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Paul opened this chapter with an expression of heartfelt desire for the salvation of Israel; but the mass cf the nation were acting in direct antagonism to the only method of salvation. In his estimation, their rejection of the Divine plan of saving men was a crime which admitted of no palliation. There were no physical difficulties in the way (vers. 6, 7). There were no intellectual difficulties in the way (ver. 8). There were no moral difficulties in the way, save in their own voluntary ignorance and unbelief. Hell is self-chosen, both by Jew and Gentile. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

I. MAN WANTS SALVATION —

1. From present evil. "The whole world is guilty before God."

2. From future evil. Living to sin, the tendency of his soul is downwards, and no plumb-line can fathom the depths to which he may descend. Perish is the dark dissyllable used to describe the final state of the impenitent.

II. THE SALVATION MAN WANTS IS ATTAINABLE. "Shall be saved." Salvation includes —

1. Deliverance from the great moral evils of the present.

2. Fitness for the enjoyment of the great realities of the future. The saving power creates a heaven in the heart, ere it introduces a heaven to the eye.

III. THE SALVATION MAN WANTS IS ATTAINABLE ONLY BY CHRIST.

1. He procured it as the world's Saviour. "He redeemed us to God with His blood." He could have destroyed; but while we were yet sinners He died for us.

2. He bestows salvation as the world's Sovereign.

IV. THE SALVATION MAN WANTS AND IS ATTAINABLE ONLY BY CHRIST, IS SUSPENDED ON THE CONDITION OF PRAYER.

1. This condition embodies all that is instrumentally necessary to man's salvation. It implies —

(1)  Self-condemnation.

(2)  Confession of sin to God.

(3)  Faith. The prayer of the publican blended these elements.There was self-condemnation. Smiting upon his burdened conscience, he exclaimed, "God be merciful to me."... There was a confession of sin to God: "God be merciful to"... "a sinner." There was faith.

2. This condition is strikingly simple compared with the great results of its exercise. "Whosoever shall call... shall be saved." We have not to traverse sandy deserts, and climb rugged steeps with the Mohammedan, nor to endure maceration with the papist, in order to obtain salvation. We have no work of supposed merit to perform; not to purchase, not to suffer, but to beg.

3. This condition is bound up with a name that renders salvation the certain result of its exercise. The condition is, that we pray to Christ. Complying with this condition, the name of Christ is a guarantee of success.

4. This condition may be exercised with success by any one cf the race. "Whosoever shall," etc. Christianity invites the confidence of the world. Catholicity appears —

(1)  In all the Saviour has done for man.

(2)  In the calls and offers of the gospel.Whosoever is a word utterly neutralising the attempts which men have rashly made to limit the compassion of God, and obstruct the way of the sinner's approach to the mercy-seat. Conclusion: The subject reminds us —

1. That only one method of salvation exists. "There is none other name given among men," etc.

2. To perish with a knowledge of this, man must commit soul-suicide.

(G. Wallis.)

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KJV: For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

WEB: For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed."