The Book of Romans: "One Call Away"

 The Book of Romans 

Introduction:

Good morning, church family. My name is Stuart Davidson and I am the pastor here at Eastern Shore Baptist Church. What a joy it is to be here with all of you. What a joy it is to be among God’s people. We need each other don’t we. You are my friends. You are my family. I have been hurting for all of you this week. I know that many of you have been hurting and I have been praying for you. If you are visiting with us this morning, regardless if you ever visit with us again, you are our family too. Today, at least for this day, I am your pastor and I am honored that you would come worship with us. I want you to know that we welcome you, pray for you, and are overjoyed to have you hear with us. 

I want to begin by saying what we all feel in our hearts… this has been a very difficult week. There is no denying it. The assassination of Charlie Kirk has hit us all very hard. While I can’t speak for everyone, I can certainly speak for myself, his murder has hit me enormously hard. Since Wednesday, I have carried a heavy sense of spiritual turmoil inside of me. Thursday night I woke up around 2:30 in the morning and just could not sleep. I woke up Angela and shared with her that I was just so hurt by Kirk’s murder. The images of his death playing in my mind over and over and over again. I wept for a man that I never knew, never met, and never had a relationship. 

Sadly, the video of his murder was sent to me, and after witnessing it, I was even more shaken, even more broken. Perhaps it was Charlie’s youthfulness, the fact that he was cut down in his prime. Perhaps it was because his voice, a voice calling for truth, for life, and for Christ, has been silenced. Perhaps it was because his wife is now widowed, and his children no longer have a father. Or perhaps it was because I saw him as a soldier in the fight for good, both politically and spiritually. Whatever the reason, his death has kept me up at night, consumed my thoughts, and driven me to prayer. Very few times have I cried for someone I never met, but I have shed tears for Charlie and for his family.

But my heart also aches for another family, the family of Tyler Robinson, the man who killed Charlie Kirk. Two families were forever changed on Wednesday. The Kirks, for obvious reasons. But also the Robinsons, because Tyler’s life is over as well. He is staring squarely at the death penalty. His own father turned him in for this horrific, cowardly act. What a weight that must be to carry. I can only imagine the heartache of Tyler Robinson’s mother knowing that her son will likely die at the hands of the government and state. She will never be allowed to touch her son again, only seeing him behind glass. She will never be a grandmother, at least not for Tyler. Their lives are destroyed. 

And we cannot ignore the elephant in the room: the ideology that drove him. Tyler Robinson was clearly disturbed, but he was also consumed by a demonic, sexually immoral worldview. A movement that preaches love and tolerance until you disagree with them. A movement that demands acceptance and inclusion until you tell the truth, that God created us male and female, that it is impossible for a man to become a woman or a woman to become a man. Behind this ideology lies something darker than politics, darker than cultural differences. It is spiritual war.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Friends, our enemy is not Tyler Robinson. Our enemy is not with his transgendered roommate. Our enemy is not the left or liberals. The battle is not ultimately against people, it is against the demonic lies and destructive philosophies that stand against God.

That’s why Paul also writes in 2 Corinthians 10:4–5, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

Friends, that is why we do not do physical battle with people that we might find abhorrent. 

We do not take up arms…rather we take up the Word. The way we fight is by living out our faith, being unashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16), and standing ready to give a defense for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15). Evil is ultimately defeated not by violence but by the victory of Jesus at the cross (1 Corinthians 15:57). So the most powerful thing we can do is not post more on Facebook, but put our faces in the Good Book, live holy and faithful lives, and train up the next generation to know and follow Christ (Proverbs 22:6). That’s how we win this war, because only light can drive out darkness." Our call as believers is to take up the Word of God. Paul said in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

And so where do we turn in a week like this? When the days are dark, we must turn to the light. When times are evil, we must turn to God. When we are confused, we must call out to Jesus to be our Rock. When we are faced with battle, we must run to Christ as our fortress.

That brings me to our passage this morning. Listen to the Word of God in Romans 10:11–13:

“For the Scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

Church family, here is the good news we cling to today… Jesus is only one call away! Salvation is only one call away! Nobody, and I mean nobody, is beyond salvation! Not the addict, not the abuser, not the atheist, not the murderer, not even Tyler Robinson!

