Bottom line up front: The message of forgiveness and hope is to go to all. Some will believe and some will be saved-all who believe.

Intro: It is probably the most important Christian book of theology ever written. Why? Well, because it is God-breathed. It is of course the New Testament book of Romans, penned by the apostle Paul c. the mid-50s A.D., just a few years after the life, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I appreciate the way one theologian summarized Romans: “The power of the gospel lies in the cross, in the doctrine of justification by faith in a crucified Redeemer.”

Context: A perennial issue that troubles some people is the relationship between divine sovereignty and human freedom. Since God is sovereign in salvation, why should we evangelize? Why labor to be salt and light in a sinful and darkened world, in other words, since God already has planned the past, present, and future of his cosmos? It’s a good question, but the answer is found in Scripture. We don’t have to scratch our heads but only study what the Bible teaches. So again, here’s the question: “Since God is sovereign in salvation, why should we evangelize? Why labor to be salt and light in a sinful and darkened world, in other words, since God already has planned the past, present, and future of his cosmos?”

Questions and answers: How does Scripture answer this? Here are just some of the many places in Scripture where God answers this question:

• “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” (Rom 1:16, ESV).
• “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38, ESV).
• “All that the Father gives me will come to me, who ever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37, ESV).
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, ESV).

What do we see in every case here? Several things: 1) The gospel is to go to all, to be proclaimed to all people. That means all races, both genders, rich and poor, young and old; all; 2) Some will reject the truth; this should be obvious to anyone who has shared the gospel; 3) Some will believe and be saved; and 4) God keeps all who are genuine believers; Christ will not ‘lose’ them or ‘cast them out.’

This issue of divine sovereignty and human responsibility is answered in Scripture itself. We need only study Scripture and submit to its authority as the Word of God.

Connection to Spiritual Fitness in the Military: In the Army, we’ve a regulation (AR 165-1) that states: “Moral Leadership Training applies Army values, the enduring social commitments embodied in our nation’s founding documents, applicable legal statutes, military regulations, professional standards and traditions, and related concepts to enhance moral standards and resilience, strengthen character, promote American identity, and empower leaders with credibility” (AR 165-1, Section IV, 9-9).  

Did you catch it? Morality is invariably taught in any system. The writers of our regulations simply term them Army Values. But there they are in black letters: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. And we are commanded to teach them, to inculcate that morality through the ranks.

Encouragement/takeaway: Just as the Christian must submit to the authority of Scripture in all things, the Soldier must abide by his lawful regulation(s). Just as the Soldier is to abide by the regs, the Christian submits to God’s Word. Just as perennial issues are addressed in our Army Regulations (ARs), so are theological issues addressed in Scripture for all who will simply study it carefully.