When God saw the people during the life of Noah as full of violence and wickedness, he commanded Noah to build an Ark to be saved from the destruction he will send to all disobedient people. God was so grieved and felt dismayed that he created men. Before God sent the great flood, Noah had preached to the people to repent from their sins and avoid the pending punishment that will surely come through the great flood but they rejected the message of Noah and they continued mocking and insulting him, laughing and regarded Noah as insane. God and Noah were humiliated before the eyes and hearings of others. They continued in their ways of lives, their minds were full of lust, sensuality, love of material things and lived to gratify their evil desires. Holiness and love of God had no place in their hearts and minds Genesis 6-8. The same kinds of lives were observed in the lives of people during the time of Lot in the lands of Sodom and Gomorrah. Their minds were full of wickedness. they tried all kinds of unwanted relationships like marriage of man to man, woman to woman, young people, gay to gay and even man to animal! They had no regard and respect to one another and even the angels who visited Lot's home were tried to have unwanted relationship with me. God can't look at the wickedness of the people that's why the angels helped Lot, his wife and two daughters to leave the places and went to small land of Zoar before the burning sulfur from heaven came in and destroyed all people in the cities Genesis 19.
Apostle Paul the author of many books in the New Testament like this book of Romans, was once one of the leaders of the powerful religious group called Sanhedrin who received the authority to kill the followers of Jesus Christ and annihilated them from the face of the earth but when he went to Damascus, he heard the voice of God and told him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me..." Acts 9:3-9. From then on and after he received his eyesight, he humbled himself and asked God for forgiveness and he became a zealous preacher, missionary and teacher of the faith which he zealously tried to destroy before but he failed. He gave his whole life and by faith, he became so brave with passion to share the good news of salvation to all till the end of his martyrdom in Rome in AD 67. He sacrificed everything just to know Christ and to have fellowship with Jesus sufferings which he considered much precious to gain than the wealth, position, power of this world. To know Christ and to make him known became the new norm and goal of his life.
His main desire and prayer in the book of Romans 10:1-21 is to lead the Jewish people to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ; to help them renounce their false belief that true obedience to the law means, righteousness that pleases God and leads to eternal life; that they may know the true functions of the law as mere eye opener that a person is a sinner which is limited and not the way to life everlasting. Paul wanted them to be saved from the power and punishment of sin Romans 6:23, but they forcefully rejected through their intelligence and pride to do everything and influenced people to shout to release Barabbas from jail and to crucify Jesus on the cross Matthew 27:22. Because of their pride, they uphold the Law and killed the author of the Law. Paul knew clearly how God did everything to change their hearts and to save them through his righteous men and he quoted the Old Testament books as follows: "I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding. I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me. All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people." Deuteronomy 32:21; Isaiah 65:1-2
God is faithful in his promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the righteous leaders of Israel that his promise is a promised. God led the Gentiles to know the way of salvation knowing that one day, the Jewish people, his chosen nation will be saved too through the Non-Jewish people who are the Gentiles. Paul never lack of wisdom that's why he gave his whole life and focus, even threats to his life, hunger, dangers, and sickness didn't stop him to lead the Gentiles to salvation. He knew that faith comes from hearing of the words of Christ Romans 10:17; that faith comes if someone will be sent to preach and teach in the places where unbelievers are living verse 14; that faith comes if the people of God will send corporately preachers, teachers and missionaries to all places through their prayers, money and other resources verse 15.
It is very clear in the mind of Paul that Jesus Christ second coming is at hand and he has to obey the great commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel, and baptizing the people in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And teaching them to obey everything written in it... and lo I am with you always till the end of this world Matthew 28:18-20. Paul motivated the believers to obey the words of God faithfully cause the heart and mind of God are focused on the complete restoration and salvation of both the physical and soul of man; that he knew also that, how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news to all; that the words of God are the power unto salvation of mankind and his creations Romans 1:16; that angels in heaven are rejoicing even one soul that repents Luke 15:10; that our names are written in the book of life and we shall live in heaven with God the Father, God the Son Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit, angels and all people in all parts of the world who truly accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior and to celebrate the great banquet that God prepared for all who stand still for the truth and endured hardships just to accept with pure joy the life that has fellowship even to the sufferings of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior John 3:16; John 1:12; Luke 10:20; Revelation 21:27; 22:1-5; Philippians 3:8-11.
For more messages about faithfulness, life, forgiveness, salvation and others, visit our website at savelifewithjoy.com or go to our blogs at hopeandlifeforyou.com and Eugeno "EJ" Juarez. For your suggestions, comments, and prayer requests, email us at agn623@gmail.com.
God bless you all.
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