Romans 10:1-4 (KJV) Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. (2) For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. (3) 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. (4) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

I remember several years ago in another town in another Church, I was asked to speak at a “See You At The Flagpole” event. I prepared for it, was even up late the evening before in preparation. I was supposed to be there at 7:30 am.

I forgot to set my alarm, overslept, and woke up at 8:00 am.

Though I rushed to get to the school, I was so embarrassed! Everything I prepared was wasted, as most of the students and adults had left the flagpole to go into the school. I was very embarrassed – and was never invited to speak at such an event again.

What happened with me was accidental, a human mistake. Our Lord Jesus told a parable once about being prepared and ready. We read:

Matthew 25:1-11 (NKJV) Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

To this day I regret missing my opportunity at “See You At The Flag”. But the world continued to turn. My face was red, but years passed, and I’m sure no one today even remembers that event but me. But there’s another event that’s coming – the return of Jesus. Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom, the Head of His Church. He warned us to be ready for His return. The Bible says:

1 Thessalonians 5:2 (NKJV) the DAY OF THE LORD so comes as a THIEF IN THE NIGHT …

We are to watch for Jesus. To be ready for His coming. The virgins in Jesus’ parable all went to sleep. We are all human and subject to failure. But the foolish virgins took no OIL FOR THEIR LAMPS. In the Bible, olive oil was used in lamps to light up the darkness. The oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit’s Presence, Power, and Anointing. When Kings were chosen by God, the LORD had the Prophet anoint them with oil (1 Samuel 16:1, 13) to show that God empowered their ministry. When Prophets were chosen by God, they too were anointed with oil (1 Kings 19:16), as were Priests (Exodus 28:41) and altars (Exodus 29:36).

Five of the virgins had lamps with oil (the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, see Psalm 43:3; 18:28; 119:105; Proverbs 6:23). But the five foolish virgins had the equipment – but none of God’s Word or Spirit.

If you’re going to be ready for the coming Jesus, you need to do more than look like a Christian. You need to be ready. You need to feed on God’s Word, and submit to God’s Spirit.

Israel Should Have Been Saved

If anyone should have been ready for the first coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, it should have been Israel. And yet, they were NOT saved. Oh, many Jews met Christ as Savior since His coming. But the nation of Israel as a whole generally rejects the Lord Jesus Christ as Messiah. Paul laments the state of Israel, saying,

Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

Word Study: The phrase “heart’s desire” is the Greek kardia eudokia. The word is often translated “good pleasure”. Though Paul had been sent primarily as the Apostle to the Gentiles, his heart was hungry to see Israel come to Christ. But they would not. What was the problem? God throughout the Old Testament, the Scriptures that God entrusted to Israel, repeatedly prophesied that the Messiah would come through that very nation.

Bible scholar J. Barton Payne lists 574 verses in the Old Testament that reference the coming of Christ.

Theologian Alfred Edersheim counts at least 456 passages in the Old Testament.

Jesus fulfilled at least 300 prophesies in His earthly ministry.

The Jews knew that God was going to send the Messiah through Israel. Why did they miss Jesus? Because they were busy being religious. The Apostle says of Israel:

Romans 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a ZEAL OF GOD, but not according to KNOWLEDGE.

Word Study: Israel had a “ZEAL OF GOD”. The word ZEAL is the Greek zēlos, which means “to be on fire for, fervent, driven and devoted to”. It’s a good thing to have zeal, to have excitement of mind or fervency for something. God loves it when we are passionate about Him. When Jesus went into the Temple and cast out the money changers (John 2:15-16), His passion was such that the disciples saw this as the fulfillment of a Messianic Prophecy:

John 2:17 (quoting Psalm 69:6) (KJV) The ZEAL (zēlos) of thine house hath eaten me up.

Jesus’ ZEAL or PASSION when protecting the faith of God proved He was the Messiah. Zeal is wonderful. But it must be backed by the Word of God. Israel had ZEAL, but we are told:

“but not according to KNOWLEDGE”

Word Study: The word “KNOWLEDGE” is the Greek epígnōsis, which means “full discernment, precise and correct knowledge”. Israel had drifted away from the Word of God, though they were keepers of the Word of God. It was the Word of God that chose Israel to be God’s people. God told them:

Deuteronomy 7:6-8 (KJV) … thou art a holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. (7) The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: (8) But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers…

By the time that the Messiah came to this earth through the little virgin called Mary, most of Israel had forgotten how to read Hebrew. As the Old Testament Text was written in Hebrew and Aramaic, this was a problem. Though some Jews read Hebrew, most spoke and read Greek. This led the Scribes to create a Greek translation of the Bible called the Septuagint (meaning 70, as there were 72 translators, 6 from each tribe of Israel). It was thought that by doing this, more would read and mediate on the Scripture.

