If
someone understood that they received salvation by believing the
gospel, why would they turn around and "ask" God to save him? If he
really believed the gospel he would not be pleading for salvation in the
sinner's prayer. If someone knew that they got saved by faith alone,
would they then ask God to save them? Praying for salvation is an
admission that you are not saved and that you think you will get saved
by praying.
The
Bible has a lot to say about God hearing not sinners (John 9:31, Rom.
3:19, 1 Pet. 3:12, Prov. 1:28-30, 15:29, 28:9, Isa. 1:15, 59:1-4, Ps.
34:15-17, Matt. 7:21-23, 15:8). God does not need that any should
testify of man (John 2:24-25) and He will not accept anything we offer
Him, like prayer (Heb. 5:7). The Bible is clear that prayer is a work
(Col. 4:12, Rom. 15:30, Eph. 6:18).
In
Rom. 10:9 the "thou" is the same thou of verses 6-8 and Deut. 30:11-14,
Israel (like Rom. 10:1). Joel 2:32 which Paul quotes is about Israel.
Besides that, the passages he quotes are not about salvation from sin,
but rather salvation from apostasy and falling.
I think it would be strange if Romans 10:9-10 were referring to the salvation of our soul because that would mean that we became "righteous" when we believed, but we weren't "saved" until we call upon the Lord. I don't think it is possible to separate the righteousness and salvation of the soul. Also, if Paul is referring to the individual salvation of the soul, it would be strange that he did not mention it in chapters 3-5 of Romans where he was dealing with salvation from sin. And again when Paul mentions the gospel in Rom. 10:16 it is said that you obey it by believing it, not by confessing.
Baptists try to apply Isaiah 55:6 to us Gentiles, "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:" But Paul applied Isaiah 65:1 to the Gentiles which says "I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me." (Rom. 10:20)I think it would be strange if Romans 10:9-10 were referring to the salvation of our soul because that would mean that we became "righteous" when we believed, but we weren't "saved" until we call upon the Lord. I don't think it is possible to separate the righteousness and salvation of the soul. Also, if Paul is referring to the individual salvation of the soul, it would be strange that he did not mention it in chapters 3-5 of Romans where he was dealing with salvation from sin. And again when Paul mentions the gospel in Rom. 10:16 it is said that you obey it by believing it, not by confessing.
--Eli Caldwell
That's a very good point. Interestingly, how many Christians still sing 'Hosanna' as part of their worship to God?
ReplyDeleteSaved people singing this song.
Hosanna is often thought of as a declaration of praise, similar to hallelujah, but it is actually a plea for salvation. The Hebrew root words are found in Psalm 118:25, which says, “Save us, we pray, O LORD!” (ESV). The Hebrew words yasha (“deliver, save”) and anna (“beg, beseech”) combine to form the word that, in English, is “hosanna.” Literally, hosanna means “I beg you to save (right now, immediately)!” or “please deliver us (from our sins into a position of righteous salvation)!”
How can a saved person truly sing this??
Thanks.
DeleteI agree. A lot of Christian songs need some "editing" to say the least. Many songs have references to the sinner's prayer, altars, turning from sin, etc.
I wish Galatians 6:14 was reflected by more songs. "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ..."