How Can They?

“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” (Romans 10:14,15 NLT)

Paul reminds us in his letter to the church in Rome that, “all who call upon the name of The Lord shall be saved” and he anticipates the doubters response by answering their questions before they are asked.

Those same doubts–unbelief in Jesus Christ and in Him as the Risen Savior–still plague The Church (the body corporate) and it is evident in the things we see people–proclaiming to be Christians–do.

The real problem is that then–the descendants of the tribe expected a “warrior” to save them because that’s what they understood. They could not believe–for the most part–that a man preaching, trying to get them to repent of sin and live for God–could save anyone. When they witnessed His crucifixion, they mocked Him about saving Himself. The answer was right in front of them, but they could not see it because their minds were clouded and focused on expectations based upon their limited understanding of how God truly works. They missed knowing the relationship that God so deeply desired with them and there are those today, who still miss it.

How can they still miss the importance of being in right-relationship with God? When people think that “religion or religious affiliation” is the answer to their problems, they miss God. The answer is still right in front of us–we must repent of sin and secure our “relationship” with God. It is our relationship with Him that will draw us nearer to Him so we can clearly understand how He wants us to live.

How can we move closer to Him? WE MUST REPENT OF SIN–AS A NATION–AND AS INDIVIDUALS and learn of Him, receiving instruction and direction from Holy Spirit as He speaks to us. There is no other way that mankind is going to be saved from destruction and captivity–devised in our own minds–when we choose to ignore God and the messengers He uses to warn us!

What messengers should we heed? The messengers of God will only say what God says, they will not speak on their own behalf. God is not doing a new thing pertaining to visions and dreams–He still uses them to persuade people to hear Him, but those visions and dreams are not going to oppose His Word–no matter how much people want to change what He has said. God will use whoever is willing to be used by Him–accepting His sovereignty and love–knowing it is He who is leading them in all things.

How wonderful it is for people of faith to be used by God in promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ! These are those who are sent–not the ones who just got up and went based upon their own logic and rationale of what they “think” needs to happen. Those who just go–on their own–have a modicum of truth to share, but ruin it with their own take on how things should be and much of what they say is in opposition to what God has already said. We won’t know that if we do not know The Word and have such a close relationship with God that we can seek Him for ourselves for clarity and understanding.

What we need more than anything on earth right now–is the enough sense to know we all need to repent and receive God’s forgiveness so we can move forward, taking care of God’s business, while He takes care of ours.

Father, I cannot repent for others, but I stand before You right now, repenting of all those things that are not like You. Forgive me for daring to think I could do anything on my own without You in my life. I submit my thoughts to You, I declare my faith in everything You have said and will say to me to share with others so that all of mankind will be saved, in the name of Jesus! I will do all You prompt me to do, no matter what people say, for I  know that my eternity will be spent with You! And I pray that all who proclaim the name of Jesus will repent–individually, and as a nation and seek You while You may yet be found. In Jesus’ name, I pray, and receive Your response, Amen!

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Whoever You Are!

“For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved” (Romans 10:13 NKJV).

I am so glad that I am a “whoever” and I have called upon the name of the Lord and I am saved from an eternity of unrest and agony! How do I know? For the bible tells me so.

When Paul wrote the letter to the church in Rome, he knew there was great misunderstanding among those who were trying to convert others.  Apparently, in the midst of the bickering, there were some who attempted to convince some they would never have the opportunity to see heaven. If we look at the beginning of this chapter, we see the discussion and the “formulaic response” (v.9) by many when a person makes up their mind about receiving Christ.  So, yes there is something every person must do–believe, confess, repent–and then “call on Him–call on The Lord!”

What is so great about this is that anyone, no matter how many sins committed, can repent and receive the heritage of heaven with Jesus as their Lord and Savior! God is not a respecter of persons and He will respond to the sincere prayer of whoever calls upon Him!  Hallelujah! Thank God for saving for me when I called upon Him!

Okay, I’m getting a little carried away, but moving right along, through the scriptures–how can anyone believe unless they hear the Good News?  “Faith comes by hearing (seeing in this case) and hearing The Word!” We must proclaim the Gospel however we can, through whatever venue we have, and as often as we can!  Preach the Good news and bring others into the knowledge of Christ. Pray that God will provide them with an experience that lets them know they need Him in their lives.

For those of us who are promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the laying on of fingers upon a keyboard and publishing on the Internet, God is pleased! We don’t know who we are reaching and the difference we are making in how we express what The Bible says. As long as we are saying what God says and not getting in the way of people being saved by promoting what “we say,” we are paving the way for others to be saved. Hallelujah! The love of Christ is shed abroad in our hearts and keeps us moving forward to make sure others have the same opportunity we have–assurance of our eternal resting place and receiving the many benefits of being a counted a child of the Most High God.  Whoever we are–we can do this!

Everyday People!

“I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations” (Romans 6:19a NIV).

I cannot begin to explain how many times I have heard some people say, “the bible has no relevance for us today.  That was then, this is now.” If they really understood, having a heart open to God, they would know that just as “everyday” was for that time, “everyday” is still the same for us today.

When Paul was writing to the Church in Rome, he was very concerned about how the people in the church were selectively choosing which rules to live by.  Some wanted to hold people to the letter of law, while he was trying to explain the difference between the spirit of the law and the wonders of grace–to everyday people.

In this passage of scripture (please read the entire chapter), he is specifically talking about people who commit sin, what grace has done, and why we should not continue to sin.  God’s grace, His unmerited, we can’t earn favor, does not mean we continue to commit sin or encourage others to do so.  Paul reminds the everyday people that once in our lives before knowing and understanding the work of the cross, we did commit sin, but now that we know better, we should not participate.  And he used, examples from everyday life (as it was did and is applicable now), to illustrate what he said.  The strong language–“once slaves to sin” still applies to many today.  Many everyday people are slaves to–drugs, porn, fornication, adultery, alcohol, stealing, lying, manipulating, favoritism, complacency (“I’d rather you were hot or cold instead of lukewarm”), etc., hence the use of everyday examples (relevant now), about everyday people.

I think it was Sly and The Family Stones who wrote the song, Everyday People, (if I have the wrong artist, feel free to correct me).  God does not expect us to live like people in ancient times, but He does expect us to adhere to righteousness, using everyday life examples.  He gave us His Word as a guideline because of our human limitations (unwillingness to hear The Spirit of the Lord) so we would be without excuse.

O God, help us–everyday people, to live  every day in righteousness, to your glory.