Sadly, Israel didn’t then, and they don’t today. Israel relied on religious leaders like the Scribes, Pharisees, Chief Priests, and Sadducees to tell them what was Biblical and what was not. When the Messiah was born, the Angel of God told the shepherds watching their sheep at night (Luke 2:10-12). The Angel was specific:

Luke 2:11 unto you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOR, which is CHRIST the LORD.

The shepherds were told that the long awaited SAVIOR had come. That this SAVIOR is CHRIST, which literally means THE MESSIAH. And finally the Angel said that this child born is THE LORD. The shepherds quickly went to see the LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Messiah. From that point they went and told THOSE IN THE SURROUNDING AREA about the Messiah. Did anyone else come to see Jesus?

No!

The Bible tells us that “people wondered about it” (Luke 2:18), but no one went to see Him nor worship Him. When Jesus grew up and began to minister, He started in Nazareth. Jesus came UNTO HIS OWN. This was His home town. How did they treat Him?

John 1:11-12 (NKJV) He came to His own, and His own did not RECEIVE Him. 12 But as many as RECEIVED Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who BELIEVE in His name…

They would not RECEIVE Him. Why? Because Israel had her own righteousness.

Your Own Righteousness Does Not Impress God

Romans 10:3 (KJV) 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.

Israel was ignorant of God’s righteousness, just as many people today are ignorant of God’s righteousness. The late President Jimmy Carter made the statement:

“Homosexuality was well known in the ancient world, well before Christ was born, and Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of His teachings about multiple things – He never said that gay people should be condemned. I personally think it is very fine for gay people to be married in civil ceremonies.”

Many have pointed to this and said “This is what real Christians sound like”. No. Jimmy Carter had zeal, but NOT ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE. The Bible that Jesus quoted defined the homosexual lifestyle as an abomination (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13). The Bible written by the Apostles states:

1 Corinthians 6:9 (NKJV) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites …

1 Timothy 1:9 (NKJV) … the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine …

Jesus defined “marriage” as a union between “male and female” (Matthew 19:4). Our Lord quoted the Genesis text of the creation account when doing so. As to the statement, “Homosexuality was well known in the ancient world, well before Christ was born, and Jesus never said a word about homosexuality”, I might point out this is the very reason Jesus never spoke against it. As an Orthodox Jew, Jesus knew the penalty for homosexuality. Further,

Jesus never spoke about sex with a child or sex with a close relative. He did not address things that everyone knew was evil.

When people are ignorant of God’s righteousness, when they do not read and meditate on the Word of God, they “go about trying to establish their OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS”. That’s a dangerous path to be on! Zeal without Biblical knowledge leads to damnation. We today do the very same thing that Israel has done and continues to do. We are ignorant of God’s righteousness, but zealous, passionate, sincere, so we establish our own standards. The first time we did that in the Garden of Eden, it cost us Paradise!

There is no blessing apart from what God offers through His Word.

Romans 10:3 (KJV) 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.

Salvation comes only by submitting yourselves to the righteousness of God. Is a “Homosexual” condemned before God because they are homosexual? No, a person is condemned because they “established their OWN righteousness, but would not submit themselves to the righteousness of God”. God doesn’t care what Jimmy Carter thinks, nor what the Pope thinks, nor even what you and I think. God cares about what He has commanded.

The Righteousness Of God Comes By Submitting To
& Receiving Jesus As He Is

Romans 10:4 (KJV) For CHRIST is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

The Jews rejected Christ as Lord and Savior – though He was the promised Messiah – because they thought that their own righteousness, their own traditions, their own denominations made them acceptable in the eyes of God. What makes us acceptable in the eyes of God?

We are told in:

John 1:11-13 (ESV) He came to His own, and His own people did not RECEIVE Him. 12 But to all who did RECEIVE Him, who BELIEVED in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, 13 WHO WERE BORN, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, BUT OF GOD.

I often hear the statement – wrongly said – that you must “ACCEPT Jesus as Lord and Savior” to be saved. I hear people say this with PASSION, and “they have a zeal of God, but NOT ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE” (vs 2). First of all, to “ACCEPT” and “RECEIVE” are related, but they are not synonyms. To “ACCEPT” means “to agree to or with, to approve or consent to”. But to “RECEIVE” simply means “to get or be given something”.

God does not ask that we agree with Him, which is what “accept” implies. God asks that we “surrender” to Him. We are told that “all who did RECEIVE Him, who BELIEVED in His name, He gave the right to become children of God…”

When the Shepherds heard that the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST was born, they rushed to see Him. Once they worshiped Him, they went out and told others about Him. The others “pondered” what they heard, but certainly didn’t go to see the LORD Messiah. They accepted, perhaps, but did not receive. Pastor John Piper notes:

“John puts believing in Jesus’s name in apposition with receiving him. “All who did receive him, [that is,] who believed in his name . . . .” Receiving Jesus is one way of describing believing in Jesus in a saving way.”

