Romans 10:13 – For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

This is a remarkable statement, which Paul draws from the Old Testament (see Joel 2:32), to enforce his argument that salvation is by faith. This makes it very clear that both Jew and Gentile are to call on the Lord. Have you ever been asked, “How do I become a Christian?” This is one of those verses that gives you the beautiful answer. Salvation is as close as your own lips and heart. People think it must be a complicated process, but it is not. If we believe in our heart and say with our mouth that Christ is the risen Lord, we will be saved. To “call upon the name of the Lord” means to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice the emphasis on human responsibility “whoever calls.” From Romans 9 alone we might think that salvation is God’s doing alone, but from Romans 10 we might think that salvation is man’s doing alone. Together we see the matter from each perspective, God’s doing and man’s responsibility.

Challenge:

Salvation is for all who have purposed in their hearts to call out to the Lord. No one will be turned away. No one will be rejected. God desires that all would come to Him and accept His forgiveness and grace. Why then, do so many refuse to come to Jesus for salvation? There are many reasons people have for refusing the Lord’s offer of eternal life through Jesus Christ. However, it is my belief, that the greatest reason is individuals do not want to surrender their control to God. Independence is considered a strong character strength today. No one wants to be told what to do or how to do it. When your boss gets too bossy, you simply find another job. When you don’t get along with your supervisor, you ask for a change of department. Change may be something that most people don’t like, but making a change to satisfy yourself can be tolerated. God never changes. He is always the same. When you come to Him, you can expect to receive consistent counsel that never goes against His word. You’ll always have access to God through prayer, because He wants you to call upon Him in every situation. Your challenge for this week is to frequently call upon Him for counsel, for wisdom and for direction. Make it a habit to constantly seek the Lord and invite Him into your every decision. May God bless you.