December 23, 2023 -- Romans 10:11-13 -- Everyone Who Calls on the Name of Jesus Will be Saved

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 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. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:11-13 ESV

Recently I have been listening to W. Robert Godfrey’s teaching on Romans. It is entitled “Not Ashamed: Paul’s Letter to the Romans”. Godfrey remembered a time he’d tried to evangelize a fellow student in college. Godfrey said, “God loves you”. Smugly, as he walked away, he said, “Well, then I’m fine”.  Godfrey wryly noted, “That didn’t go the way I expected”.

As Godfrey has been studying Romans, and for decades been maturing in his faith, he realizes now a much better evangelistic tool is: “everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved”. That simple phrase is packed with meaning. It offers the teacher the opportunity to explain what someone must be saved from (the wrath of God against sin and the sinner being held in the clutches of the devil).

Interestingly, at Christmas, the angelic host declared the glory of God to shepherds out in the fields. As the angels proclaimed Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem the shepherds believed. They sought Him out. They worshiped Him. Though a baby, yet the shepherds believed the angels’ words. Having seen Him, and worshiped Him, they told everyone they met. The shepherds returned to the fields glorifying and praising God. Their lives had been changed forever.

Those who believe the message of Jesus—His willingness to leave the splendor of heaven and take on flesh; His humble birth and suffering which proved Him perfect and the appropriate sacrifice. He is the Lamb of God Who takes away sin, so that those who call on Him can be assured God’s wrath against sin has been removed from them and the devil’s stranglehold ended. (Interesting to note: shepherds used to keep sheep, including animals that were used for sacrifices in Jerusalem. Now that Jesus had arrived, the time of animal sacrifices was ending.) Those who call on Jesus will find their lives changed. They, like the Shepherds, will glorify and praise God. As those who called on the Lord, they will be enveloped in God’s never-ending love.

Our Father in heaven blessed be Your Name. How great, persistent and beautiful is the salvation which is given to all who call on the Name of Jesus. Thank You, Faithful Father, for the work of Your Spirit Who breaks down the heart’s stubborn walls of resistance and the mind’s willful ignorance so that the fragrance of Christ becomes for us the aroma of life and the meditative wonder which fills our minds. Triune God, help us, like those shepherds of old, to believe ever more fully and to make Jesus’ glory known to all we meet and to let our words and actions praise You, now and unto the blessedness of eternity. Amen.

https://youtu.be/xd70NsO8zyc?si=FS4ty2cf67vZDzWQ “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”

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