Surprising Results: Romans 10:16-21
“16) However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17) So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 18) But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.”” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:16-18‬
After talking about the importance of messengers to proclaim the gospel, Paul now makes it clear that not everyone is going to believe or receive the good news. In fact, when all the Scriptures are studied side by side, it looks like thevmajority turn away from the gospel. (See Matthew 7:13-14 and Mark 4:13-20 as examples)
I personally believe the faithful proclamation of the gospel serves two purposes. First, it is the basis of salvation to those who believe. Second, it is the basis of judgement for those who do not believe.
Jesus made this clear in John 3:16-21. The full context deserves your careful study. Verse 18 provides a valuable overview; “18) He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” He went on to say that some people love the darkness and hate the light.
The preaching of the gospel becomes the dividing point between the children of light and the children of darkness. It separates the righteous from the wicked, the saved from the unsaved and the sons of God from the sons of the devil.
You never know who the chosen are until the gospel is clearly preached. Sometimes the religious become cold and calloused while otherwise very sinful people trust in Jesus and are saved. If salvation is based on works, the religious crowd looks like the chosen. But because it is based on faith in the good news of Jesus Christ, the results can be shocking.
In fact, this is going to become the theme of the next chapter in the book of Romans. Surprisingly, for the most part the Jewish people rejected the gospel while many Gentiles received Him. Do not be selective in your preaching of the gospel. Let it go out into all the world. It is our job to proclaim the gospel, it is the Holy Spirits job to save people.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global