These Have a Zeal for God But NOT According to Knowledge - Part 868

I say then, "Hath God cast away His people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people which He foreknew."  (Romans 11:1-2)

There are many within the religious culture of this day that would have us believe that we are alone in this world -- that our understanding of the gospel as "it is written" cannot be accurate because a multiplicity of mainstream churches do not teach the same. This argument is not knew to our generation. Indeed, Paul addresses this "blind perception" throughout the book of Romans. Specifically, Paul writes in the eleventh chapter of Romans about the plight of the Israelites that later led to the "grafting in" of the Gentiles through grace. (Romans 11:1-36)

But Paul also wrote: "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits -- that blindness in part is happened to Israel -- until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." (Romans 11:25) 

It is in this context that we are encouraged to study the Word as a workman -- to show ourselves approved. (II Timothy 2:15) Beginning in Romans 10: 

"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 for 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 10:1-3)

Why? Because "Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone that believes." (Romans 10:4) Did you catch that? Christ is the END of the Law for righteousness to EVERY person that BELIEVES.

Further, "Moses describes the righteousness which is of the Law -- that the man which doeth those things shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaks on this wise: "Say not in thine heart -- who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above)" or, "who shall descend into the deep (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead). But what saith it? "The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the Word of faith, which we preach." (Romans 10:8; Deuteronomy 30:14)

To be more specific, Paul writes: "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved .. for with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation ... for the scripture saith. "Whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed." (Romans 10:5-11)

But the intended message does not stop there. 

Paul writes: "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him -- for whosoever shall call upon "the name of the Lord" shall be saved." (Romans 10:12-13)

The same Lord that is "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last ... which is, and which was, and which is to come -- the Almighty." (Revelation 22:13; Revelation 1:8; Revelation 1:11)

The same Lord that "hath on [His] vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:16)

The same Lord that is the first and the last. "I am He that lives, and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore, Amen, and have the keys of hell and of death." (Revelation 1:18)

The same Lord that we look for -- "that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13)

What is His name? His name is Jesus.

So, while the scribes and Pharisees may be offended because we as believers in Jesus by faith -- seeking His righteousness -- do not subscribe to the religious false doctrines and faith statements of this day, remember you are not alone. God has not cast away His people which He foreknew from the beginning. 

"A chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light." (I Peter 2:9)

So, what then saith the answer of God? 

"I have reserved to myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to the image of Ba-al ... even so then at this present times also there is a remnant according to the election of grace ... and if by grace, then it is not more of works; otherwise, grace is no more grace. ..." (Romans 11:1-10)

In concluding note that "Israel has not obtained that which he seeketh for, but the election hath obtained it ... and the rest were blinded." (Romans 11:7) 

Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid; but rather through their fall, salvation is come unto the Gentiles. "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Praise Jesus today. "For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." (Romans 11:36) Stand in the offering plate.