Anyone and Everyone

DEVOTION

ROMANS

ANYONE AND EVERYONE

Rom 10:5-13

5 Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them."   6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 "or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."   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."  

NIV

Much of what is said here by Paul is what he quotes from Deuteronomy, however it is merely the framework for his words regarding salvation. We have been with the law before and Paul is still making the point the law is gone, it is no more, do not attempt to live by the law for in doing so surely we will die. That whole thing about going up to heaven or raising Jesus from the dead proves we have no power outside of God. This passage includes that which is part of what we call “Roman’s road”. This is what we heard from the mouth of a friend who shared it with us when we were still sinners. We were told that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23. We were told the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus Romans 6:23. Then these verses about confess with our mouth and believe in our heart and we will be saved. We heard those words and God proved himself real and we accepted his gift. We especially like the word anyone. The meaning of the word anyone is not exclusive, but inclusive. The word anyone means the invitation is open to all, to every man, woman and child in every time in history since that word was written and it is available to every culture throughout the world. Anyone is completely inclusive for it includes everyone. Jew or Gentile, white or black, Indian or Asian, Hispanic or Middle Eastern. There is no difference in any human being when it comes to God’s salvation. God will bless all, not some, but all who call on him. God will bless anyone no matter their condition in life. He will save anyone who calls on him. He does not show favoritism to one nationality or ethnic group. It does not matter if we think our sin is too great or that we have just a bit of sin, Jesus took it all when he went to the Cross. No sin is too great for God to forgive, except of course, disbelieve, refusal to believe, claiming there is no God, no Spirit. No sin is too small for us not to confess. Everyone, not a select few, not an elect few, but everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Now we have to acknowledge with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and we have to believe in our heart that God raise Jesus from the dead. If we have trouble with those two, we are in trouble. We have to believe in the very core of our being. This truth has to be so deep within us, nothing will shake it lose. Doubt is our enemy. That is the culprit who started the first sin, the first disobedience to God. That old serpent caused Eve to doubt the words of the Lord regarding the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Doubt is our bitter enemy. If we have doubt about anything God has said, we are in desperate need of a refresher course from the Spirit. We simply have to believe by faith, not by sight. We cannot be one of those people who say they only believe what they see. We cannot see the wind, only the effects of it. We cannot see the Spirit but we can see the effects his brings into our lives. We are saved by faith. There is no other way. And we have to say goodbye to doubt. Everyone can have the gift of God, everyone can be saved. Anyone and everyone.