When you RECEIVE Jesus, taking Him to yourself as YOUR OWN, then you RECEIVE all that Jesus has. Jesus said “I and the Father are ONE” (John 10:30). When you RECEIVE Jesus as Lord and Savior, bending the knee to Him, you RECEIVE the Father as well. Jesus said when we who believe in Him share His Gospel:

John 13:20 (ESV) Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever RECEIVES the one I send RECEIVES Me, and whoever RECEIVES Me RECEIVES the One who sent me…

Matthew 10:40 (ESV) Whoever RECEIVES you RECEIVES Me, and whoever RECEIVES Me RECEIVES Him who sent me.

To enter the Family of God, you must receive the Gospel Jesus has given, a Gospel you heard through another believer who received Him. The righteousness of God is based on RECEIVING Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, on RECEIVING the Word of God as it is.

Will someone who was a homosexual, or a child abuser, or a murderer, or a rapist, stand condemned before God because of their sin? No. They will stand condemned before God because they – though zealous, passionate about what they believed, rejected the righteousness of God, and substituted their own righteousness. Those who stand before God will have this in common. They will have:

(1) Rejected the clear teachings of the Scripture, the Truth of God (John 17:17), for man made religion, and

(2) Refused to RECEIVE the Lord Jesus Christ as the One and Only Savior.

You misplaced zeal does not impress God. When Cain decided God would accept HIS sacrifice HIS way, and God refused, in zeal he killed his brother (Genesis 4:6-8). God was not impressed.

When King Saul turned to the Witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28:7) in his zeal to keep his throne, (1 Samuel 28:7) God was not impressed.

When Peter zealously tried to keep Jesus from going to the Cross, Jesus was not impressed. He said, “Get thee behind Me, Satan – you offend Me. You cherish the things of MANKIND, but not the things of God” (Matthew 16:23, AP).

Passion without the anchor of God’s Word does not impress God! You must come to God’s Word. You must RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Salvation is based on your reception of Christ. The Bible says, “The Father has life in Himself. He has granted the Son to have life in himself.” (John 5:26, AP). Therefore,

1 John 5:12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

You only HAVE the Son if you RECEIVE the Son.

PREACH! When you RECEIVE the Son…

…you RECEIVE forgiveness of sins (Acts 26:18).
…you RECEIVE the Father.
…you RECEIVE the Holy Spirit.(John 7:39).
…you RECEIVE the Kingdom of God (Mark 10:15).
you RECEIVE forgiveness of sins (Acts 26:18).
… you RECEIVE joint-heirship with Christ (Romans 8:17).
you will one day RECEIVE a mansion in glory (John 14:2-3).

We often as believers fail the Lord. I know I do almost daily. I think or say the wrong thing – and then repent and place it under the blood of Christ.

Those who have RECEIVED Jesus as LORD and SAVIOR are certainly not perfect – but we cast our imperfections upon Him.

The Scripture says:

Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV) As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so WALK in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving …

Christ dwells in our hearts BY FAITH (Ephesians 3:17). As Pastor John Piper said:

“… saving faith is both the first RECEIVING of Christ (John 1:12; Colossians 2:6), and the ongoing spirit of glad welcome to Him and dependence on him hour by hour (Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 3:17).”

My salvation is not secured by how perfectly I live for Christ. My salvation is secured by RECEIVING HIM as LORD and SAVIOR. He relied on the Scripture – the Old Testament text – and often quoted it with “it is written”. He chose Apostles to write the New Testament text. When you receive Him, you receive ALL of the Scripture – not just the parts you like. And in receiving Him, you receive the Spirit and the Scripture which grow you to be more like Christ daily. To believe SAVINGLY is to RECEIVE and HAVE Christ as He is, not as you think He should be.

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the END (telos) of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Word Study: The word that is used to describe Jesus in our text is the Greek Noun telos, which means “the termination, the limit at which a thing ceases to be, the last in succession”. The last words that Jesus said on the Cross before He died were:

John 19:30 … IT is FINISHED

This is only one word in the Greek, the Verb teleō. FINISHED! Your sins were paid for. FINISHED! The Messiah has come. FINISHED! Come, imperfect ones, to the foot of Calvary. FINISHED! There is nothing you need do to add to it. FINISHED! Christ is the Key to salvation, the Key to glory. May God lead you to receive HIM. Not a man made righteousness, but a righteousness based on faith in HIM. In Christ name I pray – Amen!