Zeal Without Truth Romans 10: Israel's Present Rejection of Christ
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“The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES Day 1: Zeal without Truth Romans 10: Israel’s Present Rejection of Christ Paul opens this chapter similarly to chapter 9 with a cry from his heart saying “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer for Israel is that they may be saved.” That is Paul’s heart, but more importantly as you move through this chapter, you’ll see it is God’s heart. The theme of this chapter is Israel’s present rejection of Christ. This rejection of Christ has its ramifications both to the Jews and the Gentiles. As Paul pleads with the Jews to open their hearts to Christ, he is also thankful that in the Jews’ rejection, the Gentiles have heard and many have received the message of salvation. God yearns for the Jews to come to Him. We are living in a period of grace and they have the option to receive Him, if only they would believe. We must never think that God is done with Israel. He is not, despite their rejection of Him. You may find it interesting that the Old Testament is quoted throughout this chapter. Even Moses prophesied that God would offer salvation to the Gentiles. Paul reminds them of their own scrip- tures that they should have known, received and followed. God’s heart is that all should be saved. This week there are only four days of homework. --------------------------------------------------------- Have you ever heard the saying someone or something had “heat but no light”? That is to say that there was a lot of activity, noise or zeal for something but it was not based upon God’s truth, and therefore it did not yield any light? This sort of captures what the Jews had for God. They were zealous for religion but their zeal was not based upon the truth of Christ. According to Merriman-Webster.com, zeal means eagerness. It is an ardent interest in the pursuit of something. It the excessive fervor to do something or accomplish some end. Certainly there are many Jews who are sincere and devout about following the law, but works will never save anyone. Christ came so that He could set the Jews free from the laws to which they had bound themselves and the religious traditions they had created beyond what He had intended. He came to give them His light so that they could be zealous about His truth, not religious practices. Today we will focus on Israel’s rejection of Christ while embracing their own zealous and self righteousness behaviors. R RECEIVING God’s Word Open in Prayer Read Romans 10:1-21 Today’s Scripture Focus: Romans 10:1-4 © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Romans • 203 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES E EXPERIENCING God’s Word 1. Paul uses the word Brethren in verse 1. Who are the Brethren? (Hint: To whom is Paul writing?) Why do you think Paul is sharing his prayer request with them? 2. Read Acts 22:1-5 about Paul prior to his conversion. Then answer these questions: a. In Acts 22:3 what adjective is used to describe Paul’s emotion toward God? b. What does this tell you about how Paul can relate to the Jews feelings toward God? c. How does this demonstrate “heat without light” as I described in the introduction to today’s lesson? 3. Read Philippians 3:8-9. How do you see Paul’s zeal in these verses? What had he learned about zeal and righteousness? 4. Fill in the blanks that go with Romans 10:2 which says “For I bear them witness that they have a _______________ for God but not according to ___________________.” (NKJV) What is dangerous about the combination of zeal without knowledge? 5. In Romans 10:3 we see Paul pointing out that the Jews were ignorant of something. What was it? 6. In Romans 10:3 we also see that the Jews wanted their own righteousness. Is that possible? © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Romans • 204 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES a. Read Isaiah 64:6 and note what you learn. b. So who are the Jews relying upon to save them according to Romans 10:3? c. How does this demonstrate ignorance? 7. Romans 10:4 says “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” According to this verse, who brings righteousness? To whom is it available? How have the Jews missed their “Justifier” and the only One who can truly make them righteous? A ACTING on God’s Word Zeal without truth is a very dangerous combination, as we have seen Paul point out today. Have you ever witnessed this first hand, particularly among “religious people”? If so, describe. What was your response to the situation? © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Romans • 205 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES List All That You Think You Have To Offer God List all that God Has Given You (Self Righteousness) and How You are Using It (Godly Righteousness) and How You are Using it Now looking at the chart above, based on what you learned today, which column is more profitable? Which column will save you? D DELIGHTING in God’s Word God is zealous for Jerusalem, despite their rebellion and rejection. Zechariah 1:14 says this “I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal.” Think about that today. God wants everyone to come to Him for repentance and salvation. God demonstrates His great love and patience with all of us, even when He is treated as unimportant and unnecessary. Thank Him today for His undeserved love and for His zeal for you, a sinner saved by grace. Close in Prayer © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Romans • 206 “The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES Day 2: Free Gift to Whosoever Calls Romans 10: Israel’s Present Rejection of Christ What if I said I would give $100,000 to anyone who asked me? Some might think it was too good to be true so they would miss out on the free gift. Others might feel that it was too much to ask from me. They may feel they didn’t deserve the money and they too would miss out on the blessing. But there would certainly be some who would take me up on my offer. They would recognize that I was serious and that I wanted to give them this gift and it truly was free for the asking. Now, clearly I am unable to give away $100,000 to anyone who asks me; however, I give this example to create an analogy. God offers a priceless, matchless gift far better than $100,000, and that is the free gift of salvation to “whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord.” There are no strings attached. It is simple, and it is yours for the asking. Nothing is required of you except faith in Him. Yet, for so many people they think this is too good to be true, or they don’t think they deserve God’s gift. The Jews were interested in working for the gift of righteousness. Paul will be quick to point this out in the portion of scripture we are studying today. Christ was in fact a “stumbling stone,” and a “rock of offense” to the Jews and because of this they could not accept Him as their Lord and Savior. Today’s lesson brings home the point that salvation is so simple. It is free and uncomplicated. All we need to do is ask and the gift is ours. R RECEIVING God’s Word Open in Prayer Read Romans 10: 1-21 Today’s Scripture Focus: Romans 10:5-13 E EXPERIENCING God’s Word If you remember back to Romans 4, we studied justification. The word justification means declared righteous, by faith alone, as if you have never sinned. It is a legal term describing our perfect standing before God imputed (or given to us) because of Christ’s righteousness. We are acquitted from the guilt of sin and the charge of sin when God, the Judge, declares us innocent. It is also important to remember that we are given more than just a neutral standing of innocence, we are actually seen as righteous! 1. Paul begins Roman 10:5 by quoting Moses from the Old Testament when he was speaking to the Israelites. What does Paul tell us Moses was writing about? © Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Romans • 207 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES Chuck Smith has this to say about Romans 10:5. “The righteousness of the Law was based on what man must do. The righteousness of faith is based on what Jesus Christ has done. The finished work of Christ forms the basis of my righteous standing before God. His work is completed, whereas my righteousness by the Law is continually in progress.” 2. Read Leviticus 18:1-5. Is Moses describing righteousness by obedience to the law or by faith? 3. Fill in the blanks from Romans 10:5 “The man who ______________ those things shall _____________ by ________________.” 4.