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Junior Class Chapel - 10/22/2024 — 10/22/2024 10:00 AM
Today's chapel is led by Cedarville University's Junior Class. Speaking from Romans 10:6-15, Class Chaplain Ethan Foster proclaims the salvation God offers, and encourages us to share this good news with others.
Notes
The Mission of God: Romans 10 and Our Role in His Plan
In Romans 10, Paul offers a powerful reminder of God’s mission to redeem the world and invites us to join in it. The message of this chapter reveals both the beauty of the Gospel and the urgency of sharing it. The Gospel proclaims that salvation is found through Christ alone, but for the world to hear this good news, believers must participate — either as goers or senders.
The Gospel: A Completed Work by Christ
Romans 10:6–8 quotes Deuteronomy 30, reflecting on God’s standard of perfection. Because God is holy, He cannot dwell with sin. Humanity cannot bridge the gap between us and God, but the good news is that Jesus Christ has done the work on our behalf. Christ met the requirement of perfection and provided a way for sinners to be reconciled to God. “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). The simplicity of salvation — calling and believing — is what makes the Gospel so glorious. This good news means that no matter how little we know, we can still have a relationship with God. Salvation is not based on what we do, but on what Christ has already accomplished.
Why Is the Gospel Good News?
The Gospel offers hope, peace, and restoration. It tells us that we are fully, finally, and forever forgiven. It assures us that although we are sinners, we can know our Creator and Redeemer. The Gospel is good news because it gives us God Himself — not just blessings or benefits, but a relationship with the One who created us. However, the Gospel only becomes good news when it is shared in time. As one quote puts it, “A pardon is only good news if it arrives before the day of execution.” The urgency is real because without hearing the Gospel, many people face an eternity apart from God.
The Reality of Hell and Our Mission
Romans 10:14–15 emphasizes the need for believers to proclaim the Gospel. “How will they preach unless they are sent?” (verse 15). Paul reminds us that people cannot believe if they have not heard. The reality of hell is sobering — Jesus spoke more about hell than He did about heaven. There are more than three billion unreached people who do not know the saving power of Jesus. These are people whom God loves, and they need the Gospel now.
Our Role: Goers, Senders, or Disobedient
God does not need us, but He chooses to involve us in His mission. Paul explains that both goers — those who take the Gospel to unreached places — and senders — those who support them — are essential for the mission. Everyone has a part to play. Where do you fit in God’s mission? Will you go? Will you send? Or will you remain disobedient? Consider how you can use your resources to support missions, and ask God to reveal your role in His plan. The Gospel is good news, but it must be shared. Let’s be faithful to take the message of salvation to the world — whether by going or by sending — so that all people may hear and believe.