Treasures New and Old

Treasures New and Old

Romans: Whosoever Will: God’s Lost and Found

Evangelicals and many Protestant groups use some familiar terms and phrases that most of the unchurched people don’t understand or never heard about. Terms like saved and lost mean little to them unless we can provide a background that reveals their meaning.

This article I have titled “Whosoever Will – God’s Lost and Found” because that is exactly what God is doing: extending to the “lost” individual (someone who is without Christ as their Savior) an invitation to be “found” (like the lost sheep parable that Jesus taught). What Paul will emphasize in Verse 10 is the concept that the invitation for man to place his trust and belief in God’s plan and in our only Savior, Jesus Christ, is open to all who dare to believe. I like to all it “God’s Lost and Found Plan”. Let’s dig in . . .

The Importance of a Word of Faith

Romans 10:8-13:

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 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. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

WORD OF FAITH

Verse 8 Notes: “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;”

  • Paul is again quoting Scripture that the Roman Jews would know and understand, at least on the surface. So, Paul inserts Christ into the quote, clarifying that it is Christ alone who brings about righteousness.

Deuteronomy 30:11-14: “For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may heart it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.”

  • “This commandment” is referring to the law by Moses.
    • “But what saith it?”: But what does it say? What do the Scriptures say?
  • “The word is nigh thee, [even] in thy mouth, and in thy heart”: The matter is nigh thee. It is the inspired word on your very tongue, near you, on your lips, and in your mind.
  • “[T]hat is, the word of faith, which we preach”: That is the very word of faith or the doctrine of the gospel which we publish, which we are heralding, which we proclaim the Word that brings faith.

Verse 9 Notes: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

  • “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus”: Confess (Strong’s G3670): “homologeo: From a compound of the base of G3674 [homos -“at the same time”] and G3056 [logos]; to assent, that is, covenant, acknowledge :- con- (pro-) fess, confession is made, give thanks, promise.”
  • There is an old saying well known in evangelical circles that to confess Christ is: “To say the same thing about Christ that God says about Christ or in the case of Paul’s gospel, the same as what Paul preaches.”
  • “[A]nd shalt believe in thine heart”: Have faith or trust in your inward being. Believe (Strong’s G4100):pisteuo: From G4102 [pistis]; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), that is credit; by implication to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well-being to Christ) :- believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.”
  • “[T]hat God hath raised him from the dead”: That God actually raised him. That the gospel is not a myth, a story, an embellished fairy tale. As Scripture says: 1 Corinthians 15:3-8:

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas; then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James, then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

  • [T]hou shalt be saved”: Thou shalt live, you shall find salvation. (Strong’s G4982):sozo: From a primary sos (contracted for obsolete saos, “safe”); to save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively) :-heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.”

Verse 10 Notes: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

  • “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness”: For with the inmost heart faith is exercised in order to be justified. Heart: (Strong’s G2588): “kardia: Prolonged from a primary kar (Latin cor, “heart”); the heart, that is, (figuratively) the thoughts of feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle: – (+ broken-) heart (-ed).
  • “[A]nd with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”: To acknowledge with the mouth makes a man safe. Profession of faith is made – to make open acknowledgement and so find salvation. Salvation (Strong’s G4991): soteria: Feminine of a derivative of G4990 (soter) as (properly abstract) noun; rescue or safely (physically or morally) :-deliver, health, salvation, save, saving.

WHOSOEVER

Verse 11 Notes: “For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

  • “For the scripture saith”: for the writing saith.
  • “Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed”: Whoever depends on Him shall not be put to shame, shall not be confounded, shall not be disgraced. (Ashamed (Strong’s G2617): “kataischuno: from G2596 (kata) and G153 (aischunomai); to shame down, that is, disgrace or (by implication) put to the blush :- confound, dishonour, (be a-, make a-) shame (-d).
  • Psalm 25:1-3: “Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.”

Verse 12 Notes: “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.”

  • “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek”: They are on precisely the same footing. It discriminates against neither one. There is no distinction.
  • “[F]or the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him”: The same Person is Lord. His riches are for everyone who calls, full of blessing for all who at any time call upon Him. He gives richly to all. He is bountiful to all who invoke His aid, is infinitely kind to all, constantly rich toward all – for all who invoke Him.

Verse 13 Notes (emphasis added): “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

  • “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”: Everyone who invokes the name. For everyone without exception.

SEEKER OF THE LOST

Luke 19:5-10:

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Read Luke, Chapter 15

Luke 15:4-5: What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”

Shepherd seeking the lost sheep.

Luke 15:8:Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently til she find it?”

Woman seeking the lost coin.

Luke 15:20: And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

The prodigal son’s father was always watching for him. God is always watching for us and for the lost to come to Him, always ready to receive and forgive, to find the lost. But note: the prodigal son had to reach the conclusion that he would be better off in his father’s house, and then he had to return to the father’s house to be received. So, too, the lost must understand their deep need for Christ and salvation from their sin and come to Jesus to be received and forgiven.

WE ARE TO SEEK GOD

1 Chronicles 16:11: “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.”

2 Chronicles 15:2b: “The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.”

Psalm 9:10: “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek them.”

Psalm 34:4: “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

Psalm 34:10: “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.”

Psalm 37:4: “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

Psalm 42:2: “My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?”

Psalm 63:1: “A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;”

Psalm 105:4: “Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.”

Psalm 119:2: “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.”

Psalm 119:45: “And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.”

Psalm 139:1-2: “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou undertandest my thought afar off.”

Proverbs 24:14: “So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.”

 Isaiah 55:6: “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:”

Jeremiah 29:13: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when he shall search for me with all your heart.”

Amos 5:4: “For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:”

Matthew 7:7:Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Luke 19:10:For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Hebrews 11:6: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

GENTILES SEEK HIM

Isaiah 65:1: “I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.”

Galatians 3:7-9: “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.”

John 12:20-21: “And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.”

John 12:28-32:Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if i be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

What say you, reader? Have you been a part of God’s “Lost and Found”? Do you know someone who is lost and needs to be found? Believe on Christ as Lord and Savior and repent of your sins. Pray for those you know who need to be found by God and saved.

May God Bless you!

Maranatha!

Bro. Joe

References

Strong, J. Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. Meyers, R. (2005). e-Sword. [computer software] . Franklin, TN: Equipping Ministries Foundation. (Original work published 1539)

Elkmont Baptist Church