For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Devotion based on Romans 10:12,13

“There is no difference between Jew and Gentile.” Those words must have shocked the original recipients of this letter from the apostle Paul. How could Paul say that? From the time God called Abraham over 2,000 years ago, there were differences between Jews and the rest of the world. The Jews were God’s chosen people, specifically separated from other nations. They had a book of laws and regulations to prove it.

Those laws and regulations did separate the Jews from the Gentiles, but the Jews had lost sight of the purpose of those laws. They pointed forward to the coming of a promised Savior, who would rescue people from their sins. Instead, many of the Jews had turned the law into their savior. If they kept these laws, they thought, they would be right in God’s eyes.

But that is an impossible task. No one can be perfect. That is why there is no difference between Jew and Gentile. We all fall short of God’s glory and perfection. God’s law tells us how desperately we all need a Savior. And there is no difference in how we are saved.

Paul quotes an Old Testament prophet tying together Jews and Gentiles who are saved the same way: by calling on the name of the Lord. Looking to Jesus as our Lord and Savior is what saves us. It does not matter what tribe, race, ethnicity, or age. The same Lord is Lord of all.

Sadly, there are some people today who think they are saved because their name is listed in a church membership book, or their family name has been in that book for generations. But just as the Jews were not saved by their lineage or name, neither is anyone saved today because of their last name. Instead, we are saved by the name confessed on our lips and believed in our hearts—the name: Jesus.

Prayer:

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.