NOT ALL OBEYED THE GOSPEL

Romans 10:16-18 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

In the New Testament the gospel is the "good news" that eternal salvation can be found in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Although the message was new, the subject revealed, that is, eternal salvation, had its beginning in the mind of God before time began. The "good news" only revealed it. As Paul said in his opening remarks to the Roman Christians, ...the gospel of Christ ...is the power of God unto salvation ...(Rom. 1:16). The gospel messages of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John relate to us the biographical depiction of the life of Jesus. However, the gospel is God's gift to all mankind. It reveals the completeness of God's plan for all people of the world. As such it must certainly include the "good news" of the entire New Testament. In its entirety, it establishes, without doubt, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Messiah, and the Savior of the world. But it also tells us how mankind can be reconciled to God by the forgiveness of sins, through the blood of Jesus Christ, that He shed on the cross of Calvary. For it is only after this reconciliation takes place that one can truly have the hope of eternal salvation.

As the 53rd chapter of his prophecy begins, Isaiah begins by asking the rhetorical question, Who hath believed our report? This scripture, Paul quotes in the first verse of the lesson text. In his gospel message, the apostle, John, relates the miracles of Jesus. Even with these evidences, John says that they believed not on Him. Why? John tells us why - That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report, and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed (John 12:38)? Just as many in Old Testament times, both during the Patriarchal Age as well as the Mosaic Dispensation, failed to accept God's holy word; just as the majority of Jewish nation failed to accept the preaching of John the baptizer, and the teaching of Jesus Himself; just as disbelief continued during the preaching of the apostle Paul, and all other inspired New Testament teachers of God's word; and, finally, just as most people fail to accept the word of God today, the same rhetorical question is asked. Who hath believed our report, that is the "good news" - the inspired gospel message of God and His Son, Jesus Christ? But they have not all obeyed the gospel. Theinsinuated answer is, very few have obeyed it.

With the fact that very few have obeyed God's call to salvation, Paul now states another well-known fact: ...faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. WhyGod did not directly put into each heart and mind, His holy word, is unknown. Had He done so, there would have been no need for teachers and preachers. However, from the beginning this was not God's divine will. Rather God willed that, through the preaching of His holy word, mankind would hear, believe, and obey His will, accept Jesus as their Savior, and inherit eternal salvation. Replacing the self-will of human beings with the will of God, seems to be a major hurdle to overcome. It seems difficult for mankind to accept God's wisdom - difficult to scientifically justify it with man's wisdom. Paul tells us this in his letter to the church at Corinth. He wrote, For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us, which are saved, it is the power of God (1 Cor. 1:18). Most people consider God's plan of salvation to be foolishness and will spiritually perish. The few that are saved, who wisely accept the power of God, readilysubmit to His will.

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul commends them for their faith in Christ Jesus, ...the love, which ye have to all the saints, ...(and) for the hope, which is laid up for you in heaven, which they had ...heard before in the word of truth of the gospel (See Col. 1:4-6). This is exactly the way God's plan of salvation is intended to take place. The Colossians heard God's truths from His holy word, the gospel, by faith accepted and obeyed it, and, in doing so, they obtained the hope of eternal salvation in heaven. At the writing of Paul's letter to the Roman Christians, could any say they had not the opportunity to hear the word of God? Could their ignorance be blamed on the lack of preaching the gospel message? Paul says no! The "good news" went into all the earth, and ...unto the ends of the world. With God's word available, there is no excuse for disobedience. All had heard, but not all obeyed the gospel! Reader, think seriously about this message from God. Hear, believe, and obey His word.