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Pastor's Blog July 1, 2021
"View of God in Romans XVII"
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For the past few months, we've been looking at the many things God shows us about himself in Romans. Most of them highlight the manifold ways in which God has made known to us the good news of salvation in Jesus. But there's one point in Romans where Paul points out that our biggest problem is not that God has failed to make himself and his redemptive activity known, but rather that we have chosen to distrust God.
In Romans 10, Paul demonstrates that people need to hear about the good news of what God has done in Jesus. People can't call on Jesus if they don't believe in him; and people can't believe in Jesus if they've never heard of him; and people can't hear about Jesus if nobody ever shares him with others (verses 14-15). This is why faith or belief comes from hearing the good news that is supremely concentrated on Jesus Christ (verse 17). But Paul then asks two questions.
The first question is: "Surely they [the nations] have never heard, have they?" (verse 18, NASB). Quoting Psalm 19:4, Paul makes it clear that God has been ceaselessly communicating with all the non-Jewish nations regarding how he wants to save them. So the answer to this first question is, "Yes, the nations have heard from God, because God has made himself known to them."
The second question is: "Surely Israel did not know, did they?" (verse 19, NASB). Quoting Deuteronomy 32:21 and Isaiah 65:1, Paul likewise makes it clear that God has always been communicating with Israel about his plans to save them. So the answer to this second question is, "Yes, Israel has heard from God, because God has made himself known to them." But if this is true, why do some people struggle to understand the good news of Jesus while others seem to readily accept it? Apparently, the answer is in verse 21: God always stretches out his hands to us, but we are disobedient and obstinate.
Friends, if you find it difficult to believe and trust God, know this: God loves you, he constantly makes himself and his salvation known to you, and he continually reaches out his hands to accept you and draw you to himself. Why not respond to God's overtures with love and trust?.
God bless,
Pastor Nathaniel Gamble
