18 Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.

25 As He says in Hosea: “I will call them ‘My People’ who are not My people, and I will call her ‘My Beloved’ who is not My beloved,”

26 and, “It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”

— Romans 9:18, 25-26

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:

9 that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

11 It is just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”

12 For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him,

13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

— Romans 10:8-13

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

The Sovereign God has a righteous plan. He wants to save people, delivering them out of the curse of sin and death. God has never saved anyone based on heritage, status, or works. Instead, He calls people to salvation because of His sovereign purpose and gracious promises. Human effort, family ties, and national identity cannot save. God saves no one based on church attendance, high moral standards, or generous gifts. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Salvation cannot be earned by human effort or accomplishment.

Salvation is God’s work that flows from His plan and activity. This does not excuse people from personal responsibility for their unbelief or rebellious actions. All who willfully choose not to believe in the gospel of salvation through Christ are responsible for their own personal choice. God does not create unbelief, though He understands, foretells, and works through it. Praise God that human failure is not the end of the story. God came to seek and save humans. (Inspired by BSF Study of Romans)