ROMANS 10:13

“for ‘EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’”

There’s a little joke preachers throw around about the little Greek word pas which is translated in today’s verse as “everyone.” Preachers will say, “The Greek word for ‘all’ means ‘all.’” Hey, I didn’t say it was a funny joke. HELPS Word-studies says it “means ‘all’ in the sense of ‘each (every) part that applies.’ The emphasis of the total picture then is on ‘one piece at a time.’”

Paul seems to take this verse from Joel 2:32, “And it will come about that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD Will be saved;” The Hebrew word translated as “everyone” is asher which occurs over 5500 times in the Old Testament. It literally occurs on just about every page of the Old Testament where it is translated in numerous ways. I think that is significant. Just as salvation is for everyone, it is found everywhere in Scripture in some way.

APPLICATION

Once again, I am not going to get into a discussion about election or God’s sovereignty on this subject. I am simply sharing what Paul wrote here in Romans 10:13. I mentioned a few verses back about Romans containing the “Roman Road” of salvation (3:23; 5:8; 6:23; 10:9-10, 13). Here is the culminating verse in that list. We are plainly told that everyone or all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. What does that imply? It means God is always listening for our plea for rescue.

I hope you can recall a point in your life when you cried out to Him. We are not born Christians. It isn’t something you just grow into. There has to come a point where you realize you are a sinner in need of a Savior. You realize the depth of your sin. For me, that was July 31, 1977. I am still in the process of being saved (sanctified), and one day will be glorified. I haven’t arrived yet. But I am not where I was almost fifty years ago.

One of my favorite passages in Psalm 18:10 which says, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.” That’s what I did. I ran to that tower. I wanted to be secure. I wanted to be saved. I am still in that tower today and don’t plan to come out. No weapon can penetrate it. Satan has no tool to destroy it. I am the Lord’s. How about you? Are you part of that “everyone” Paul mentions in today’s verse? I pray you are.

Thank You, Father, for calling my name. Thank You for hearing my cry for salvation. 

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