IGNORANT OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS

Romans 10:1-3

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.      There was a time when the Jewish religion was the religion authorized by God.

 

B.      At the cross, however, the Old Law was taken away (Col. 2:14).

 

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinance that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.

 

C.      The blood of Christ sealed the New Testament as the authorized covenant today (Matt. 26:28; Heb. 8:6).

 

For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

 

1.      This covenant is for all men.

2.      Sadly, the majority of the Jews did not accept the Christ or His covenant.

 

D.      This saddened the apostle Paul because the Jews were his brothers in the flesh.

 

E.      He took his concerns before the throne of God in Romans 10:1-3. Let’s see what he tells us.

 

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.  For they, being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

 

I.                    THE PRAYER (Rom. 10:1)

 

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

 

A.      The Heart’s Desire:  “Brethren, my heart’s desire…”

1.      Definition:  a longing, a wish, a desire, a genuine hope, a yearning

2.      Paul was a man with like passions as each of us.  Those passions caused him to care deeply for the Jews.

a.       As we stated, Paul was Jew.

b.      The Jews were a very proud people.

c.       Their culture under the Mosaic Law was knit closely together.

1.      They were the children of Abraham.

2.      They had the covenants.

3.      They alone were the people of God.

 

B.      The Heavenward Plea:  “…and prayer to God for Israel is…”

1.      Paul prayed fervently and with faith to God for His brethren in the flesh.

2.      Paul understood, appreciated, and practiced prayer in his life.

3.      He knew that one type of prayer was intercessory prayer (1 Tim. 2:1).

 

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.

 

a.       Intercessions involve prayers on behalf of others.

b.      Paul took his desires to the throne of God for the Jews.

c.       This is quite remarkable when you understand the abuse and persecution Paul received at their hands (See 2 Cor. 11:24).

 

Of the Jews five times I received forty stripes save one.

 

C.      The Happy End:  “…that they might be saved.”

1.      Paul did not pray for the destruction and condemnation of the Jews.

2.      The end he desired was their salvation.

a.       He wanted their minds informed.

b.      He wanted their hearts converted.

c.       He wanted their allegiance turned.

d.      He wanted their sins forgiven.

e.       He wanted their souls cleansed.

f.        He wanted their lives changed.

g.       He wanted their hope restored.

3.      Paul’s prayer did not involve a miraculous conversion of the Jewish people.  Paul wanted God’s providence to work in their lives so they would come to accept Jesus as the Son of God and submit in obedience to His divine will.

 

II.                 THE PASSION (Rom. 10:2a)

 

“For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God…”

 

A.      The Jews believed there is a God.

 

B.      The Jews were sincere in their service to God.

 

C.      The Jews fervently tried to honor and praise God:  circumcision, sacrifices, Sabbath observance, feast days, dietary laws, fasting, tithing, teaching their children, etc.

 

D.      But, the Jews were still lost.

 

E.      LESSONS:

1.      Zeal is something God wants all to have. 

a.       In Titus 2:14, Paul teaches us that we are to be “zealous of good works.”

b.      Jesus was zealous when He cleansed the temple (John 2:17).

 

And his disciples remembered that is was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

 

2.      It is possible to be zealous of the wrong thing. 

a.       The Jews were zealous of a religion that once had merit, but had been superseded by the New Testament of Jesus Christ and Christianity.

b.      It is possible to be extremely religious and still be lost.

3.      Zeal without knowledge is wasted energy.  Sometimes, it can be dangerous energy.

 

III.              THE PROBLEM (Rom. 10:2b-3)

 

“…but not according to knowledge. For they, being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God.”

 

A.      The Hollow Knowledge

1.      Stated: zeal “but not according to knowledge”

a.       Knowledge involves an understanding of that which is right and true.

b.      Christianity is a religion based upon knowledge, not upon one’s feelings.

1)     John 8:32

 

And ye shall know the truth…

 

2)     2 Corinthians 4:6

 

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

 

3)     1 Timothy 2:3-4

 

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

 

c.       We are not trying to discard emotions.  Emotions come as a result of salvation.  They are not the means of obtaining salvation (See Acts 8:39).

2.      Subject:  “…for they being ignorant of God’s righteousness…”

a.       Man is saved by God’s righteousness.

b.      That righteousness is found in the gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16-17).

 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed…

 

c.       The Jews were ignorant of God’s righteousness found in the gospel (Hos. 4:6).

 

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…

 

B.      The Hopeless Attempt:  “…and going about to establish their own righteousness…”

1.      The Jews were not doing nothing.

2.      They were trying to establish their own righteousness by keeping the Law of Moses.

3.      Example:  The Pharisee of Jesus’s parable (Luke 18:11).

 

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus within himself, God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

 

C.      The Heartbreaking Result:  “…have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God.”

1.      In trying to establish their own righteousness, they were not submitting to the righteousness which is of God.

2.      Nobody has the right to try to obtain salvation his own way.

a.       This is the problem with the market approach to the church.  It surveys the people, finds out what they want, and gives it to them.

b.      This is the problem with the “I don’t believe in organized religion” belief.

c.       This is the problem with those who say:  “I am spiritual, but do not need religion to be saved.”

d.      This is the problem with the idea that “all I have to be is be good to be saved.”

3.      Salvation can only come by following the plan God has provided to make men righteous (Matt. 7:21).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.      There is only one way to come to the Father (John 3:36; 14:6; Acts 4:12).

 

B.      In order to be saved, man must submit to the plan God has set forth in the gospel to make men righteous.

 

C.      Trying to establish one’s own righteousness will never work. Those who attempt to do so will always stand in need of salvation because they have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

 

D.      We can do two things for those who are seeking to establish their own righteousness.

1.      First, we can do like Paul and pray for them.

2.      Second, we can teach them at every opportunity we have to do so.