Salvation for All

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ROMANS 10.12-end
October 17th 2021

Okay, we are going to pick up the pace slightly now as a means to cover more ground.

Last week we read Romans 10:9: "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." We went on and read in verse 10 saying, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." And we tied the confessing with our mouths to verse 11 where Paul said: "For the scripture saith, 'Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.'"

The Universality of Salvation

So let’s continue on at verse 12, where Paul gives us some answers which tend to be lost on those who believe that the Jews are saved by and through one means and Gentiles are saved though another.

12 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.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 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?
15 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!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

So, after Paul says that whoso believeth on him shall not be ashamed in verse 11, tying the fact that in humans the mouth speaks what the heart truly believes, Paul adds, "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."

Inclusion Beyond Distinction

For nine chapters Paul has been trying to explain to his brethren (the Jews) that the Good News was delivered not only to them but to the whole world. He has also tried to prove that salvation came by faith, in a truly believing heart, and not labors of the Law. And here in verse 12 he points out that when it comes to “confessing with the mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in the heart that God raised him from from the dead” that “there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.”

In other words, does God react differently to someone who calls upon Him that is a Jew, a Greek, a black man, an Indian woman, a dwarf, a male, a female, gay, straight? No difference. The “SAME Lord over all is rich,” Paul writes, “unto all that call upon Him.” The word difference (diastola) means “distinction, diversity” but it also means “eminence, excellence, advantage.” There is no eminence or advantage which the Jew has over the Greek in regard to justification before God. Call upon him (again with a mouth that is tied to a believing heart) no matter who you are and you will be saved.

Paul reiterates verse nine, but summarizes it by saying: "13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (skipping the “believes in his heart” part “that God has raised Him from the dead”). I am certain that this statement tacitly means “those who believe in their heart in the true and living God” who “call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

The Method of Hearing and Believing

What’s interesting about verse 13 is first, Paul is essentially quoting from Joel in the Old Testament which says, Joel 2:32 says, "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered." Of course, the name of the Lord to a Hebrew means the Lord himself – whether we use his name or not. Alright, so now Paul leads us into the method or means God has provided for people to have a reason and ability to call upon “the name of the Lord” in the first place. Among everything God could have done to get the word out about His Son, this method seems (seems – at first glance) to be the most ineffective in the way He wants to spread the

The Role of Believers in Sharing the Gospel

Good news…

Listed how Paul reasons this method out. Beginning at verse 14:

14 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?

First of all, notice the lack of the phrase, “name of the Lord” here. What I mean by this is notice Paul does not write:

14 How then shall they call on (the name of the Lord) in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in (the name of the Lord) of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear (the name of the Lord) without a preacher?

No, verse 14 is focused on Him – on the Lord, on God, and those who call upon Him – the true and living God. I reiterate this because there are those dear souls who insist that His name is used in the calling. Not so.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

So, having claimed that any (Jew or gentile) who call “on the Lord” and/or “on the name of the Lord” (from the Heart with a “homologeod mouth”) will be saved, he now leads us into one of the most amazing things about the Gospel of Jesus Christ – that God involves us – converted believers – in the process of bringing others to a saving knowledge of Him. And he does this by our words!

This is radical. Initially, it doesn’t seem to be the most effective method of sharing. I mean, couldn’t God have His voice come out of heaven once a day at noon and say:

“Jesus Christ is my Son. Believe in your heart and confess Him and you will be saved!”

The Role of Preaching

Why have the onus of human beings preaching involved in the sharing? It must have to do with justice, freewill, spirit-filled hearts reaching out with Words to “spirit-seeking” people out of Christian love? It must have something to do with humble beginnings or with God using foolish methods to confound the wise.

It must have to do with His love for faith and His desire for His children to grow in faith and to participate in the gathering of souls. It must have to do with word-seeds, and the power of words – as we know from scripture that “by His Word He created all things, that Jesus is that Word made flesh, and that in some amazing way Words continue to carry the ability to produce faith which brings souls to Him.

Let’s take a minute and consider some supportive passages for what Paul is saying here in verse 14.

Insights from 1st Corinthians

In 1st Corinthians 1:17-29, Paul puts forth some real insights into how and why God has established this method of sharing. Listen to them:

17. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
    18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
    19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
    20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
    21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching (don’t you love that?) to save them that believe.
    22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
    23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
    24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
    25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
    26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
    27 But God hath chosen the foolish things (this specifically refers to preaching the Word) of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world (this refers to those who share it) to confound the things which are mighty;
    28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which

Human Pride and the Preaching of the Gospel

"Are not, to bring to nought things that are: (here we get to some real insight) 29 'That no flesh should glory in his presence.'"