That’s what makes grace so amazing, so scandalous, so shocking to the human mind. We tend to think grace is just for the good people, just for the church people, just for the clean and polished people. But grace is not given to the worthy, it is given to the unworthy. Grace is not a reward for the righteous, it is a rescue for the guilty!

Paul says in Romans 5:8, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Not after we cleaned ourselves up. Not once we had it all figured out. While we were still in our sin, Christ died for us!

So yes, it is offered not only to the holiest among us, but also to the vilest among us. The blood of Jesus does not run out at the doors of the church, it runs down to the prison cell, it reaches into the darkest corners, it breaks the hardest hearts, it covers the deepest stains.

Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5:44, “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” That means we pray for Erica Kirk and her children, yes… but it also means we pray for Tyler Robinson. Because if Jesus could save Saul of Tarsus, a man who murdered Christians and dragged believers out of their homes, then Jesus can save Tyler Robinson too. If He could reach down and rescue me, if He could reach down and rescue you, then He can reach down and rescue anyone.

This is the scandal of grace: that the very worst of sinners can become the very trophies of His mercy. That’s why we preach Jesus. That’s why we cling to the gospel. Because everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved!

We must, of course, pray for Erica Kirk and her children. But how many of us will pray for Tyler Robinson? Will we remember that he, too, is only one call away from Christ? That is the scandal and the power of the gospel. And that is where I want to take us today, as we look at the promise of Romans 10:11–13.

In fact friends, that is the title of my message this morning. “One Call Away”!

Today’s Message:

“One Call Away”

Do me a favor this morning friends and fill in the blanks under “Today’s Thought”. Jesus is not distant. He delivers. He draws near. He desires you! 

Do you believe that this morning?

God didn’t just create you, He knows you. He knows you better than you know yourself. He knows you intimately, He knows you intrinsically, He knows the very thoughts before they form on your tongue and the very tears before they fall from your eyes. He is close to you, closer than the air you breathe. At your greatest moments of victory and at the lowest points of your defeat, He draws near to you. He puts His hand on your shoulder when you hurt, He lifts your head when you hang it in shame, and He heals you when you are beaten, broken, and bruised.

And Jesus Christ, when He hung on that cruel cross, died with all of us in mind. I cannot fully explain it. I cannot fully comprehend it. Outside of His amazing, unexplainable love, I don’t know how, I don’t know why. But somehow, someway, Jesus Christ had Stuart Davidson on His mind as He gave up His last breath. “It is finished” may have been on His lips, but my name was on His omnipotent mind. And not only my name but your name too.

Think about that, church. The Son of God, suspended between heaven and earth, bleeding for sins He never committed, was thinking of you. 

Your face. 

Your story. 

Your brokenness. 

Your need. 

He bore it all. 

He carried it all. 

He finished it all.

And in doing so, Jesus Christ threw open the door for us to draw near to His Father in heaven. What a gift. What a Savior. What a gospel. The cross is not just an ancient symbol, it is the eternal invitation. God Almighty saying to sinners like you and me: “Come. Come as you are. Come broken, come weary, come guilty, come lost. Come and be made whole.”

What a gift God gave to all of us through the cross.

Today’s Thought:

Jesus Is Not Distant! He Delivers, He Draws Near, He Desires You! 

DL Moody is one of my favorite evangelists of all time. His sermons have impacted my life in powerful ways. I love his quote on the Gospel being for everyone. Think about that word…”everyone”! The Gospel is not just for the rich. It was not given just for royalty. It was not given exclusively to the learned, the highly educated, the powerful, the pure. No friends. The Gospel is for everyone. Given to the destitute, the diseased, the down and out. The outcast and the overwhelmed. 

Today’s Quote:

“The invitation of the gospel is to all. God has no respect of persons. The door of mercy swings wide open, and the call is to come just as you are, without money and without price. The only condition is that you believe and call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

D.L. Moody’s 1884 Sermon Collection Entitled “The Way To God and How to Find It”

Background and Context:

Again, we are going to be reading Romans 10:11-13 this morning. I will be reading from the Christian Standard Bible which is a translation produced by Lifeway. Before we jump into the text, I want to share with you why I believe Paul wrote these words. ;’’

Paul wrote these words with a broken heart for his own people, the Jews, who had rejected Jesus as the Messiah. They thought righteousness came through the law, through works, through religion. But Paul makes it clear that salvation was never about earning, it has always been about believing.

