Romans 10:18

Romans 10:18 says, But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.  I believe that Paul was saying here that no one would have an excuse for not accepting salvation through Christ.  In a few short years, the disciples had carried the gospel to much of the known world.  The Jews of Paul's day wanted to keep God to themselves, making them superior to everyone else, or the Gentiles.  We today, as we profess to be a Christian nation, must be careful that we don't have the same attitude.  We have been blessed to have the gospel freely proclaimed, but that does not make us superior to other people. We have a responsibility to reach out to the rest of the world with the love of God if we are truly followers of Christ.  Verse nineteen adds, But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.  Paul asked if Israel did not know the gospel.  The sad news is, they still don't accept it today.  Paul reminded them that in the scripture even Moses had said that God would provoke Israel to jealousy by those who were not His people, but a foolish nation.  The gospel was now being received by the Gentiles, which should have made God's people, Israel, want to maintain that special relationship with God.  They were never chosen to be superior to others because they were better by nature but were chosen by God to present His love to the world.  We find throughout the Bible that when the Jews failed the greatest was when they presumed on the will of God.  They professed to be God's people, but they didn't truly follow His purpose.  God then worked through those who were not His people by the promise to Abraham to bring about His purpose.  Verse twenty continues, But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.  We can apply this to the Gentiles in Paul's day, but it was also true of the nation of Israel.  God came to them before they even sought Him, just as He comes to every person today before we even seek Him. Verse twenty-one concludes, But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. God did not give up on Israel, the Jews, at any time.  He continues to stretch forth His had calling them to salvation through Christ.  He does this not only with the Jews, though, but with all people.

Not too long ago, I came across a date that was followed by the letters BCE.  I was curious about the E, thinking maybe BCE was Before Christ Existed, but it seemed a little unnecessary to suddenly add an E.  So, I looked it up online.  To my surprise, it was a new form of political correctness and stood for Before Common Era, and A.D. was changed to CE, or Common Era.  Then, for me, the question was what was the dividing point between BCE and CE, and the only event that occurred that separated them was the birth of Jesus Christ, and we already have designations to divide time at that point.  If people don't want to acknowledge the reality of Christ, they should simply use the Jewish calender.  Changing the designation of what we call things before and after the birth of Christ does not change the reason for the dividing point in history.  Even if in the name of wanting to be politically correct we change the terms, we cannot change the reason for the terms.  There may be those who do not want to retain the knowledge of God in their life or the world, but they cannot remove the existence of God, nor the fact that Jesus Christ divides history.

Romans 10:12

Romans 10:12 says, For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  Paul was speaking to the Jews in his day in particular, but to all believers in Christ in general. There is no difference in people in the eyes of God.  Paul tells us that salvation is made available to all who call on God through Christ.  God is rich in His salvation, not limited. I believe this precludes any concept that some are predestined to salvation and some to damnation. If this were the case, God would not be rich in His provision of salvation but limited.  We cannot attempt to hoard the love of God, which is what the Jews in Paul's day were attempting to do.  Just as there was no difference in people in Paul's day in the eyes of God, there is no difference today. Verse thirteen adds, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  Paul tells us that all who truly believe in Christ as Savior and Lord shall be saved. There are no qualifiers in this statement.  Paul did not say if we fortunate enough to be elected, if we were born into a particular group, or if we were good enough we would be saved.  He simply says that whosoever shall call on the name of Christ in sincere faith, as the previous verses stated, shall be saved.  We do not have to wonder if we are saved if we truly put our faith in Christ as Savior and Lord.  Verse fourteen continues, How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  This is a question for the followers of Christ today.  How is the lost world going to believe on Christ if they have not heard the gospel?  I do believe that God will reveal Himself to all people, but we are challenged to present the gospel that it might be easier to come to salvation through Christ.  Paul asked how they would hear without a preacher.  As followers of Christ, we are all to proclaim the gospel of Christ.  In that respect, we are all to be preachers.  Verse fifteen states, And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  We know that the scripture says that some are called to be preachers and teachers.  These indeed have a specific call to a life of spreading the gospel, but that does not excuse all Christians from the general call of the Great Commission.  We are to present the gospel of peace, the good news of Christ.  Verse sixteen adds, But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?  We know that not everyone who hears the gospel is going to believe the gospel.  This does not relieve us of the responsibility for sharing it though.  Verse seventeen continues, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  I believe Paul is telling us that hearing the word of God, the gospel, leads to faith.  Not all will receive the gospel by faith, but it is our responsibility to share it.

