How to Find Christ

I. The Problems Over Finding Christ
A. Stumbling over the concept of our own attainment - Rom. 9:30
B. Stumbling over the concept of the law (outward standards and demands) - Rom. 9:31a
1. Being preoccupied with personal failure- Rom. 9:31b; (cf. Rom. 7)
C. Stumbling over the concept of works and doing good - Rom. 9:32; 10:3; Matt. 19:16-26
D. Stumbling over Christ (His Person and work) - Rom. 9:32-33; Gal. 5:11
E. Being blinded by religious zeal - Rom. 10:2
F. Being ignorant of God's righteousness - Rom. 10:3
G. Being discouraged over the standard of perfection - Rom. 10:5; (cf. Lev. 18:5)
II. The Simplicity of Finding Christ
A. By being totally unqualified and unprepared - Rom. 9:30; Eph. 2:11-13
1. Receiving a righteousness to participate in, not a righteousness to be worked out by yourself - Phil. 3:8-10; 1 Cor. 1:30
B. By being prayed for by others - Rom. 10:1
C. By giving in to what is already within your heart and mouth - Rom. 10:3b-4
D. By being exclusively focused on Christ - Rom. 9:33; Rom. 10:4; Gal. 3:23-24
III. The Experience and Principles of Finding Christ
A. The present availability of Christ
1. No need to find Him through religious thinking (Repeating the incarnation or the resurrection) - Rom. 10:6-7
2. His availability in our mouth and heart through the spoken word (rhema)
- Rom. 10:8
B. Respond to what is within you - Rom. 10:8
C. Respond first with your mouth - Rom. 10:9
1. The order in practical salvation - Rom. 10:10; 5:10
a) Confess with your mouth to be practically saved - Rom. 10:10b
(1) Confession confirms your faith and ushers in more believing
b) Believe in your heart for legal justification - Rom. 10:10a
D. Calling upon the name of the Lord
1. Calling is the way to enjoy your believing - Rom. 10:14
2. Calling is the way to experience His riches - Rom. 10:11-12
3. Calling is the way to touch God's instant and practical salvation - Rom. 10:13
4. Calling is for everyone despite class, race, wothiness or condition
- Rom. 10:12-13