That is why he says in Romans 10:11–13 that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, religious or rebellious…it does not matter. The ground at the foot of the cross is level ground. Salvation is not reserved for a few, it is offered to all. And the promise is certain: if you call, He will answer. If you ask, He will save you.

Statement of Belief:

“This morning, we open the living and powerful Word of God…truth without error, breathed out by Him, and fully sufficient for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. It is our authority, our guide, and our hope. In honor of the God who gave us His perfect Word, I invite you to stand with me as we read it together.”

Today’s Scripture:

Romans 10:11-13 CSB

For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, [12] since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. [13] For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Pastor: “This is the Word of the Lord.” 

Congregation: “Praise His name. Praise His holy name.” 

Paul’s Path For Saving Grace…

I. Deliverance Is Certain vs. 11

So, what is Paul’s path for saving grace? Our first point this morning is deliverance is certain. Where do we see this point illustratied? Let’s go back and read verse 11 this morning. 

“For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame…”

Essentially Paul is saying that “Everyone who believes in Jesus will not be put to shame. Salvation is secure for all who trust Him.” That is not a maybe. That is not a hope so. That is a rock solid guarantee. 

The reason we can believe in His promises is because of the certainty of His resurrection.

If Jesus had stayed in that tomb, if His body had rotted in that grave, then His promises would mean nothing. But on the third day, the stone rolled away, the grave clothes were folded, and the Son of God stood up victorious. His resurrection is the receipt that the payment for our sin has been accepted in full. His resurrection is the divine guarantee that what He says about eternal life, forgiveness, and salvation is absolutely true.

That is why Jesus could say in John 6:37 (Amplified Bible), “All that My Father gives Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, never reject anyone who follows Me].” That is the promise. That is the security. That is why you can trust Him with your soul.

But what exactly are we being delivered from? The Bible makes it clear.

First, we are delivered from a life without direction. Without Christ we are lost, wandering in darkness with no true north. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Many think they know where they are going, but without Jesus they are walking in circles. Jesus declares in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” In Him our lives finally have direction, meaning, and purpose.

Second, we are delivered from certain death. Romans 6:23 tells us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Every one of us has earned death by our sin. Left to ourselves, that is the paycheck waiting for us. But Jesus delivers us. Hebrews 2:14–15 says, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” In Christ death no longer has the final word.

Third, we are delivered from eternal destruction. Jesus Himself is clear in Matthew 25:46, “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Hell is real. Eternal judgment is real. But praise God, so is eternal life. First Thessalonians 1:10 tells us that believers “wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” Through Jesus, we are spared from destruction and welcomed into glory.

Last week we all remembered the anniversary of September 11th. In remembrance of that day, ABC did a story on Stephen Siller, I had never heard of Mr. Siller before. After hearing the story, I instantly knew that I had to include it in this morning’s message. On September 11, 2001, Stephen Siller, a New York City firefighter, had just finished his shift in Brooklyn when he heard about the attacks on the World Trade Center. He strapped on 60 pounds of gear, ran nearly two miles through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, and rushed straight into the burning towers. He never came out. He gave his life so that others could live. Dozens of people were delivered from certain death by Siller. Friends, that is exactly what Christ has done for us. Sin was the fire that would have consumed us. Death was the smoke choking out our lives. Eternal destruction was certain. But Jesus ran into the flames of judgment, took the punishment Himself, and carried us out to safety.

Think of it this way. If death could not hold Him, then doubt cannot defeat Him. If the grave could not keep Him, then guilt cannot condemn you. If Jesus is alive, and He is, then your salvation is alive with Him. When Paul says “everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame,” he is pointing us to the unshakable truth that our deliverance is certain because our Savior lives.

II. Distinction Is Crushed vs. 12

Our second point this morning is distinction is crushed. 

In verse 11 we saw that deliverance is certain. Everyone who believes in Jesus will not be put to shame. Salvation is secure for all who trust Him. And we know we can believe it because the resurrection of Christ is our guarantee.