Romans 10:1

Romans 10:1 says, Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.  Though the Jews were doing their best to destroy Paul, or at least discredit him, he was still praying for their salvation.  This should be the example we follow today.  The scriptures, or the Bible as we would say, tells us to reach out in the love of God to those who hate us.  Paul was living by this command. We do not find him praying for the destruction of those trying to kill him, but for their salvation.  Verse two adds, For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.  I believe Paul was acknowledging their strong commitment to what they thought was the will of God.  It is good to be zealous in our beliefs, but only if our beliefs are based on God's truth.  Verse three continues, For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.  Paul said that the Jews, God's chosen people, were ignorant of His righteousness.  Because of this ignorance, they were attempting to establish their own righteousness.   They still are today, continuing to look forward to the Messiah Who has already come.  Verse four states, For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.  I believe that Paul was stating the great truth of the Gospel, which is that Christ fulfilled the law of righteousness, which no one else is able to do.  We are no longer to look to the law for salvation, no matter how zealous we may be in trying to keep it.  We cannot become good enough for salvation through our own attempts.  We must simply come to Christ through faith. The law was given to point people to Christ, not as a way to salvation.  Verse five adds, For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.  I believe Paul was saying that in order for the law to bring salvation, or righteousness with God, a person would have to keep every aspect of the law every minute, and we are not capable of that, which is the reason it was necessary for Christ to come to do what we cannot.  We cannot claim righteousness under the law.  Verse six continues, But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)  Verse seven says, Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)  I believe that Paul was telling us that there is no one else who can do what Christ did.  No one was capable of bringing Christ down from heaven.  He came willing to be a sacrifice for all people.  No one could bring Christ back from the grave.  He alone could claim victory over death, which we can only claim through Him and not of our own ability.  Verse eight adds, But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;  I believe Paul was asking if the law couldn't save us, then what could.  He tells us that we know the answer, that it is close to us, in our mouth and our hearts.  The answer is faith.  Paul said this is what we, as followers of Christ, preach.  Verse nine continues, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  Paul tells us what is necessary for salvation.  We must profess Christ to the world, because we believe in our hearts, our innermost being, that Christ died for our sins.  Professing without faith is not enough. Verse ten states, For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  Paul says as followers of Christ, we must believe in our hearts and proclaim with our words and also with our actions that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.  Verse eleven adds, For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  The reason we profess Christ to the world is because we are not ashamed of the Gospel.  Paul boldly proclaimed Christ as his Savior and Lord, and we must do no less.

Romans 9:27

Romans 9:27 says, Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:  Paul is referring to Isaiah 10:22-23 in this statement. I believe Paul was telling the Jews that even though in the time during which Isaiah spoke, the physical number of the Israelites, or Jews, was great, only a small remnant actually followed God.  Today, there may be many who profess to be followers of Christ, but there may be only a small number, a remnant, who truly follow His will.  This is not a call for us to judge the validity of the salvation of others, but to make sure that we remain true to the word of God concerning salvation.  We can know that if anyone professes themself to be a follower of Christ but claims to come to Him through any other way than through accepting His sacrifice on the cross, they cannot truly be His followers.  We must always present the gospel alone as the only way to salvation.  Just as not all who called themselves Jews, God's people, in Isaiah's and Paul's day were really His people in faith, not all who call themselves Christians today are truly His in faith.  Verse twenty-eight adds, For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.  The Jews had attempted to find a right standing with God for a very long time and had made many rules and regulations concerning how to be one of God's people.  Only a remnant had remained true to what being one of God's people really meant.  Through Christ, God finished the work of salvation.  He cut short the rules and regulations and made clear the one requirement.  That is that we cannot be saved by any way other than through faith in Christ.  Verse twenty-nine continues, And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom, and been made like unto Gomorrha. Paul was referring to Isaiah 1:9.  These should not be unfamiliar verses to the Jews.  They may have considered the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah as a good thing, but Paul was reminding them that if a remnant of the Jews had not remained faithful to God, then all, even those who called themselves God's people, would have been destroyed.  That is why we as followers of Christ today must be His not only in word but in deed as well.  As long as there is a true remnant, there is hope for others to be saved. Verse thirty states, What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.  I believe Paul was asking if the Gentiles could find righteousness simply through faith.  We must understand that this is the only way to attain righteousness. We cannot decide to find righteousness by our own merits, as the Jews felt they had, but can only come by faith in Christ, which the Gentiles were doing.  Verse thirty-one adds, But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.  This was simply the reverse of the question in verse thirty.  As I stated earlier, Paul was asking if the Jews had attained righteousness by the law, without faith in Christ, and the answer was no.  Verse thirty-two continues, Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;  Paul explains why the Jews who were relying on the law to save them were not righteous in the eyes of God.  They stumbled on the only way to salvation, which is through faith in Christ alone. Verse thirty-three concludes, As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  Paul again referred to the scriptures to emphasize his point.  He was not telling them something new, but something that they should have known themselves if they were familiar with the scriptures. We today need to make sure that no one attempts to proclaim anything as God's word if it contradicts the scriptures.

