Romans 10:12-21: a reflection

12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. 13For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher? 15And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” 16But they didn’t all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18But I say, didn’t they hear? Yes, most certainly, “Their sound went out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” 19But I ask, didn’t Israel know? First Moses says, “I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation. I will make you angry with a nation void of understanding.” 20Isaiah is very bold and says, “I was found by those who didn’t seek me. I was revealed to those who didn’t ask for me.” 21But about Israel he says, “All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

Paul declares a wonderful truth about the reach of God's salvation: the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich toward all who call on him, so that whoever calls on his name will be saved. There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, Paul says; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. For, whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved. The Lord makes no distinction; he is Lord of all, and generous, rich in mercy, toward all who call on him, whoever they are. And the promise is open and universal: whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. None who call are turned away. This shows that the Lord is rich toward all who call on him, and whoever calls will be saved. The Lord is rich toward all who call on him. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. God makes no distinction; his salvation is open to all who call. None who call on the Lord are turned away.

Notice the breadth and generosity of what Paul declares. He says there is no distinction between people before God in this matter; the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich, generous, abounding in mercy, toward all who call on him. And he states the promise plainly: whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. This is a wonderfully open and generous promise. It makes no distinction of background, status, or worthiness; it is for whoever calls. And it presents the Lord not as reluctant or stingy, but as rich toward all who call on him, generous in mercy and salvation to all who turn to him. This is good news for us and for all. Whoever we are, whatever our background or past, if we call on the name of the Lord, we will be saved; the Lord is rich toward us, generous to save. And it is good news for everyone; no one who calls on the Lord is turned away for being the wrong kind of person. This both assures us of our own welcome when we call on the Lord, and encourages us to call on him freely, and to tell others that whoever calls on his name will be saved. We can call on the Lord with confidence, knowing he is rich toward all who call and turns none away. Call on the Lord, who is rich toward all who call on him. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; none is turned away. God's salvation is open to all, without distinction. Call on the Lord with confidence; he is generous to save.

That is worth resting in, for the Lord is rich toward all who call on him, and whoever calls on his name will be saved, without distinction, so that none who call are turned away. We can wonder whether we, or others, are the right kind of person for God's salvation; but Paul declares there is no distinction, that the Lord is rich toward all who call on him, and whoever calls on his name will be saved. None who call are turned away. When you wonder whether you are welcome, remember that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, and call on him with confidence. Rest in the truth that the Lord is rich toward all who call on him and whoever calls on his name will be saved, without distinction, so that none who call are turned away, as Paul declared there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all and is rich to all who call on him, and whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved; for the Lord makes no distinction of background, status, or worthiness but is Lord of all and generous, rich in mercy, toward all who call on him whoever they are, and the promise is open and universal, whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, which is wonderfully good news for us and for all, since whoever we are and whatever our background or past, if we call on the name of the Lord we will be saved, the Lord being rich toward us and generous to save, and no one who calls on the Lord is turned away for being the wrong kind of person, so that we can both be assured of our own welcome when we call on the Lord and encouraged to call on him freely and to tell others that whoever calls on his name will be saved, calling on the Lord with confidence, knowing he is rich toward all who call and turns none away.

Lord, Paul declares a wonderful truth about the reach of your salvation: the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich toward all who call on him, so that whoever calls on his name will be saved. There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, Paul says; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. For, whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved. You make no distinction; you are Lord of all, and generous, rich in mercy, toward all who call on you, whoever they are. And the promise is open and universal: whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. None who call are turned away. Show me the breadth and generosity of what Paul declares. There is no distinction between people before you in this matter; you are Lord of all, and rich, generous, abounding in mercy, toward all who call on you. And the promise is plain: whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. It makes no distinction of background, status, or worthiness; it is for whoever calls. And it presents you not as reluctant or stingy, but as rich toward all who call, generous in mercy and salvation. This is good news for me and for all. Whoever I am, whatever my background or past, if I call on your name, I will be saved; you are rich toward me, generous to save. And it is good news for everyone; no one who calls on you is turned away for being the wrong kind of person. Take that to my heart, for you are rich toward all who call on you, and whoever calls on your name will be saved. When I wonder whether I am welcome, help me remember that whoever calls on your name will be saved, Lord, and call on you with confidence, knowing you are rich toward all who call and turn none away, and encouraged to tell others that whoever calls on your name will be saved.