ROMANS 10:16-21 REFUSAL! The Gospel with all its glory and unspeakable, unlimited blessings, is proclaimed - but refused! How can people who have been so blessed as to have received the written Word of God, disobey and ignore such a glorious message? They listen to, and are affected by, much lesser reports every day. There are weather reports, news reports, stock market reports - reports of many kinds that are heard and paid attention to. This report that brings the greatest possible blessing one could ever have, is to be received in the same way - by faith. This news comes from the highest possible source - the Word of God.
This message is "the word of faith which we preach." This is declared so that those who hear it will receive eternal life. When it is heard with the hearing of faith, those people who heed the message are saved. It is heard world-wide. Israel heard and refused. The message from God is heard in the voice of creation; is heard in the "goodness of God" that leads to repentance. The voice of God is sounded in the conscience of every person. It can be seen when the saints gather to "show the Lord's death till He come." It can be seen in the "chaste conversation (manner of life)" of those who in silent modesty, live the Christian life before those who watch them. It is heard in "dreams... visions... and strong pain upon the bed." Every person has heard the voice of God in some way.
Israel heard, and Israel knew the voice of God. But they thought the way of their choosing, and the law they were given, made them acceptable to God. Now people all over the earth who had no understanding of God, are sought out by God through His Gospel. God through Christ, "has come to seek and to save that which was lost." The Creator is seeking the creature. The hands of God were open to Israel, and they refused.
How important it is in this blessed day of grace, for us to respond to the divine entreaties that are presented in the Gospel message. How long will God hold His hands out to those who ignore His grace? How long will this day of invitation and seeking by God continue? It has already been a long day, and still disobedient and self-opinionated people reject and refuse Him. Some of those who respond and accept the Savior are those who have not sought God but have been sought out by Him and accepted the truth of their guilt and inability to be righteous in themselves. When they hear that Christ bore their sins on the cross and died for them - when they hear of His resurrection and ascension into glory - they believe and are saved. The privileged ones still refuse.
Can it be that men refuse God's freely offered grace? Is it possible that privileged people living in this privileged place; Will ignore, yea further, turn away deliberately from divine hands Stretched out in gracious, patient entreaty to fallen man?
Can it be that self-centered interests lead people to ignore The mercy extended, the holy and divine forgiveness provided when Christ bore Our sins in His own body when He suffered on the tree? How can such refusal of God's offered blessings ever be?
Can it be possible that disobedient, self-opinionated men think themselves superior To the Almighty, Eternal, Creator-God who stoops in grace to those inferior? And is it even common sense to think their opinions will change God's mind? Is it possible that the sinful life and darkened intellect can make a man so blind?
Can it really come to pass that those who were called first will be last? Will those who had no knowledge of God at all, enter the kingdom before those who fast? Those who didn't know of the way of salvation and had nothing at all to bring - Will they be the ones who raise happy voices and their praises to God will sing?
Can the final results of those who gather forever in the house of the Lord; Be based entirely on the work of Christ revealed to them in the written Word? Most certainly! For what the scriptures teach and what we believe by faith - Is the Gospel of good tidings telling of the blessings of God's redeeming grace!
"Father, I did not do well last night in presenting the importance of faith in the life of believers. Would it be in Thy will for me to repeat some of that and go a little further with that subject, or should I speak of something entirely different. I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."