December 17, 2008

Obey the Gospel

“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." 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? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" So then faith [comes] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: "Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world." But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: "I will provoke you to jealousy by [those who are] not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation." But Isaiah is very bold and says: "I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me." But to Israel he says: "All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people."” (Romans 10:12-21 NKJV)

Paul just made a point that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. The law pointed to Christ, and now he emphasizes this truth. There is no distinction between Jew and Greek. All who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Yesterday I mentioned that I needed to explain confession and believing more. When the Bible says all who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved, it is not talking about a prayer per se. Confessing, calling, and believing all speak of faith. The person who effectually calls on the Lord does so trusting Christ with his eternal soul. He is not just crying out for help, but is stepping out to walk on the water as it were.

Paul reminds his readers of this truth in an effort to get his countrymen to believe. He quotes Isaiah who prophesied of this day when the wall of partition would be torn down forever in Christ. Isaiah even points out that the Jews would be hard-hearted while God reached out to them again and again.

The Jews, just like all men, must obey the Gospel to be saved. The Gospel is faith in Christ for salvation, not the keeping of the law. The law had a purpose and it still has a purpose, but it is not to save. It is to lead men to the Savior.

Anyone willing to trust Christ with his or her eternal destiny may be saved. Trusting in Christ means to repent of sin and yield to Christ’s lordship. The Jews stumbled over Him in their self-righteous pride. Please don’t make their mistake; you obey the Gospel. Amen.