Today, we continue our study of Romans 10 where the Apostle Paul is explaining how God is sovereign and that His will is not frustrated even by the unbelief of the Jews who reject the Messiah the Lord Jesus Christ. It is true that no one ever believes unless God draws us to Himself. And, it is also true that we are all responsible with the choice we make regarding Jesus Christ. We call this a paradox. Both teachings are true; God calls men by an elective decree that is irresistible, and yet they must respond by a choice of their will, which they are free to make or not, as it pleases them.
In v.11 of today's passage we read, "As Scripture says, 'Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.'"
The next question the Apostle Paul anticipates in this passage is: "How can anyone be saved?" Throughout the history of man, the only way anyone has been justified or made right before God is through faith in God and His promises. It is only by faith that we lay hold of what God has to promised to those vulnerable enough to embrace the humility which leads to dependence upon our maker. Rightness with God is never gained by earning it, or by trying to be good, or by the good outweighing the bad, but simply by acknowledging that Jesus Christ is God Himself.
Note that the Apostle writes "anyone" in v.11. I remember worrying during my first year of faith that I was not of the elect of God. After some time of wrestling with this issue, I concluded that the very fact that I was wrestling with that question was proof that I was. Someone who does not wrestle with that question should worry whether he is in the family of God or not.
Everyone has faith. The key to being right with God is that we place our faith in Him. Christianity is the only religion that teaches that God came to us; every other religion requires of us to go to Him in hopes that he responds in like manner. In fact, in Romans 5:8 we read, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Most find it so difficult to put their faith in the God of the Bible because faith is the art of relinquishing control to someone we have never seen with our eyes. However, it is when we have relinquished control to God, even in the smallest of ways, that we begin to see Him for who He is. And, this is so hard because we only see Him this side of heaven with our hearts.
The phrase "put to shame" means to be disappointedly disillusioned. This word can also be translated defeated and it is also used in Romans 1:16 as "not ashamed." This word does not bring forth the idea of shame as we think of it. It includes the idea of disappointment. The believer in Christ has absolutely no reason whatsoever to be disappointedly disillusioned by the greatest news to pierce our ears ever because the gospel always accomplishes the work that God intended it to accomplish. This gospel is a proven product, and that's what the Apostle is getting at here.
In v.12-13 of today's passage we read, "12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Throughout the Old Testament we see that salvation was not just extended by God to the Jews only. In fact, Gentiles were included in the Abrahamic Covenant. And, from verses like this verse which the Apostle quotes from Isaiah 28:16 and a slew of others, God has always extended salvation to "whosoever." So, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is the gospel for the whosoever. As God offered salvation in the Old Testament to the whosoever, He offers it in the New Testament to the whosoever. And, the only barrier to salvation is not racial, it's not cultural. The only barrier to salvation is personal rejection.
The "call" that the Apostle identifies here is the product of a certain measure of brokenness in us. Crying out to God is an act of desperation flowing forth from a broken heart. It leads to fervent expression of faith in God and trust in His goodness and power to act on our behalf. With God brokenness always precedes blessing and usefulness. And, we think this life is about being blessed, but I am here to tell you that it is really about being a blessing to others. This is why the take home lesson in the end of this book of Romans is servant leadership.