Again, our second point this morning is distinction is crushed. 

We see this point clearly explained in verse 12. Listen to what Paul says: “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.”

Here is the truth: There is no difference between Jew or Greek. Christ’s salvation is offered equally to all without prejudice. The gospel does not play favorites. The gospel does not recognize racial barriers, economic barriers, social barriers, or gender barriers. The gospel is for everyone.

Think about that for a moment. The world loves to divide. The world loves to separate. The world loves to label. We are divided by race, divided by class, divided by wealth, divided by politics, divided by gender, divided by culture. Everywhere you look, somebody is trying to draw lines to determine who is in and who is out, who belongs and who doesn’t, who matters and who doesn’t.

But the gospel of Jesus Christ bulldozes every single one of those lines. At the foot of the cross there is no VIP section. At the empty tomb there is no backstage pass. The gospel does not ask for your skin color, your income level, your education, or your background. The gospel is not limited to one people group, one nation, one party, or one culture.

In the eyes of Jesus Christ, the ground at Calvary is perfectly level. The cross welcomes the wealthy businessman and the homeless man on the street. The cross calls to the educated professor and the child who can barely read. The cross is for the religious person who has tried to earn their way and for the rebel who has run as far as they can from God.

Paul told the Galatians in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” That means the gospel is for Jews and Greeks, black and white, slave and free, rich and poor, male and female, young and old. No one is too high to be above the gospel, and no one is too low to be beneath the gospel.

That is why the church is the most diverse family on the face of the earth. It stretches across continents, across cultures, across centuries. In Christ, we are one body. In Christ, we are one people. In Christ, every barrier comes down.

So if you feel like you are an outsider, hear me today, the gospel is for you. If you feel like you are too broken, the gospel is for you. If you feel like you are too sinful, the gospel is for you. If you feel like you are not important enough, the gospel is for you. And if you feel like you are too important to need it, the gospel is still for you.

Because the gospel does not play favorites. It does not stop at boundaries. It does not bow to prejudice. It is the good news of a Savior who died for all people, in all places, in all times, so that whoever calls on His name will be saved.

Again, go back to Galatians 3:28, Paul says there is neither Jew nor Greek. In other words, salvation is not tied to your ethnicity or your nationality. Whether you were born into a Jewish household or a Gentile one, the same Lord saves both.

He says there is neither slave nor free. That means your economic or social status does not determine your worth in the kingdom of God. The gospel belongs as much to the day laborer as it does to the business executive. It belongs as much to the prisoner as it does to the guard.

He says there is no male and female. That means salvation is not gender exclusive. The riches of Christ’s grace are poured out on sons and daughters alike.

The gospel is not reserved for a select few. It is given to everyone who calls on His name.

Have you ever heard the amazing story of Johnny Lee Clary? Johnny Lee Clary was once the Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, the highest leadership position in that hate-filled organization. From a young age, he was consumed with anger, racism, and violence. He grew up in a broken home, and instead of finding love, he found hate. He rose through the ranks of the Klan until he was leading rallies, burning crosses, and terrorizing communities. His life was marked by fear, intimidation, and hostility.

Still, Johnny was not immune to the human condition. Event happened in his life that drove him to begin to search for something bigger than himself. Johnny’s world began to crumble. The same hate that he poured into others began to eat him alive. He turned to alcohol, depression, and despair. He even thought about ending his own life. But one day, broken and at the end of himself, Johnny Lee Clary heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. He heard that the same Jesus who loved the Jew and the Gentile, the same Jesus who broke down the wall between slave and free, the same Jesus who went to the cross for sinners of every background… loved him too.

For the first time in his life, Johnny realized that his hatred was sin. He realized that his racism and violence were not just bad habits, they were rebellion against a holy God. And in that moment, he did the unthinkable. He repented. He called on the name of Jesus. He surrendered his life to Christ.

Jesus transformed him. The man who once burned crosses started carrying the cross of Christ. The man who once spewed words of hate began preaching words of hope. Johnny Lee Clary spent the rest of his life traveling the world, proclaiming the very gospel he once opposed. He partnered with black pastors to preach about reconciliation. He became living proof that the gospel does not play favorites, and that Jesus Christ has the power to change even the hardest of hearts.