Neither those who preach should be glorified, nor those that receive. In Acts 17:18, we see first-hand how the most astute world thinkers responded to this preaching when it says:

“Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.” In Paul’s time, the insult “babbler” was assigned to him by the Greeks. Today, we hear the terms “nut” “fanatic” and or “Jesus freak” assigned in the same way. All produced in the same place – human pride.

Paul's Resistance to Worldly Temptations

In the face of the attitudes the world has toward believers – preachers and teachers may get tempted to interject some high academia, philosophy, or charged emotionalism into the message. Paul showed a willful resistance to this temptation saying in 1st Corinthians 2:1-5:

1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Peter points out another way men pull from the power of Man to preach, saying (in 2nd Peter 1:16)

“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

Speaking of the manner in which the apostles taught, Paul wrote in 2nd Corinthians 2:17:

For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ. This is a heavy responsibility because it places those who chose to speak the word of God to so do “sincerely, as if it came from God Himself, presented in the sight of God, with all words of Christ.”

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The ONLY way to be effective, and to approach sharing His Word in such a circumspect way is by and through His Holy Spirit. And that can be a humbling task.

1st Corinthians 2:10-14 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Back to Paul and Romans 10:14 Paul asks three rhetorical questions to explain the method God has employed to bring human beings to salvation:

First, he’s established that a person has to call on Him (presumably from a believing heart). Then he asks, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?” Then he asks, "and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?” Finally, he asks, “and how shall they hear without a preacher?”

Faith Through Hearing

Let’s discuss these questions as they stair-step (one by one) toward the conclusion that preaching the Gospel is not ONLY vital to men and women being saved, but it is generally by and through preaching, teaching, sharing, and reading the Word of God that FAITH is supplied or produced. Let me explain.

In verse 17 we read:

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” How is this so? Let’s start by looking at the definition of faith found in Hebrews 11:1. It says

“Faith . . . is the substance . . . of things hoped for . . . the evidence . . .”

Understanding Faith and Evidence in Hebrews 11:1

This biblical definition had long escaped my comprehension primarily because I’ve read this passage from the King James. I mean, I have read and re-read that passage for years, never really getting my head around it.

One day ten years ago when I was ruminating over it for the three thousandth time, a simile (of sorts) came to my mind, and it has since helped me understand what the passage actually means:

A Simile for Faith

Is this the wisdom of man or an answer from God – you decide – here’s the simile:

“Honey is the substance of bees hoped for, the evidence of bees not seen.”

Suppose that in our world bees are far more elusive and evasive to the point that nobody has ever seen one. But you are lead to try. So you go out into the woods and spend endless hour trying to actually see a bee –but to no avail.

Tired, lean your hand against a tree and into this sweet sticky golden substance called honey.

You learned when you were a child that bees make honey, and you have just put your hand in a pile of it. Have you seen a bee? Nope. But the honey is evidence the bee exists.

“Honey . . . is the substance . . . of bees hoped for, (honey . . .) is the evidence of bees NOT seen.”

Faith as Assurance and Confidence

So how does this transfer over to Hebrews 11:1 and our understanding of faith?

Faith is a substance. What is that substance? CONFIDENCE. ASSURANCE.

Imagine that it is a literal product that arrives whenever “things hoped for” are presented to us from God or from the Word of God.

“Faith is the SUBSTANCE that accompanies the things (God promises) to hope for.”

So what are these “things” “we hope for” that God gives?

Promises! The promises of God!

Faith is the SUBSTANCE (assurance, confidence) that accompanies (the promises of God -which we hope for; FAITH is evidence of these promises (which are) unseen.

Just as bees produce honey, and “honey is the substance of bees unseen,” so is faith the substance of the unseen fulfillment of the promises God has made to us, and every single person has the right – the choice – to allow themselves to be assured in his promises OR to reject the promisesh as nonsensical – as not proving anything . . . just like a person (who has never seen a bee) might reject the idea that that sticky stuff is evidence of them at all.

In other words . . . all men are saved by grace THROUGH faith, and by scooping up the substance that comes with every promise, we retain, feed off, “the evidences of things not seen.”

Get it? Paul’s has said:

“All who call on Him shall be saved.”

Then he asks, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?”

There is no way I can disavow or believe and call on Him (by faith) if I have never believed in Him and the promises that come with that belief.

Belief in the heart is the desired precusor to calling on Him.

Then Paul next asks,”and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?”

Let me ask you all, do you believe in the power of Galgola?

