ROMANS UNWRAPPED 166

"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.   Romans 10 v1 - 3

Paul continues his theme of these three chapters, by again expressing his concern for national Israel and their present rejection by God, due to their rejection of Christ.   He begins with a declaration of his heart's desire, which indeed leads to his prayer to God on their behalf.   In this he was entering into the desire in the heart of God for all men.   Like Paul, it should be on all of our hearts to pray for our countrymen and indeed for all men.   His prayer was that they might be saved.   The use of the word  "saved" which has been used before in this epistle, clearly proclaims that we cannot be right with God by ourselves; nor can we be right by the intervention of others, since all are in the same position; only God can save us and in His way.

He notes that His people have a zeal toward God, but that this zeal is not according to knowledge; that is, it is not in line with divine revelation.   This is a very important lesson for all of us.   Sincerity and zeal in religious matters are not enough.   Devotion to one's religious cause does not guarantee us a place in heaven.   Regular attendance at church is not enough.   Observance of all the holy feasts and holy days and externals rites does not save anyone.   As one has said  "we may be sincere, but sincerely wrong."   Again as one hymn writer penned it;

Could my zeal no respite know,

Could my tears forever flow,

All for sin could not atone,

Thou must save, and Thou alone.

The zeal of the religious Jew, without Christ was grossly misplaced.   Paul makes three statements about this;

• They are ignorant of God's righteousness.   Despite all their religious observances and zeal in external religion they did not know God's way of salvation.   Paul, however questions this in chapter 10v19 when he says  "did Israel not know?" and the suggestion is that indeed they did know, but they did no want to know, preferring instead to go their own way.
• Going about to establish their own righteousness.   This is more than passive ignorance, this is positive propagation of there own way, their own religion.   Jesus said in Matthew chapter 23v15 to the scribes and Pharisees  "Ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him two-fold the child of hell than yourselves."   These solemn words from the Lord Himself proclaims clearly to every generation that the religious way if it is not God's way is the pathway to hell.    Says Paul to his nation, you are preaching your own righteousness, not the righteousness of God.   Unfortunately, the key to opening heaven's door to mankind is in the hand of God,  He opens the door, not you or anyone else.
• They have not submitted to the righteousness of God.   So then, not only passive ignorance, then active opposition, but now defiance of the way of God,   Away back at the beginning of the letter Paul made it clear that his mission was "unto the obedience of faith among all nations for His name."    Romans 1v6   At the very end of the epistle, he says the same thing  "The preaching of Jesus Christ .......according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith."

Your disobedience and defiance of the living God and the living way will take you down forever, no matter your perceived privileges.  

There is a deep misunderstanding today that the only thing that matters is a person's zeal in religious matters and that God will accept those who are devoted to their faith, no matter what that faith is.   This is a gross error, there is only one faith.   We hear about multi-faiths.   God has declared one faith. one way of salvation, which is we miss, we will lose out forever.