Paul begins Romans 10 with a deep grief for his lost Jewish Brethren, much like Jesus when He wept over Jerusalem. Even though, all that Paul has spoken of and understood regarding the absolute Sovereignty of God to choose those who would be saved, he also fully understood the truth of humanities’ own culpability. We may question as to how God could have chosen Jacob with all his failures and trickery over Esau his brother before they were ever born. Yet, the truth be told. Even those chosen did not deserve any of the grace they were given. Always turning their backs on the one who lavished such grace, while falsely believing they somehow had won his favor through their actions.
Yet, this is one of those moments I truly believe we must through faith accept both the full Sovereign Authority of God in the act of salvation and at the same time recognize the guilt of every human being in choosing to deny God through their own will. Throughout Romans we are shown that both are true; much as J. L. Packer explains in “Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God”. Both the absolute Sovereignty of God in the act of salvation and the responsibility of every human, remains an antimony. Not the only one we find in scripture; but certainly, one that has brought great discord and argument among the various groups of Christians.
However, I do find the book of Romans as being clear, that both are true God has complete Sovereignty to show mercy upon whom He will, and we have no argument that can be presented in our favor. Our total depravity is ours, no one else to blame. Furthermore, our guilt and God’s Sovereignty are both equally true at the same time.
Didn’t they hear?
Paul reminds us that the Jewish people are fully responsible for not hearing, for they as a nation had been told repeatedly of what God’s will was. Yet, they failed to acknowledge the truth they were told. They so desired to be the chosen nation of God based on some righteous merit of their own doing. Yet, repeatedly throughout history, they had shown the depth of their depravity with idolatrous lives, chasing after false gods who were no gods. However, they continued to believe themselves zealous for God, despite their hypocritical lifestyles.
As Paul wrote, “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Romans 10:2-3). Yet, this ignorance was not because God had not clearly told them the truth. Rather, this ignorance came from their repeated rejection of the truth of God that salvation can only come through faith in the Messiah to come. The Absolute Sovereignty of God revealed in His choosing a nation to call His own. Yet, His Sovereignty of choice did not absolve their sins. Paul continues by presenting the evidence, as He so argues from Deuteronomy, Moses, Isaiah and the Psalms.
Isaiah 67:2-10
I spread out my hands all day long
to my rebellious people,
who lived in a way that is morally unacceptable,
and who did what they desired.[d]
3 These people continually and blatantly offend me[e]
as they sacrifice in their sacred orchards[f]
and burn incense on brick altars.[g]
4 They sit among the tombs[h]
and keep watch all night long.[i]
They eat pork,[j]
and broth[k] from unclean sacrificial meat is in their pans.
5 They say, ‘Keep to yourself!
Don’t get near me, for I am holier than you!’
These people are like smoke in my nostrils,
like a fire that keeps burning all day long.
6 Look, I have decreed:[l]
I will not keep silent, but will pay them back;
I will pay them back exactly what they deserve,[m]
7 for your sins and your ancestors’ sins,”[n] says the Lord.
“Because they burned incense on the mountains
and offended[o] me on the hills,
I will punish them in full measure.”[p]
Could it have been any clearer? God had always called them out to be His. There were to be a witness to the whole world of His Grace. It was the absolute Sovereignty of God that called them out to be His people and it was His absolute Sovereignty that could call them to judgement for their sins. And it is clear, He had been faithful to call them, to warn them and to plead with them; but they rejected Him. So, within the Absolute Sovereignty of God there is the right to allow humans choice. There is no injustice with God. He knew that choice came with a price; but without it is there ever truly the ability to love? Can one love God were there not the freedom to love Him?
What if?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Romans 9:21-23
Otherwise, could I understand His Justice, His Grace, His Magnificent Glory, His Love or His Kindness were it not for His having allowed choice. After all, Adam and Eve walked with Him daily in a perfect world with no sin, in harmony with all of nature, and spiritually alive with God—yet they chose to eat of the forbidden fruit. The only thing they did not know was what sin, death, pain, sorrow, illness or justice looked like. Which meant they did not truly know what His love, mercy and grace looked like either. If they had, they could not have sinned.
