CoreIssue
02-03-2006, 09:55 AM
Quote:1Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.
Israel is enthusiastic for God but it is enthusiasm based on pride and not truth.
Quote:3Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own,
The Jews refuse to seek God's righteousness but create their own. A righteousness based on pride in holding the Law and devotion to it.
Quote:they did not submit to God's righteousness.
They seek salvation by legalisms and not faith.
Quote:4Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Christ does not eliminate the Law. It still condemns sin.
Christ pays the price of the sin the Law condemns so those the price has been paid. There are no longer sins subject to the condemnation of the Law. The Law is dead in effect to them.
Quote:5Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them."[1]
The only ones who will can live by the Law are those who keep it already without the Law.
Quote:6But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'[2] " (that is, to bring Christ down) 7"or 'Who will descend into the deep?'[3] " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
Those who live by faith do not need to see proof Christ is now in Heaven or that he rose for the dead.
Quote:8But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,"[4]
Those who live by faith have the Holy Spirit and thus Christ in their spirits. In turn that puts Christ near them and thereby in their hearts and on their lips.
Quote:that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
To be saved one must confess Christ is Lord and raised from the dead by faith of the heart. Once confessed his name never leaves our hearts or lips.
Quote:10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
One believes in Christ with faith of the heart and are justified. We confess with our lips Christ is Lord by faith and are saved.
Quote:11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."[5]
All who have faith in Christ will be saved. None will be disappointed that their faith was false.
Quote:12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."[6]
Salvation is not an issue of covenant or genetics. It is an issue of faith in God.
Quote:14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent?
No one can believe in Christ unless someone is sent to tell them about Christ.
Israel was to be the preachers of Christ. But they did not believe in him so they could not be sent.
Quote:As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"[7]
But God does and will find someone to send. If not the Jews then the Gentiles.
Quote:16But not all the Israelites accepted the good news.
Israel as a covenant body did not accept the good news.
Quote:For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?"[8]
Israel has many times not believed the messages of the prophets to them.
Quote:17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. 18But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:
"Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world."[9]
Israel is without excuse. They have heard the Gospel.
Quote:19Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,
"I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding."[10] 20And Isaiah boldly says,
"I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."[11] 21But concerning Israel he says,
"All day long I have held out my hands
to a disobedient and obstinate people."[12]
Israel heard and did not accept in spite of all their blessings and revelations. Their pride was too great.
Gentiles heard and accepted in spite of not being so heavily blessed or receiving so many revelations. They were humble.
Paul is pounding the Jews to get over their pride and understand all are equal in salvation. And that they failed as a nation and now the Church was in place where they were also only equal to the Gentiles.
Israel is enthusiastic for God but it is enthusiasm based on pride and not truth.
Quote:3Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own,
The Jews refuse to seek God's righteousness but create their own. A righteousness based on pride in holding the Law and devotion to it.
Quote:they did not submit to God's righteousness.
They seek salvation by legalisms and not faith.
Quote:4Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Christ does not eliminate the Law. It still condemns sin.
Christ pays the price of the sin the Law condemns so those the price has been paid. There are no longer sins subject to the condemnation of the Law. The Law is dead in effect to them.
Quote:5Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them."[1]
The only ones who will can live by the Law are those who keep it already without the Law.
Quote:6But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'[2] " (that is, to bring Christ down) 7"or 'Who will descend into the deep?'[3] " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
Those who live by faith do not need to see proof Christ is now in Heaven or that he rose for the dead.
Quote:8But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,"[4]
Those who live by faith have the Holy Spirit and thus Christ in their spirits. In turn that puts Christ near them and thereby in their hearts and on their lips.
Quote:that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
To be saved one must confess Christ is Lord and raised from the dead by faith of the heart. Once confessed his name never leaves our hearts or lips.
Quote:10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
One believes in Christ with faith of the heart and are justified. We confess with our lips Christ is Lord by faith and are saved.
Quote:11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."[5]
All who have faith in Christ will be saved. None will be disappointed that their faith was false.
Quote:12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."[6]
Salvation is not an issue of covenant or genetics. It is an issue of faith in God.
Quote:14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent?
No one can believe in Christ unless someone is sent to tell them about Christ.
Israel was to be the preachers of Christ. But they did not believe in him so they could not be sent.
Quote:As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"[7]
But God does and will find someone to send. If not the Jews then the Gentiles.
Quote:16But not all the Israelites accepted the good news.
Israel as a covenant body did not accept the good news.
Quote:For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?"[8]
Israel has many times not believed the messages of the prophets to them.
Quote:17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. 18But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:
"Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world."[9]
Israel is without excuse. They have heard the Gospel.
Quote:19Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,
"I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding."[10] 20And Isaiah boldly says,
"I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."[11] 21But concerning Israel he says,
"All day long I have held out my hands
to a disobedient and obstinate people."[12]
Israel heard and did not accept in spite of all their blessings and revelations. Their pride was too great.
Gentiles heard and accepted in spite of not being so heavily blessed or receiving so many revelations. They were humble.
Paul is pounding the Jews to get over their pride and understand all are equal in salvation. And that they failed as a nation and now the Church was in place where they were also only equal to the Gentiles.