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Paul was not calloused in his message; rather, his heart was tremendously and perpetually affected by how Israel was reacting to the truth of the gospel. Read the following words and feel the pathos in them: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.” (Romans 10.1-3).

If Paul's desire became reality, all of physical Israel would be saved! But, Paul's desire did not effect their salvation. He acknowledged their “zeal for God” but that did not result in their salvation either. Their zeal was misdirected inasmuch as a fundamental principle had been overlooked or ignored. Their zeal was “not according to knowledge.” They were ignoring the fact that their salvation depended upon how they reacted to Divine truth; they were “seeking to establish their own righteousness” and thereby rejecting “God's righteousness.” In this instance the term “God's righteousness” is not speaking of God's attribute of being righteous; rather it is speaking of the plan by which God wills that men become righteous before Him, We can know this because the “righteousness of God” in this passage is something to which man should submit. Israel was not saved because they had not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God!

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” (Romans 10.4). The word “end” in this text does not mean termination point; it means purpose! To what end/purpose was the Law?” The answer: Christ! The Law of Moses was not the answer to sin; Messiah was and is. Hence, the affirmation that “...Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” He was and is not the end of the law to everyone; He was and is the end of the law to everyone who believes!

The difference in unsaved Israel and being submissive to God's righteousness was merely a difference of belief in Messiah! But Oh what a difference that is! Submitting to God's righteousness meant laying aside their own righteousness and submission to God's Divinely revealed truth. Submitting to God's righteousness meant acknowledging their personal accountability before God. Submitting to God's righteousness meant that even though personal faith was required for salvation, all the glory and honor still went to God. Submitting to God's righteousness meant surrendering any and all claims to salvation apart from those that were consistent with what God had revealed.

With these thoughts in view, return to the purpose of the book of Romans: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it [i.e. in the Gospel of Jesus Christ] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.'” (Romans 1.16-17). Note that the righteousness of God is revealed in the Gospel (Romans 1.17), but Israel had not submitted to God's righteousness (Romans 10.3).

The problem with Israel was not in what God had done; the problem was in what Israel had done in response to God's actions. God's part was done at Calvary! Until and unless that fact is accepted, the righteousness of God can never become reality!

Questions:

1. How can we know that the “righteousness of God” in Romans 10.3 does not refer to God's righteous character?

2. According to Romans 1.17, how and where is the “righteousness of God” revealed?

3. What is involved in submitting oneself to the “righteousness of God”?

4. When we refuse God's righteousness, who is to responsible? When we accept God's righteousness, who receive the honor and glory?

"Today's Little Lift" from Jim Bullington

Comfort in Isaiah II (12-14-10)