This is what Paul is showing us. Distinction is crushed at the foot of the cross. There is no upper class or lower class in the kingdom of God. There is no black church or white church in the kingdom of God. There are no outsiders in the family of God. There is only one Savior, one Lord, one salvation, and one people redeemed by His blood.

III. Decision Is Crucial vs. 13

So, here is our last point this morning. A decision is crucial. Our first point is that deliverance is certain, our second point this morning is that distinction is crushed and our last post is that a decision is crucial. We see this in verse 13. 

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

When I read that passage, this is what came to mind, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Salvation demands a response of faith.”

Peter repeats it in Acts 2:21 (CEV): “Then the Lord will save everyone who asks for his help.” Do you hear the urgency in that? The door is open wide. Salvation is offered to all. But you must call on Him.

Church family, knowledge about Jesus is not enough to save you. You can memorize the Sermon on the Mount, you can quote Psalm 23 word for word, you can know the Christmas story and the Easter story from cover to cover, but if it never makes it from your head to your heart, it will not save you. Knowing Bible verses is not enough to save you. Even the demons know who Jesus is. James 2:19 reminds us, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” Satan himself can quote Scripture. He did it in the wilderness when he tempted Jesus. The devil can recite verses, but the devil is not redeemed.

So here is the question that matters most. The crucial question. Have you acknowledged the authority of Jesus Christ in your life? Not just do you know about Him, but have you bowed before Him? Have you repented of your sin and put your faith fully, completely, wholly in Him? Have you staked your eternity on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ?

Because salvation is not just knowing about Jesus, it is knowing Him personally. It is not just admiring Him from a distance like a figure in history, it is walking with Him as a Friend, following Him as a Master, worshiping Him as Lord. It is not just calling Him a good teacher, it is confessing Him as the Son of God.

Salvation is not just facts in your head, it is faith in your heart. Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Notice that word, believe in your heart. You can know the right answers in Sunday School, you can carry the right Bible under your arm, you can sing the right songs in church, but unless your heart has been surrendered to Christ, you are still lost.

Let me put it this way. You can know all about George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, or Martin Luther King Jr., but you cannot know them personally. They are figures of the past. But Jesus Christ is alive. 

You do not just study Him, you meet Him. 

You do not just learn about Him, you live with Him. 

You do not just gather facts, you enter into fellowship. 

That is the difference between religion and salvation, between knowledge and faith, between being lost and being found.

Salvation is when you take the step from knowing about Him to actually knowing Him. From agreeing with the facts to trusting in the Person. From keeping Him at arm’s length to falling at His feet..

And this is where the invitation comes. The old hymn Jesus Is Tenderly Calling puts it this way:

“Jesus is pleading; O list to His voice,

hear Him today, hear Him today.

They who believe on His name shall rejoice;

quickly arise and away.”

Friend, Jesus is calling you today. He is calling you by name. He is calling you to leave your sin, to lay down your burdens, to put your faith in Him. Do not wait another day. Do not put it off another hour. Quickly arise and come to Christ.

If you have never trusted Jesus as your Savior, I want to lead you right now in what we often call the sinner’s prayer. There is nothing magical about these words, but if you mean them from your heart, God promises He will save you.

Pray this with me:

“Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I know I cannot save myself. I believe You died on the cross for my sins. I believe You rose from the grave in victory. Today I repent of my sin and turn to You. Come into my life. Forgive me. Save me. Be my Lord and my Savior. I put my trust in You and You alone. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

If you prayed that prayer and meant it, then according to the Word of God, you are saved. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

As we close this morning, I want to pray for us one last time…

“Heavenly Father, thank You for the certainty of our deliverance, that in Christ the resurrection is our guarantee. Thank You that distinction is crushed, that there is no Jew or Greek, no slave or free, no male or female, for we are all one in Christ Jesus. And thank You that the decision is clear, that all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Lord, help us to leave this place with confidence in our salvation, with boldness to share the gospel, and with urgency to call the lost to You. May we remember that You are only one call away. We give You all the glory, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.”

“Jesus is pleading; O list to His voice;

hear Him today, hear Him today.

They who believe on His name shall rejoice;

quickly arise and away.”

“Jesus Is Calling”