FURTHERMORE,
The Jewish nation were to be like a lamp set upon a high hill shining forth God’s glory to all nations. But alas, they did not. Instead, they felt themselves superior to others because they were chosen. That same pride caused them to not see the very Messiah that had been prophesied of so many years ago. So, God had told them, He would reach out Himself to do what they had failed to do. This was the theme of the book of Jonah and it was the message in Isaiah 67:1
“I was sought by those who did not ask for Me;
And I was found by those who did not seek Me.
I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,’
To a nation that was not called by My name.
No One to Blame but Themselves
So many opportunities to fellowship with God, gone. Yet, because of the Absolute Sovereignty of God that could have intervened and prevented their betrayal of Him, were their sins absolved? No! As God told Jeremiah.
For who shall have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? or who shall bemoan thee? or who shall go aside to ask how thou doest? Thou hast forsaken me, saith the Lord, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting. (Jeremiah 15:5-6).
Yet, still Jesus wept over Jerusalem as He drew near (Luke 19:42-46) for their blindness. Still, as He entered it was necessary to clear away the merchants from the temple area because they had made God’s Holy Temple a “den of thieves.”
Plan of Salvation: Faith Alone in Christ Alone by Grace Alone
The righteousness based on faith [which produces a right relationship with Him] says the following: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into Heaven?’ that is, to bring Christ down; 7 or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ that is, to bring Christ up from the dead [as if we had to be saved by our own efforts, doing the impossible].” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word [the message, the basis] of faith which we preach— 9 because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] will not be disappointed [in his expectations].” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile; for the same Lord is Lord over all [of us], and [He is] abounding in riches (blessings) for all who call on Him [in faith and prayer]. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord [in prayer] will be saved.” (Romans 10:6-13, AMP).
A Case for Evangelism:
Therefore, Paul then makes the full case for evangelism in verses 14-15 of Romans 10 (AMP).
14 But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher (messenger)? 15 And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent [for that purpose]? Just as it is written and forever remains written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”
NO Excuses!
16 But they did not all pay attention to the good news [of salvation]; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So faith comes from hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ.
18 But I say, did they not hear? Indeed they have;
“Their voice [that of creation bearing God’s message] has gone out to all the earth,
And their words to the [farthest] ends of the world.”
19 But I say, did Israel fail to understand [that the gospel was to go also to the Gentiles]? First Moses says,
“I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation (Gentiles);
With a nation that lacks understanding I will make you angry.”
20 Then Isaiah is very bold and says,
“I have been found by those who did not seek Me;
I have shown Myself to those who did not [consciously] ask for Me.”
21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have stretched out My hands [in compassion] to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER: 5 Thoughts
Absolute Sovereignty of God Does NOT Absolve Man’s Sin—but faith in Jesus Christ, by Grace Can. Christ took the penalty for all my sin that I might be declared Righteous, while at the same time God remain justice in His justification of me—a guilty sinner. My sins were mine. My guilt real. His Sovereignty and Grace overwhelming.
- We may not fully understand the mystery of it all. As God revealed in scripture, “ my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Therefore, it is not mine or yours to fully understand all of the mysteries of the gospel; however, it is ours to believe in its truth and accept the gift of Salvation by faith alone, in Christ Alone, through grace alone.
- There is nothing I or anyone else can do to earn salvation. No amount of zeal or religiosity can gain entrance before the throne. Only faith in Jesus Christ, as God’ only son, who died, was buried and who rose again in new life. It is only through believing in Him that I or you might be saved.
Furthermore,
- Knowing Him as Lord and Savior should compel me to having a passionate desire to spread the “good news” to all who are lost, never knowing who may hear and receive the truth of the gospel. God does not need me to draw the sick and dying to Himself. Rather He graciously desires to share with me a piece of His Glory—that I might know and feel even more of His wondrous grace.
- If you feel the tug of the Holy Spirit today, pulling you to receive Him, do not harden your heart. “today is the day of salvation”. (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Finally:
- The Absolute Sovereignty of God is my saving Grace. Were He not to call my name as His elect before the foundations of the world, I could never have been saved! My security is also in Him. Yet, in the same breath, He bids me come and I am to “pick up my cross and follow Him.” Which is a command of action on my part. I do not need to know how both are true, I just need to believe they are and trust in Him. “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever: (Deuteronomy 29:29). One day these secrets will be revealed, as Christ promised in Matthew 10:26, Mark 4:22, and Luke 8:17. Until then, I will trust Him and go forth to spread the good news of the gospel to whomever I can along this journey.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2019
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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