The Responsibility of the Saved

Introduction

Over the last two weeks, we have explored this passage in Romans chapter 10. We have seen “The Simplicity of Salvation” in that Christ has done all that is necessary to secure the redemption of all mankind. We have also seen “The Impartiality of Salvation” which shows that salvation is for all men for with God there is no partiality or favoritism. His offer of redemption is made to all.

These two wonderful truths lead us to the scriptures that we have read today. The fact that salvation is so simple and is extended to all men should serve to motivate us to do all that we can to give all men the opportunity to hear the message of the gospel that they may have the chance to respond in faith and be saved.

Romans 10:13- states that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. The problem then is that there are yet many in our world who have not called on Him simply because they have not heard! What a tragedy this is and how we should labor and give to see to it that they too can hear of what Christ has done to save them from their sins.

As we look toward the coming week of Missions Conference, may we ask the simple question “How Shall They Hear?” and in asking it may we personalize it and ask “What can I do to make sure that those who need to hear do?”

Now let us examine these two verses that we might see the need and recognize our responsibility in telling the world of salvation through Jesus Christ.

The mission of the church is the furtherance of the gospel. Our desire should be that people would call upon the Lord but this leads to a series of important questions that must be asked. Paul works from this ultimate goal backwards to that which will bring it to fruition.

How Shall They Call on Him in Whom They Have Not Believed?

When the scripture here speaks of calling on Him, it is in the sense of turning to Him for salvation.

The question here is how shall they call on Him for salvation if they do not believe.

It would be entirely illogical for someone to call upon someone that they do not believe in.

Calling on the Easter Bunny to bring us eggs.

There is absolutely no chance that men will call upon someone that they do not believe in.

Why is it then that some have not yet believed?

This then leads us to the next question in the series...

How Shall They Believe in Him of Whom They Have Not Heard?

It is certainly true that there are some who have heard and have simply chosen not to believe, but the tragic reality is that there are many who do no believe simply because they have not heard.

It is again completely illogical to expect someone to believe in someone which they have never heard about.

Romans 10:17 KJV 1900

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Statistics show that there are somewhere around 17,400 people groups in the world. Among these there are a large number which are still considered unreached. This means that they have less than 2% of their population which are followers of Christ and less than 5% which profess themselves to be Christians. Best estimates show that around 7,400 of these people groups or 40% of them are still considered unreached by this standard.

The fact is that in many parts of the world today there are people who will live their entire lives and die having never heard the name of Jesus.

There are billions of people in these people groups and if there is hope that they will one day call upon the savior, they must first believe, but in order to believe they must first hear.

There are still so many who have not heard the truth which brings salvation and the question which this then leads us to is “Why have so many never heard?”

This bring us to the next question which Paul poses...

How Shall They Hear Without a Preacher?

1 Corinthians 1:21 KJV 1900

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

The same statistics suggest that there are at least around 3,000 people groups around the world which are considered unengaged, meaning there is currently no effort to get the gospel to them. There is no church, no missionary, no outreach to them.

This verse is not primarily speaking of the “preacher” as a vocational minister, but rather of one who proclaims the message of Christ.

The question must be asked, how are those around the world going to hear of Christ if there is no one there to tell them.

This is true also in our own community, how shall those in our own neighborhoods hear the truth of the gospel if no one will tell them.

One of the great problems among Christianity today is our silence. Far too few professing Christians ever attempt to share the message of the gospel with anyone else.

As a result we see the steady decline of biblical Christianity in our society. It is not as though the gospel has lost its power, rather the problem is that it seems the Christian has lost his voice.

Where are the Christians who will boldly and courageously proclaim the gospel? Where are those who will not be afraid to speak the truth in a world that has become consumed with relativism and humanism?

We must find our voice and we must not be afraid or ashamed to declare the gospel of Jesus Christ. Wherever we are we must be a voice for Christ sharing the truth that brings salvation to a lost world.

And yet one problem remains, how shall those who we may never come in contact with hear the message?

This naturally brings us to the final question in the series...

How Shall They Preach, Except They Be Sent?

The fact is that most of us will never have the opportunity to go to a people group that have never heard the gospel. Many of us will never leave the shores of our native land and yet there are so many beyond our shores who still need to hear.

The wonderful truth is that God has provided the means for us to play a role in reaching them as well.

God has called men and women to reach those that we may never be able to personally contact and it is our responsibility to make it possible for them to go to the people that God has called them to reach.

Acts 13:2–4 KJV 1900

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

This is the concept of sending and this is why we believe in supporting missionaries! If there is to be a witness for Christ among these people, a preacher must be sent!

We may not be able to go but we can most definitely send. If our desire is that the good news of the gospel is proclaimed throughout the world, we will not be able to accomplish the mission ourselves.

We must rely upon those whom God has called to go and we must do what we can to help to send them.

At High Plains Baptist Church we have chosen to do this by means of partnering with other churches to financially support missionaries who are carrying the gospel around the corner in places like Hereford, TX and around the globe to places like Japan, Ecuador, and Turkey.

We do this by a method called “Faith Promise Giving” where each member is asked to seek the Lord and by faith make a commitment (not to the church, but to the Lord) to give a particular amount over the course of the coming year for the purpose of the furtherance of the gospel.

We can then support on a monthly basis a number of missionaries that are proclaiming the gospel to the people that God has called them to reach.

Conclusion

Do you have a burden to see men and women, boys and girls call upon Jesus Christ?

Are you burdened for those who have not yet heard?

Will you refuse to be silent and proclaim the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ wherever you are?

Will you commit to follow God’s leading and give to missions to send those whom God has called to reach those that we cannot personally reach?

God has chosen to use you and I and others like us who believe His Word and are willing to proclaim it to further the gospel. Will you follow His plan and let Him use you in whatever capacity He chooses to extend the reach of the gospel in our community and around the world?

The final statement in these verses is still true today! “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”