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Whosoever believes in YHVH shall be saved! But...
Romans 10:14-17 (KJV)
14
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Paul returned to his method of asking leading questions. How can anyone call on YHVH when he or she does not believe (verse 14)? How can anyone believe in someone about whom they have not heard? How can anyone hear without a preacher? How can anyone preach unless he or she is sent (verse 15)? Paul then quoted from Isaiah.
Isaiah 52:7 (KJV)
7
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
God claims that the feet of him or her that preaches the gospel of peace and brings glad tidings of good things are beautiful!
Paul digressed here a little by pointing out how important the preaching of the gospel is. Without God sending preachers no one would hear and be saved. Even the most ugly of feet become beautiful when engaged in carrying the preacher to his mission field.
But Paul was also again answering potential questions from his opponents. How could the Jews be responsible for not believing, if God had not sent a preacher? Most of the Jews were very familiar with the Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament, but refused to see Yeshua as their fulfillment. In verse 16 Paul refuted the argument by ultimately saying that the fault of disbelief still lay with the individual Jew, since God had sent a preacher, Yeshua, who some believed. He then quoted Isaiah again.
Isaiah 53:1 (KJV)
1
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
This verse in Isaiah 53 begins one of the most Messianic passages in Scripture. Upon quoting this verse Paul expected his Jewish readers to understand the full context of his statement. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (verse 17). The Jews had all they needed in the Word of God to reveal to them that Yeshua was the Messiah. God had indeed sent many preachers, the Old Testament prophets, and finally Yeshua himself! They had no excuse.
Although Paul had been primarily dealing with the Jews in this section of Romans, much of the same can be said about the Gentiles. God has sent His prophets and other preachers. God has given His Word. God has given Messiah Yeshua. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God!!
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Sunday, February 23, 2014
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Romans 10:11-13 - Whosoever Believes Shall Be Saved
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Faith in Yeshua and subsequent consistent actions are the evidences of salvation. Paul continued his argument regarding who can be saved.
Romans 10:11-13 (KJV)
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
In verse 11 Paul quoted from Isaiah, although it may not seem like it from most of our English translations.
Isaiah 28:16 (KJV)
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Isaiah 28:16 (Amplified)
16) Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone) will not be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic].
Paul, in agreement with Isaiah, stated that "he" who believes in the foundation stone will not be ashamed. In Ephesians 2:20 Paul identified the foundation stone as Yeshua.
Ephesians 2:20 (KJV)
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Paul also clarified that the "he" of Isaiah 28:16 is in essence "whosoever." He further explained in verse 12 that the "whosoever" refers to both Jews and Gentiles. There is no difference between their ability to be saved, because the same Lord is over all and is rich to ALL who call upon Him. Paul repeated his thought in verse 13 replacing the "will not be ashamed" with "shall be saved."
Two things to notice in Paul's discussion are 1.) salvation is limited to those who call, and 2.) there is no change from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Consequently, salvation is not limited to any certain group, it is open to all, and it requires a choice on the would-be believer's part. Secondly, faith is the requirement of salvation in both the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament does not teach a works based salvation.
Finally, in verses 12 and 13, there is reference to the Lord. Since "Lord" is a title and not a name, who is being referred to here? Christianity has long assumed that the reference is to Jesus/Yeshua, but is this correct? The Greek is not a help either, since "Kurios" (the Lord) is also a title. However, in the Aramaic Bible in Plain English and in the Complete Jewish Bible, the actual name of God appears (YHVH in Hebrew). This makes sense in light of the following:
John 17:11 (KJV)
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
As Yeshua was in prayer, He asked that the Father keep through HIS OWN NAME those whom He had given to Yeshua.
Jeremiah 16:19-21 (KJV)
19 O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.
20 Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?
21 Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The LORD.
Jeremiah prophesied that the Gentiles would come one day to God and that they would know His Name. In the Hebrew "The LORD" is the four letter name of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (YHVH).
Paul may have been referring to YHVH and not Yeshua. Something to think about!
Next:
Faith in Yeshua and subsequent consistent actions are the evidences of salvation. Paul continued his argument regarding who can be saved.
Romans 10:11-13 (KJV)
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
In verse 11 Paul quoted from Isaiah, although it may not seem like it from most of our English translations.
Isaiah 28:16 (KJV)
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Isaiah 28:16 (Amplified)
16) Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone) will not be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic].
Paul, in agreement with Isaiah, stated that "he" who believes in the foundation stone will not be ashamed. In Ephesians 2:20 Paul identified the foundation stone as Yeshua.
Ephesians 2:20 (KJV)
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Paul also clarified that the "he" of Isaiah 28:16 is in essence "whosoever." He further explained in verse 12 that the "whosoever" refers to both Jews and Gentiles. There is no difference between their ability to be saved, because the same Lord is over all and is rich to ALL who call upon Him. Paul repeated his thought in verse 13 replacing the "will not be ashamed" with "shall be saved."
Two things to notice in Paul's discussion are 1.) salvation is limited to those who call, and 2.) there is no change from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Consequently, salvation is not limited to any certain group, it is open to all, and it requires a choice on the would-be believer's part. Secondly, faith is the requirement of salvation in both the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament does not teach a works based salvation.
Finally, in verses 12 and 13, there is reference to the Lord. Since "Lord" is a title and not a name, who is being referred to here? Christianity has long assumed that the reference is to Jesus/Yeshua, but is this correct? The Greek is not a help either, since "Kurios" (the Lord) is also a title. However, in the Aramaic Bible in Plain English and in the Complete Jewish Bible, the actual name of God appears (YHVH in Hebrew). This makes sense in light of the following:
John 17:11 (KJV)
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
As Yeshua was in prayer, He asked that the Father keep through HIS OWN NAME those whom He had given to Yeshua.
Jeremiah 16:19-21 (KJV)
19 O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.
20 Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?
21 Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The LORD.
Jeremiah prophesied that the Gentiles would come one day to God and that they would know His Name. In the Hebrew "The LORD" is the four letter name of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (YHVH).
Paul may have been referring to YHVH and not Yeshua. Something to think about!
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