He says, “The one who does these things will live by them.”

So, if you are “the one who does these things;” if you can keep the law perfectly, then you will live by the law. You will experience the righteousness that comes from the law.

However, Paul has been saying all along in the book of Romans that we cannot keep the law perfectly.Paul said in Romans 2:23“You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?” So, even the Jewish people who boasted in, or bragged about the law, couldn’t keep the law; none of us can.The reason we need help from God is because we cannot be righteous on our own. Our best efforts fail miserably when it comes to being righteous and holy before God. We are spinning our wheels!

We need some real help; we need something that is final, we need someone who is final.The final righteousness of God is found in Jesus.

Well, if our final hope is in Jesus, how do we find Jesus? Well, church, be of good cheer . . .

II. Jesus is Near (6-8)

So, we need to have the righteousness that comes from faith in Jesus. Well, then how do we find that righteousness? How do we gain that faith?

Paul answers these questions as we continue in the passage. Look at verses 6-8:

6 But the righteousness that comes from faith speaks like this: Do not say i