Many of us have had the unfortunate circumstance of being hurt or mistreated by someone else, or perhaps a group of people. Your feelings towards them might not be very loving. If you’re a good and generous soul, you might not seek to retaliate against them, or even wish anything bad to happen to these people who have mistreated you. Some people who truly seek to follow God’s ways in their lives might even do something good to these ones who have hurt them. We should always pray for those who hurt us. However, can any of us say that we would be willing to give up our eternal home in heaven and instead go to hell for someone else? Most people can’t truly say that they would be willing to go to hell for someone we love, let alone for someone who has treated us badly. In our short Scripture passage today from Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, we read where he makes just such a declaration. Let’s take a look.
As the Apostle Paul begins this chapter, he is broken-hearted over the spiritual blindness of the Jewish people, because they have rejected the Messiah, Jesus Christ. God had called the Jewish people, given them the Mosaic Law and covenant, yet they turned their back on Him, forsook Him, and rejected the Messiah. When Paul and the other Apostles shared the message of salvation through the Messiah Jesus Christ to the Jewish people, some accepted Him, but the majority did not. They not only refused Jesus, they became violent and threatening to them. We read throughout the Book of Acts of countless times Paul had to flee for his life from their murderous intentions. Many times Paul and the other Apostles were beaten by them for sharing the Gospel, yet here we read Paul saying that he was willing to go to hell himself if it meant they would be saved.
Paul showed a great depth of love for people. Many of the Jews had attacked him. They had attacked him verbally, maligning his character, and also fierce physical attacks. Yet Paul was willing to sacrifice, not only his life, but his eternal soul if they would come to accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah and Savior.
Paul knew that the exchange he was suggesting was impossible. Paul knew and also taught believers that each and every one of us must make our own decision to follow Christ. No one can believe on behalf of someone else. I can’t believe for you. You can’t believe for someone else. Everyone must accept Christ for themselves. However, this was still the sincere expression of Paul’s love for his fellow Jews.
What about us? How do we feel about the lost around us, those who have not accepted Jesus as their Savior, and are on their way to an eternity in hell? Sadly there are some people who are so indifferent about the salvation of their own loved ones, or those around them, let alone those who have mistreated them. Perhaps they think that someone else’s religion is a personal matter between them and God, and one shouldn’t talk about it. Paul didn’t think so. Maybe they’re too busy, but can we really use that excuse when it is a matter of their eternal destination? Or perhaps they don’t know what to say. We have the Holy Spirit to turn to for the right words.
People are dying and going into an eternity of damnation in hell every day, many of them our friends and relatives. Do we not care? Are we willing to sacrifice anything for others, such as time, money, or comfort to bring the message of Jesus to them? Paul was willing, and did, give his whole life to bringing the Gospel to both his own Jewish people, and to the Gentiles as well. As we read here, he loved others so much that if he could, he would have allowed himself to be eternally damned if they would be saved. God does not ask that of us or anyone. Can we not take a little time out of our day or week and tell someone else, a relative, friend, or neighbor about the Lord Jesus?
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