Romans - Paul's Heart for Israel

Paul’s Heart for Israel

Romans 10:1-4

 

            Paul shares his profound and sincere longing for his Jewish brethren to be saved. His singular prayer for them is that they would accept Christ as the foretold Messiah so that they might truly know God. Like anyone else in all of creation, the Jews must find redemption thru Jesus Christ. *

            Rather than living by faith in God, the Jews established customs and traditions which they added to the law in an effort to make themselves acceptable in God’s sight. However, human effort, no matter how sincere, can never be a substitute for the righteousness God offers thru faith. The only way to earn salvation is to be perfect and that is impossible. We can only hold out our empty hands and receive salvation as a gift.

            The crescendo to all this is what Christ accomplished regarding the law ... 1) He fulfilled the law - [“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.” - Matthew 5:17] and 2) He also terminated the law because compared to Christ, the law is powerless to save.

            For clarification let me say this: while scripture clearly states that to be saved we must believe in faith and you will be saved, there’s a little more to it than that. Multitudes of people go thru the motions of being converted, however, the point of their actions is lost on them. When saved we are a NEW CREATURE ... the old has passed away, behold all things have become new. The old man has died. We are from then on to emulate Christ each day. We will slip up and sin because we aren’t expected to be perfect. We ARE however expected to seek wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit within. To remain in right standing with the Lord we are to turn our back 180 degrees away from those things we used to do and walk in the light of God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

* Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)