(S)
10 Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.
Salvation Is for Everyone
5 For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. 6 But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). 7 And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” 8 In fact, it says,
“The message is very close at hand;
it is on your lips and in your heart.”
And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: 9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile[f] are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 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? 15 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!”
16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?”[i] 17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. 18 But I ask, have the people of Israel actually heard the message? Yes, they have:
“The message has gone throughout the earth,
and the words to all the world.”
19 But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said,
“I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation.
I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles.”
20 And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying,
“I was found by people who were not looking for me.
I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.”
21 But regarding Israel, God said,
“All day long I opened my arms to them,
but they were disobedient and rebellious.”
(O)
“Predestination” is a word that I got a few questions about this week. Now I don’t claim to completely understand the word, but I’d like to share my thoughts on it and tie it into this chapter. This probably could be something we could talk about for hours, but this will be a brief explanation of my thoughts.
There are several views on what this word means, three of the main ones are this:
1- God already knew who He was going to call into salvation ahead of time
2.- God knew who was going to be saved ahead of time and just used those people for His purpose
3.- God predestined everyone from the beginning to be in relationship with Him
Now I’ve heard good arguments for all of these, but my personal view is number 3. In Romans 8, it says God predestined all He foreknew (NIV) My take on this is God foreknew each and every one of us from before the beginning of the world. If we combine this with verses like 1Timothy 2:3-4″ this is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and understand the truth” and 2 Peter 3:9 “…He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent”, we see it’s not for a select few. My argument is if God only wanted to predestine a few select people, then these verses are contradictory. This ties into todays chapter. Over and over Paul says anyone who calls on the Lord is saved.
- vs. 4 all who believe
- vs. 9 if you…. you will be saved
- vs. 11 anyone who trusts
- vs. 12 Jew and Gentile are the same
- vs. 13 everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved
The very important thing to remember is that God is not saying everyone will be in heaven someday with Him, but only those believe in Him. Our requirements for salvation is very clear in vs. 9 “ If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ” There is a belief out there that thinks because God “predestined” all He foreknew, everyone will be with Him eventually. That is call universalism I believe, but it’s quite clear that He desires us all to be with Him, but there is a condition; faith.
(A)
I appreciate good questions and feedback that causes me to think and look into. It’s a lot of fun digging into the Word and trying to figure out some of these big questions and “mysteries” of the bible. This is why it is so important to connect with other believers, whether it be through technology or in person. Iron sharpens iron, we need each other to keep each other motivated and accountable.
(P)
Lord we thank you again for another beautiful warm day. Thank you that the virus has seemed to almost stop here in Manitoba. God we ask for your continued protection and guidance in the coming weeks. In Jesus name, amen
G.A.L.F. Discipleship 
I appreciate this very in depth study, however, you’ve raised a couple questions for me.
Are you concluding that predestination is only based on God’s foreknowledge, and not his absolute sovereignty? I think God specifically chooses whom he saves, not that he just knows who WILL be saved. Our names were written in the book of life even before the foundation of the world right? Did God not make some for honourable use and some for dishonourable use? Is it clear that he specifically made some for each role, and that he is glorified in each?
It does also seem clear to me that far fewer are saved than not, for the gate is narrow, and those who make it through are few. God not wanting any to perish does not mean that he does not allow them to. God is just Holy, in his justice as well as in his mercy. Although they perish, his Holy character does not take pleasure in it. Do you think that more people receive salvation than those who go to hell?
I think it’s challenging to fully grasp that we all really do deserve hell, and that it is a tremendous gift from God that we receive irresistible grace and inherit to the kingdom.
I look forward to the future studies, I have enjoyed and appreciated growing through your insightful explanations!
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Hi. I really appreciate the feedback and questions. This blog is to help me learn. You raise many questions i too wrestle with. To answer a few, i would think far fewer get saved than go to hell. It seems to me that some are made for dishonorable purposes, for His glory, because of His Sovereignty. My mind just has a tough time getting wrapped around all that. Lol.
What i mean by foreknowledge is simply that He had us all in mind at creation to be with Him in eternity. Sin caused us to have to choose.
Hope you have a great day!
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So God had intended us to all go to heaven, but because of sin the choice was given to us on where we would go, heaven or hell?
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Well choice was given to us before sin by telling Adam and Eve to not eat from the one tree. The choice has always been follow God or not follow. The choice now is put our faith in Jesus or not, which ultimately will be heaven or hell, but in the meantime, live under Gods grace or not
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So you would say salvation is in our hands and not God’s?
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I would say God has given that choice to us.
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I don’t intend to have any sort of debate, I would just ask that these verses be considered when making that conclusion. I don’t believe dead men make choices, but I believe in God’s absolute sovereignty. I think God regenerates us himself, and he GRANTS us repentance!
I thank you for the study, may God continue to work through you as you continue teaching us!
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
John 6:44 ESV
I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
John 17:9 ESV
But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
John 6:64-65 ESV
All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
Matthew 11:27 ESV
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Colossians 2:13-14 ESV
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
Ephesians 1:11 ESV
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
Ephesians 1:4-5 ESV
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
Deuteronomy 7:6 ESV
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