Romans 9:19

Romans 9:19 says, Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?  There are people today who ask how a loving God can send people to hell.  They want to know if we are doing our best to live right why God would punish us.  The truth is that God does not send people to hell, but He allows them to go of their own free will.  We cannot become good enough to establish a correct relationship with God.  Only God can do that, and it is based on forgiveness through Christ.  Paul was still speaking of the Jews and the Gentiles and the spreading of the gospel.  Verse twenty adds, Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? I believe Paul was asking them why they thought they should be able to question God.  Many Jews still opposed the sharing of the gospel with any but the Jews.  We today need to be careful that we don't attempt to make the gospel exclusive to a particular group of people.  Verse twenty-one continues, Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?  Here again, we could say that God, the Potter, chooses to make some good and some bad, but I believe that as the clay, if we have hard spots, sin, that will not conform to the will of God we will be dishonorable vessels.  I believe that we too often attempt to take away the free will responsibility that we have and attempt to make even the bad things in life the result of God's will.  Though God could make everyone conform to His will, He instead allows us to choose.  Verse twenty-two states, What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: Paul asks the question of God's wrath in relationship to the vessels fitted for destruction.  I believe we need to take note of God's longsuffering in relationship to these vessels.  If their destruction were preordained, there would be no reason for God's longsuffering in relationship to them.  God gives even those who have hardened their hearts against Him plenty of opportunity to come to Him through faith.  Verse twenty-three adds, And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, It is God Who is to be glorified by our salvation.  We can do nothing to shape, or earn it.  Verse twenty-four continues, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?  I believe Paul is pointing out that God calls all to salvation.  We are to become as clay in God's, the Potter's, hands, yielding to what He would make us.  Verses twenty-five says, As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.  Verse twenty-six adds, And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.  Paul was telling the Jews once more that the gospel applied to the gentiles, those who were not considered His people, just as much as it did to the Jews, who were considered His people.  We today, if we aren't careful, can start to consider people in other parts of the world as less deserving of sharing in salvation than we are, but that is never the case.  Christ came to save everyone, and all are equally undeserving of that salvation. All who believe are saved for our benefit but for God's glory.  It is a choice each person must ultimately make for themself.

Romans 9:15

Romans 9:15 says, For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.  Paul was speaking to the unbelieving Jews in these verses, and those we verses have just looked at.  Just as God chose Isaac the younger over Esau the elder, so the gospel was now going to the Gentiles, the younger, as opposed to the Jews, the elder.  This was based not on God suddenly deciding to work through another group of people, but on the hardness of heart of the Jews, God's chosen people who were to bring His message to the world.  In this verse, Paul cited the example of Moses and the Pharoah.  God stated His right to show mercy on any He chose to show mercy on and withhold that mercy from those He chose to.  Now, once more, we could make this an arbitrary election or rejection, but I believe as always it is based on faith.  God was working through Moses to deliver the Jews from Pharoah because Moses had faith in God's calling.  When God works through us today, it is because of our faith in Him and not the nature of our birth.  Verse sixteen adds, So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.  I believe Paul was stressing the fact that we cannot come to God by our own ability, but only through faith in Christ.  We cannot will ourselves into the family of God.  We can only respond to God in faith.  The key to salvation is always to freely choose to put our faith in Christ.  God calls everyone, but gives everyone the ability to reject His call if they so choose.  Verse seventeen continues, For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.  I believe that this means that God allowed Pharaoh to become powerful, not that He made him powerful.  When we read that God hardened Pharaoh's heart, I believe that simply means that God allowed him to choose to stand firm in defiance of God.  I do not believe that we can say that God calls some to salvation and that He causes others to be incapable of coming to salvation.  I know there are some who believe otherwise. They believe our eternal destiny is determined even before we are born, but I will always believe that it is our free will to choose. Verse eighteen concludes, Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.  In keeping with what I have just stated, I believe this means that God has mercy on those who come to Him through faith and rejects all others.  The hardening of the heart is due to people rejecting God, not God rejecting people. We are told that God stands at the door and knocks, and that He will come in to any who open the door.  There would be no reason for God to knock at our heart's door if our relationship to Him were already determined.