READ: Rom. 10:11–21: … How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?” … So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. … I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation.
God’s Word does not disappoint when it is received. He grants deliverance in His Son to those who receive His Word, Jew or Gentile. There is no difference between them when they call upon the Lord Christ: He is Lord of all, and rich in grace to all who call upon Him.
In Eph. 3:6, Paul speaks of proclaiming among the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ. That wealth of salvation is intended for all who call upon His Name (v.12). God wills that this gospel be preached everywhere, so that it can be received everywhere by those whom God calls.
In verses 14 and 15 we read four questions beginning with “how shall they?” This sequence refers step by step back to the foundation. For calling upon Christ, faith is necessary; for faith, it is necessary that the gospel concerning the Christ be heard; for that, it is necessary that this gospel be preached; and for preaching, preachers need to be sent to proclaim the good news.
Thus Paul shows how important it is to have faithful preachers. Their words are the words of their Sender, Christ. If one rejects them, one rejects Christ. In Luke 10:16 Jesus says to His disciples: “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”
Paul’s words are therefore not intended only for Jews, but for all true preachers of the gospel and their hearers, even to this day. He thereby points to the great importance of pure preaching and to the power and richness that this preaching brings. However glorious this gospel may be, many reject it. They hear the gospel, but they do not accept it.
Yet God still works upon His ancient people by provoking them to jealousy through the faith of the Gentiles. Those who once stood outside God’s covenant have now, through faith, been incorporated into it.
In what way did God stretch out His hands (v.21)?
Sing: Ps. 119:22,49