For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
~Romans 10:11
The book of Romans is amazing—and Paul is a master lawyer whose arguments are brilliant and irrefutable. This whole letter to the church at Rome drops one truth bomb after another. In fact, you could sit in each chapter for weeks (or months or even years) with transformational results. I’m gonna try to summarize in a few words (insert eye roll here).
For nine chapters Paul extols the miraculous and incomprehensible sovereignty of God, and that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone—and that it has been an unmerited gift resulting from faith even from God’s first promises to Abraham. This latter argument was being made to contrast the religious Jews who believed that their righteousness was earned, based on their “holy” outward activity and the Law. But the Law was given to show us that we could never keep it! See chapter 4, but also the rest of the letter. Paul talks of God’s wrath for those who reject Him (chapters 1 & 2). He hammers that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (3:23). But Jesus came as a propitiation for us, a payment that satisfied God’s wrath we deserve (3:24-26)—even while we were still sinners and living as lord our own life (see chapter 5)! And when we experience this gift of grace, we are transformed, free from the shackles of our past sinful nature and made to walk in this freedom (chapter 6). Although we’ll struggle with sin, even after surrendering the Lord (chapter 7), there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (8:1)—we have the Spirit of God living in us to empower us to walk in our new identity: children of God and heirs with Christ (8:17). What’s more, for those of us who believe, nothing and no one can separate us from God’s love (8:31-39). Then Chapter 9 puts forth the equally valid and not-contradictory justice and mercy of God (mind-blown emoji inserted here), and then he circles back to God’s sovereignty in it all.
Whew. With that totally insufficient flyover, we come to chapter 10. Because as Paul talks about the Jewish people and the Gentiles, and how we’re all without-excuse sinners due God’s unimaginable wrath, it’s easy to think, “Well, this gift of grace can’t possibly be for me—I’m beyond hope.” Friend, that’s the whole point of Paul’s exhortation: Yes, all have sinned…but ALL who call on the name of the Lord will be saved (10:12-13)! He reaches back to Isaiah (10:11) and Joel (10:13) in the Old Testament to remind his readers that this has always been God’s plan. Are you part of “all” and “whoever”? YES, YOU ARE. You can call on Jesus to be Lord and Savior of your life and be saved—made new and free. All means all.
Hand in hand with that promise is God’s promise in these verses that this prayer—this cry—to the Lord will always be answered with a “yes”. Always. “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (10:8). [Note, please, that this confession is not just “Jesus is Lord”—even the demons believe that (James 2:19). Rather, it’s a proclamation that “Jesus is Lord of my life.”]
We may pray for healing, for circumstances to change, for provision…and God may answer us with a yes. But He may also say, “No” or “Not now” or “I’ve got something so much better for you in store, but you just can’t see it in this current ‘no’ season.” But the prayer of surrender to Jesus—the request for salvation through grace alone by faith alone, no activity required…this prayer is always a YES. Yes means yes.
Are you far from God, trying to be “good enough” for Him through right activity? Or are you far from God and believe the distance you’ve created is simply insurmountable and there’s no hope for someone like you? Oh, beloved, you are included in the “all” if you simply cry out to Jesus to be your Lord. And, per His promise, when you do this, His answer will be “Yes”—and you’ll be changed forever.
Sovereign God, thank You that in the outcry for salvation—reconciliation to You through the propitiation and righteousness of Jesus—that ALL means ALL and Your YES means YES. May even one reading this recognize the beautiful mercy and grace in this, and surrender to You right now.
encouraged by grace 