08.25 Sermons Notes
August 24, 2024

Romans 10-11: Paul’s Desire

Introduction

From Romans 9, we see that Paul, actually began a discourse to show that even though it looked like the Gentiles were unfavored initially when God chose Israel, using the story of Jacob and Esau, by choosing Jacob and bringing forth the Law and the Blessing given to Jacob. God actually chose the younger and weaker one to fulfill His purpose and as Pastor Juniece mentioned last week, God didn’t hate Esau, he was just placed in a secondary position. Esau in a way represented the gentiles, God chose Jacob who got the birth right or right to the blessing by faith. Esau tried to earn it by works(in his own strength).

God chose Israel formerly Jacob as the vessel or bloodline through which Jesus would come or through which salvation would come. And we see that after salvation came, the Gentiles were grafted back in and now are also partakers of the blessings through Faith.

Romans 4:11b. Abraham was actually the father of all them who believe. Because the righteousness credited to Abraham was a gift. It was the blessing, and it came by faith, so in the same way this blessing would also be credited to everyone who believes in the new covenant. Romans 4:8,13-14.

In other words, the same way we are credited with Christ’s righteousness just by believing in His finished work on the cross, his death and resurrection, It is the same process by which Abraham was made righteous.

Paul’s Desire

Romans 10:1

Paul starts out this chapter beginning to express His desire, which in fact is the desire in the heart of God the Father. God wanted Israel to be saved.

2Tim 3:5 EASY

Zeal is Not Enough

Romans 10:2a

Paul then begins to acknowledge that the Jews had a zeal for the things of God.

You see, the Jews during Paul’s time could have been described as the most morally upright nation in the world, compared to how the gentiles lived their lives. They had a zeal for God, but

Zeal + Moral excellence != Righteousness before God.

No matter how morally excellent you are, if you have not accepted Gods righteousness by faith but seek to establish your own. Then its all for nothing. Though Holiness includes moral excellence. But not the other way around.

Jesus wants us to be passionate and excited about our relationship with him. Revelation 3:15, Psalms 69:9 NIV

Having The Right Kind of Knowledge

Romans 10:2b

The Jews were very devoted to the law and their religion.

And these Jews were knowledgeable about God. They had memorized the whole Torah. They knew scripture in their head, but seemingly, it was not enough. Something was wrong with the knowledge they had.

We learned last week, that a person can have a whole lot of knowledge but yet still miss God. He maybe enthusiastic about God, but still not have the correct knowledge to walk with God.

It is possible for people to be zealous for God, supposedly, thinking that by their zeal and devotion, they are serving the Lord.

The Apostle Paul was like this, He was zealous for God, He even was present when Stephen was stoned, and persecuted and killed a lot of Jews in the name of God. Why did he do this? It is because something was wrong with His knowledge of God.

The 4 Kinds of Knowledge

So why does Paul say their zeal is not according to knowledge. Obviously, he is telling us they lack a specific kind of knowledge. Because the Jews did have knowledge. But something was wrong with it. In the Greek, language, there are 4 kinds of Knowledge.

Eido

This knowledge deals with awareness. It is not necessarily thought, you come into an awareness of it.It means know, recognize or perceive things by way of senses. It is knowledge which is set in stone. Matthew 5:1, Matthew 6:8.

Gnosis

Another word for Gnosis is scientific knowledge, or knowledge which is carefully studied or acquired or knowledge which involves intellectual ability. 2 Peter 3:18.

Ginosko

Ginosko is knowledge that comes through revelation, It is revealed by another. Ginosko is knowledge that goes beyond human reasoning and comes as a result of intimacy or fellowship. Romans 15:14

Epignosis

It is the knowledge God seeks to give to all His children.

Epígnosis refers to exact, complete, thorough, accurate, experiential knowledge, not just abstract, intellectual, head knowledge of God or even facts about Him.

The Impact of Having Complete Knowledge(Epignosis) on Salvation

  1. You’ll begin to distinguish between the righteousness by works and that which is by faith: Having a complete accurate knowledge of God, would have helped the Jews see the irrelevance of trying to earn their righteousness through works other than obtaining it by believing in God.
    • Romans 10:4 tells us Christ brought an end to trying to obtain righteousness through works of the law.
    • Anyone who tries to obtain righteousness through the law must abide by its gruesome terms/demands, James 2:10

  2. It Informs your Faith: On the contrary, when a person who has epignosis/the complete knowledge of Salvation, their faith is informed, which produces belief in their heart:

    • and this is how their heart will respond - Romans 10:6-9
    • Then their mouth confirms their hearts belief by confession. This is the process of salvation.

  3. Without it, the Jews missed out on Gods offer for salvation: therefore God passed that knowledge unto the gentiles who accepted it. Because they rejected the knowledge which brings salvation, God passed by them and went to the Gentiles. Romans 11:16a,18-21

God’s Desire is to win the Jews to Himself.

God has been trying to bring the Jews into right standing with Him by faith in Christ. But many of them rejected it. In order to win them, God sent His word/ the Gospel to them. But they rejected it. Romans 10:16a,18

So God took another step, He put them aside and went after the Gentiles to provoke the Jews to jealousy. Romans 10:19-21

Why is it that a person who is seeking so hard to please God by His own strength can be rejected, while a person who has not sought God at all can come into a righteous relationship with Him? a person who has not sought God at all can come into a righteous relationship with Him?

Has God Rejected Israel?

Certainly Not. Romans 11:1

Paul concludes this chapter and begins explaining further in chapter 11, God hasn’t rejected Israel, because He loves the Jews and Gentiles equally, John 3:16. He doesn’t want anyone to Perish. 2 Peter 3:9. Romans 11:1-2.

This is another Esau and Jacob moment, to show that God favors no one really, He treats everyone equally. Jacob/Israel’s bloodline was just used to bring forth Gods plan of redemption.

Now it looks like the roles have been reversed with God bringing the gentiles in ahead of the Jews.

Conclusion: Maintaining your walk with God

Romans 11:20-21 NLT brings a warning, that if the Jews who have had the covenants and ordinances of God could be broken off because they believed not in Christ.

Then we as gentiles should not be heady or high-minded, thinking that we came into Christ by some special thing we have done. We were saved and favored totally by grace. Ephesians 2:8-9

Anyone who rejects this gift of righteousness by faith in Jesus and tries to earn their righteousness through their own good works i.e. veering off into works can be broken off.

Romans 11:21-23NLT

We must never boast in our goodness, we must never think, we are in christ because of certain actions and how good we are for it can lead to Pride.

Life Group Questions

  1. Why is zeal important in our relationship with God, but not sufficient on its own for righteousness?
  2. What are the four different kinds of knowledge?
    • Can you name areas you have interacted with at least 3 kinds of them in your life?
    • How has each kind of knowledge impacted you?
  3. Why did the Jews, who were zealous for God, fail to obtain righteousness, while the Gentiles, who had not sought God, were able to come into a righteous relationship with Him?
  4. How can we avoid falling into the trap of trying to earn our righteousness through good works, and instead fully rely on God’s grace for salvation?