The first response ought to be, “No – I don’t believe in the power of Galgola because I have never even heard of him . . . or it . . . or her.”

Can’t believe in something we’ve never heard of? Of course not.

And how can I “hear” (of Galgola) if nobody ever tells me of Him (speaks about Him, shares information about Him or reads information about Him to me).

Which leads to the final question:

“and how shall they hear without a preacher?”

Reversing the whole line of thinking, Paul is saying:

1. A preacher preaches Jesus (which amounts to the promises of God).
2. A person hears what is presented about Him – the promises He offers all.
3. And a person either chooses to believe and place their assurance and confidences on Him (by and through the faith)

or

to reject the substance (faith/assurance/confidence) and not believe or receive him and the promises that come with him.

Jump ahead to Paul’s summary that he offers in verse 17, which says:

“So, then faith (the substance/confidence/assurance that leads to salvation) cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Call to Preach and Teach

15 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!”

I am of the belief that the call to preach and teach the Good News is not occupational but advocational – it is something people do whether they are paid or not, whether they are good at it or not – but something they are spiritually called to do. I can tell you without hesitation that what I do is the result of a call . . . a spiritual call from God on whatever time or talents He has given me. Part of the Christian walk is to determine our particular avocation and or call and to follow it – no matter if it seems lowly or impossible – follow it.

Paul quotes from Isaiah 52:7, which heralds the vocation of preaching and says:

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!”

The Gospel and Belief

Alright, there are five more verses left in the chapter so let’s read them beginning at verse 16 where Paul continues, saying:

Romans 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 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. 19 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. 20 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. 21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

Now, once again, we have entered into some passages that are not entirely easy to understand. (But we’re been through tougher jungles, haven’t we?) We know from previous weeks that Paul has said that “whomever” calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Because of friction between the gentile believers and the Jewish converts in Rome Paul wrote this letter and has been emphasizing that the time of the Children of Israel being the exclusive people of God was over and the Gospel – based on an entirely different premise (GRACE by FAITH) was now open to all . . . “WHOMEVER called upon the name of the Lord.”

Then in the face of this statement (he introduced) he presents the means by which people generally come to saving faith – through hearing the Word of God. With this being the means God reached fallen man, Paul now asks:

16 But “they” have not all obeyed the gospel. (and then he goes on to quote from Isaiah, saying) For Isaiah saith, “Lord, who hath believed our report?”

Challenges in Belief

This passage is a bit difficult because we are not sure if Paul, when he writes, “But they have not all obeyed the Good News” is speaking of the Jews (who had heard the Good news had rejected it) or if he was speaking of the Gentiles (who also heard but rejected it) or if he meant both . . . with many not hearing, or as he said it, “they have not all obeyed the Gospel.”

I am of the opinion that Paul was saying, “Whomsoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved;” and that “the hearing of the Word produces faith,” but (he says here in verse 16) “but they (“those who have heard the gospel, whether Jew or Gentile,) have not all believed it” (or obeyed it).

To support the fact that “not all have believed what was preached to them,” Paul quotes from Isaiah, who had the same problem in his life. He preached, but “they” did not listen or believe his words (or his report) as Isaiah puts it. The question we might ask ourselves here in the face of the fact that “the Gospel is preached” is

WHY?

Why didn’t people hear Isaiah – or Moses or Noah or Daniel or Jeremiah . . .? And why didn’t all hear John the Baptist, or

Understanding Isaiah's Prophecy

Jesus, or Peter or Paul . . . And how come all people have not heard Billy Sunday, or Billy Graham, or Greg Laury . . . or you . . . or me?

(beat) Well, here Paul, after telling us how the Good News is available to all, and faith comes by hearing the Word, he chooses to show how Isaiah complained about no one listening to him. And by reading all of this chapter in Isaiah I believe we are able to locate some of the reasons “some” do not hear. So, let’s turn to Isaiah 53 and I think you will be able to see what I mean.

The Gospel and its Reception

Paul said in verse ten, that while the Gospel is open to all who hear it, not all who hear it will (or have) accepted it, saying:

10:16 But “they” have not all obeyed the gospel,” and then he quotes the first line of Isaiah 53.

So let’s read the context of the whole thing where Isaiah says:

1 “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

And what does Isaiah proceed to do? Prophesy, even teach us some details of the person’s life whom we share, saying:

2 For He (meaning Jesus) shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

The Nature of Jesus

So right there in verse one we find a number of reasons why some do not see the arm of the Lord revealed to them . . . why some do not believe the report – The report or Gospel is centered on a king who was meek and tender, like a root out of dry ground. He possessed nothing that men would appreciate – no form (not muscular, handsome not beautiful or attractive) these are the things the world and natural men and women love. And neither he NOR HIS MESSAGE is couched in any of it.

