Romans 10:12-13 ESV
“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”
My husband and I just recently attended a hymn sing at a
particular location in our state. We both grew up singing the hymns, and not
too many people are singing the hymns anymore, so it sounded like a good idea
to gather together with other professing Christians just to sing the hymns. But
it turned out to be more than what we thought. It turned out that they were
pushing what is often referred to as the “cheap grace gospel.”
This was their primary Scripture they used for their doctrine
of salvation. Yet, does the Scripture say that everyone who calls on the name
of the Lord will be saved? Yes, it does! But should we make this our full doctrine
of salvation? No! Why? Because the context of Romans does not bear that out
that this should be regarded as the totality of the gospel message. The book of
Romans expands this way beyond what this one verse says.
For we read in Romans 6 that when we believe in Jesus that
we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and that we are raised with Christ
to walk in newness of life in him. For our old self (which belongs to our
former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires) is crucified
with Christ in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that
we will no longer be enslaved to sin, but to God and to his righteousness.
Therefore, we are to not let sin reign any longer in our
mortal bodies, to make us obey its passions, for sin is to have no more
dominion over us. For, we are slaves of the one whom we obey, either of sin,
which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness. For when
we are slaves to sin we are free in regard to righteousness. Do you see what
this is saying? If we remain slaves to sin it ends in death not in eternal life
with God.
And then in Romans 8 we read that the righteous requirement
of the law is fulfilled in us who walk (in conduct, in practice) not according
to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the
flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, and to do that is death, not
life eternal. For the mind set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not
submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot
please God.
For if we live according to the flesh we will die, but if by
the Spirit we are putting to death the deeds of the body, we will live. For all
who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. And Paul continued to teach
this throughout his writings, and John taught the same, that if we walk in sin,
and if sin is what we practice, and if righteousness and obedience to our Lord
are not what we practice, that we will not inherit eternal life.
So, there is so much more to calling on the name of the Lord
than just mouthing words of confession of sin and/or of faith in Jesus Christ. For,
in Psalms 145:18 we read: “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who
call on him in truth.” And in 2 Timothy 2:22 we read: “So flee youthful
passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who
call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
[Lu 9:23-26; Jn 6:35-58; Jn 15:1-11; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-17;
Eph 4:17-24; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Tit 2:11-14; Jas
1:22-25; Rom 12:1-2; Eph 2:8-10; Heb 12:1-2; Jn 6:44; 2 Pet 1:1; 1 Co 15:58;
Php 2:12-13; Col 1:21-23; 1 Co 10:1-22; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:26-27; Rom
2:6-8; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 5:3-6; Col 3:5-10; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1
Jn 3:4-10; Matt 7:21-23; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]
Romans 10:14-15 ESV
“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’”
We who believe in Jesus Christ are to be the light of the
world and the salt of the earth in taking the truth of the gospel of salvation
to the people of this world, and in living what we preach. And we are to
proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his
wonderful light, i.e. we are to proclaim the whole counsel of God.
We are to make disciples (followers) of Jesus Christ of the
people of this world, teaching them to obey our Lord’s commandments. And we are
to be the Lord’s witnesses throughout the earth, turning people from darkness
to light and from the power of Satan to God so they may receive forgiveness of sins
and a place among those sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ.
But the good news of the gospel is not just that Jesus died
on that cross to forgive us our sins so that if we believe in him then when we
die we get to go to heaven. Our faith in Jesus Christ is to transform our
lives. It is to put sin to death in our lives so that we now live for God/Jesus
Christ and for his righteousness. For Jesus shed his blood for us on that cross
to buy us back for God (to redeem us) so that we will now be God’s possession
and so that we will honor God and serve him with our lives (and with our
bodies).
[1 Pet 2:9; Matt 5:13-16; Matt 28:18-20; Acts
1:8; Acts 26:18; Rom
6:1-23; Eph 4:17-24; 1 Pet 2:24; 2 Co 5:15,21; 1 Co 6:19-20; 1 Jn 3:4-10]
Romans 10:16-21 ESV
“But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?’ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for
‘Their voice has gone out to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.”
But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,
‘I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation;
with a foolish nation I will make you angry.’
Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,
‘I have been found by those who did not seek me;
I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.’
But of Israel he says, ‘All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.’”
I am not going to go into the history of all of this and
what this is actually teaching for that would be another whole writing. But
what we can take away from these words is that, even if people are hearing the
truth of the gospel being taught, which not many are here in America, not all
of them are going to obey the gospel. Especially if they are hearing and
believing the “cheap grace gospel” they are not going to obey the true gospel
of Christ.
But it isn’t that the truth of the gospel is not going out.
It is! But there are few who are actually teaching it these days. But even
though it is being taught, and it is going out to people in the world, many are
rejecting it in favor of the “cheap grace gospel,” for the “cheap grace gospel”
makes no requirements for repentance (dying to sin), and for obedience to the
Lord, and for submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
So, by the Lord still sending his servants out with the
truth of the gospel, which he is still doing, he is still holding out his hands
to a disobedient and contrary people who continue to reject the truth of the
gospel in favor of the lies. And that is the sad reality of where we are now in
the USA.
The
Lord’s Anointed
An
Original Work / December 16, 2011
Based
off Isaiah 61
The Spirit of the Sov’reign Lord on me;
Anointed to preach the Good News;
Sent me to bind up the brokenhearted;
Proclaim freedom for the captives.
He sent me to preach release for pris’ners
Who are walking in sin’s darkness;
Proclaim God’s grace to all men who’ll listen;
And tell them about God’s judgments;
Comfort all who mourn;
Give crowns of beauty;
Oil of gladness and thanksgiving.
They will be called oaks of God’s righteousness,
A planting of our Savior, God,
For the display of our Lord’s splendor, and
They will rebuild God’s holy church.
God will renew them, and will restore them,
And you’ll be called priests of the Lord.
You will be ministers of our God, and
You will rejoice in salvation.
The Lord loves justice;
He is faithful to
Reward those who are seeking Him.
I delight greatly in the Lord;
My soul rejoices in my Savior, God.
He has clothed me with His salvation,
And in a robe of His righteousness.
He has given me priestly garments to wear,
As the bride of Jesus Christ.
As the garden of our Lord and Savior,
He causes us to grow in Him.
He makes righteousness,
Praise, and thanksgiving
Spring up before all the nations.
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