What is interesting about this is the Lord Jesus, who created all things (being the Word of God) constructed the make-up of very His person. Ever think of this? He could have made himself six feet five with hair like Absalom, a body like Hercules, and a face like Adonis – but no. He was lowly, I would probably put Him along the lines of a Galilean derelict in how He was received and seen:

(verse 3 in Isaiah)

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him (we did not believe the report); he was despised, and we esteemed him not (we did not believe the report).

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted (no, we did not believe the report of Him).

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

What a description, huh? To the broken and lost and lowly, he can be appreciated, but to the haughty, and proud, and those who love the things of this world, he is a picture of foolishness, weakness, even failure. So they did not believe Isaiah’s report.

But Isaiah continues and says

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; (have not believed the report) and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

The world wants a Savior that has a golden tongue, a military leader who could stand before millions and motivate us to action! A clean-cut representation of wholesomeness.” No a king who was oppressed and afflicted.

What would cause some to despise and or reject him? Pride? Love dark more than light? Flesh? Desire for power?

Faith and the Word of God

Back to Romans 10 Paul then, in the context of all he has shared previously in this chapter reiterates the main point, saying (in verse 17)

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

And having reiterated this, Paul addresses the

The Spread of the Gospel

18 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.

From the time Stephan was stoned (37AD) to the time Paul wrote to the church at Rome (57 AD), about twenty years time had passed. Remove Paul’s time being tutored (but the other apostles were traveling and sharing the Good News) we are looking at the Good News being preached to the world about 16 or 17 years by this point. Here Paul says that the sound of the Gospel had gone out into all the world. “To all the world” is a Hebrew phrase and does not literally mean, “to all the world.” We also know that Paul wrote to the believers in Colosse (Colossians 1:23) he said “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.”

So, where Paul asks and answers (in verse 18):

18 But I say, Have “they” not heard? (Jews and Gentiles – then he answers) “Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Understanding the Spread

The question with verse 18 is NOT could the Gospel have gone out to the ends of the world. Taking verse 18 at face value we have to say, “Yes, it had.” But the real question is HOW? How did it get to all the world? Notice in verse 18 Paul refers to the vehicle that takes the “sound of the Gospel or the word” out as coming from “they” when He asks:

Have “they” not heard? (Jews and Gentiles – then he answers) “Yes verily, “their sound” went into all the earth, and “their words” unto the ends of the world.”

Paul's References to the World Hearing

Go back with me to the first chapter of this letter to the church at Rome where Paul wrote:

Romans 1:19-20 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

In other words, where Paul says “the Word has gone out to the ends of the world,” we can agree (in the context of Romans 1:19-20) that it certainly went out – and continues to go out through other means as well. But what is even more supportive of this premise is that here in verse 18, Paul is quoting from the essence of something King David wrote in Psalm 19. And in so doing he is proving that the whole world – everywhere – had HEARD the message by the time he wrote this letter to the Church at Rome.

Listen to what Psalm 19:1-4 actually says! It tells us who the “there is” of Romans 10:18, as David wrote:

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun.

The Heavens and Israel's Awareness

Isn’t that amazing? At verse 18 Paul seems to suggest that the heavens had spoken the truth throughout the world! Then, in a sort of redundant manner, he asks a question and then answers, saying:

19 But I say, “Did not Israel know?”

What he is asking is, “Was Israel aware that it would have the privileges removed of being God’s elect and have this offered to another, even the whole world?” And he answers in the rest of the verse, essentially saying, “Yes they knew,” and he quotes all the way back to Moses, writing:

“First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.”

As we said at the beginning of our time together, Paul has been trying to show that the Gospel was going to all – and the election of God was going to be taken from his brethren the Jews and given to those of faith.

This verse – nineteen – serves to bring

Understanding the Message in Romans

Paul's message brings us to a crucial point and launches us into the discussion in chapter 11, emphasizing that the Jews have been displaced, that the Good News has gone out to the whole world, and here in 19, that the Jews KNEW this would be the case if they had only understood their scriptures.

In light of all we have read, no Jew could say, “hey, we couldn’t believe for we have never heard!” Paul says, “not so.” In reinforcing this fact, he first cites Moses, then Isaiah, and reminds every Jew in verse 21 that even with these warnings given because of their stubborn wickedness, that

21 "All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people."

The Jews and their Scriptures

We’ll talk about these verses and how they relate to us as believers next week.

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