Zeal, Without Knowledge? Romans 10:1-11

Text: “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.”

Romans 10:2.

Good morning, Christian unashamed!  You can sing with the hymn-writer, ‘I’m not ashamed to own my Lord, nor to defend His cause; maintain the honour of His Word, the glory of His Cross...”.  Praise the Lord!

How can you sing such sentiments?  Why are you unashamed of what you believe?  How did you become so fully persuaded in your conscience that you are indeed a child of God, and on your way to Heaven?  The answer?  One way only. Read on, beloved friend, read on. 

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you FREE...” (John 8:32)

“...for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”   (2 Timothy 1:12)

So often in my travels I meet Christians and church-goers who are full of zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.  In other words, they want so much to know and serve the Lord God, but seem pulled this way and that by ‘...every wind of doctrine...’; and tossed about like corks on a constant sea of doubt, faithlessness; and luke-warm commitment. (Ephesians 4:14)

Zeal of God, enthusiasm to know God and to know how to serve Him best, is a wonderful thing to possess.  However, if that zeal is not firmly instructed from the Word of God, then it can lead the individual, and groups of individuals, into a merry maze of extreme, and often bizarre practices.  Unashamed Christian soldiers in the army of Christ Jesus must always travel the road of Salvation guided by God’s Map alone - His own infallible Word. 

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”  (Psalm 119:105)

But, how does knowledge of God’s Word help the Christian to be strong in his/her beliefs and sure in his/her practices?  What does study of our Bibles do to help us maintain certainty and full persuasion amid so much all around us that would cause us to constantly fall into confusion and doubt?  Read on, beloved friend, read on - there is good news for you today.  Praise the Lord God of Good News! 

“As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.“ (Proverbs 25:25)

“Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me (Christ Jesus); for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”  (Matthew 11:29)

Faith in God is the key to a life of unashamed witness and testimony to the greater glory of the Lord Jesus.  “...Without faith it is impossible to please Him...”  (Hebrews 11:1;6)

In order to please God and to be fully persuaded in ones beliefs and daily Christian practice - one must, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.”  (2 Timothy 2:15)

We need that unique substance, faith, if we are to even commence in a fully committed relationship with God, in His Son Christ Jesus.  So, how do we obtain faith?  Well, again the Word of God gives us the vital knowledge:  “Faith cometh by hearing (reading) and hearing by the Word of God.”  (Romans 10:17)  What could be more easier understood than that?

For example.  We come into a room and sit immediately down upon a chair we have never seen before, having faith (confidence) that the chair will indeed hold our weight, and not allow us to fall to the floor.  Right?

Okay.  Now the more we study the chair, how it is made; what materials it is made from; if it is jointed or welded together, etc., the more confidence (faith) we will have to sit, or even stand up on, that chair.  Right?

Now bring the above illustration into the Spiritual realm.  If the great Object of our faith (confidence) is the finished work of Christ Jesus upon the Cross at Calvary, then it follows that the more we study and learn about Christ, His Person and His Work of Atonement, the more faith (confidence) we shall have to put our full trust in Him.  Hallelujah!  What profound simplicity indeed!  Bless the Lord, oh my soul!  Amen?

With the above exposition in mind therefore, we can now more clearly see that, while zeal for God is wonderful, zeal WITH KNOWLEDGE is what is required for the Christian to be unashamed in his/her daily life of service to the Master.  Knowledge of God’s Word makes the vital difference.

Go to then, Christian, study God’s Word, gain the necessary knowledge to be totally unashamed of what, and of Whom, you believe.  Amen.

Thought:  Make sure your zeal is supported by true, Scriptural knowledge of Christ.

(For help in understanding the 'knowledge' Christians need to have, please click on to the Basic Christian Doctrines section on our website www.ulsterchristians.org)

The Law of Righteousness Romans 9:30-33

Text: “But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.  Wherefore?  Because they sought it not by faith...”

Romans 9:31-32.

Good morning, righteous Christian!  You, by the grace of God alone, have attained unto true righteousness, and as a direct result, are forever secured among the Heaven-bound children of the Most High God, Jehovah.  Through time and Eternity; through man-made Hell and high water; through thick and thin; through good times and bad - your Eternal destiny is secure - “...nothing...” shall pluck you from God’s hand!  Hallelujah!  What a Saviour!  Salvation is of the Lord Jesus Christ!  (John 10:27-30)

How do we know we are possessors of true righteousness; the righteousness required to gain admittance into the Kingdom of God?  Can anyone be certain as to their Eternal destination?  Or, are we to live in a state of constant anxiety as to whether or not we will go to Heaven when our time on earth is over?  I believe, with all my heart, we can know these things for sure, today!  How do we know?  Because God has given us His Word on the matter - and that’s more than enough for me.  (Psalm 119:105)

“God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He not said, and shall He not do it?  Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19)

So, what is the exceptional quality that gains us entrance to the Holy realms of Heaven?  And, how can we know that we possess what it takes to be permitted entrance within such a Holy Place?  These are the vital questions we all must ask of our own immortal souls, for, the answers we get will determine our Eternal destination - Heaven or Hell.

There is only one quality that sinners must possess to be certain of entering into Heaven - righteousness.  There is only one type of righteousness that will even be examined by a thrice Holy Lord God of absolute wrath against sin - the righteousness of Christ Jesus Himself.

If the above is the case how, therefore, can mere sinners like ourselves achieve such a seemingly impossible degree of perfection; of Holiness; of impeccable purity and sinlessness?  There is, in fact, just one exclusive way:  “Marvel not that I (Christ Jesus) say unto thee, ‘Ye must be born again! (i.e. born from above)’”  (John 3:3-8)

How are we born again?  By believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as our own and personal Saviour, Redeemer, Lord and Friend.  The Philippian jailer asked the relevant question of the apostle Paul in the book of  Acts: “Sirs, what must I do to be SAVED?”  (Acts 16:30)

The apostles, under the anointing of God the Holy Spirit, gave us the answer:  “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be SAVED...” We have God’s Word on the matter.  (Acts 16:31)

To attain the righteousness of Christ Himself in the eyes of our Holy Father in Heaven, we must first believe unto Salvation.  This can only be achieved if the Lord Himself grants the individual two things: repentance from sin and the faith to believe in Christ and be saved.  We cannot work this up ourselves, we cannot be awarded these things from our parents; a church organization; nor any other source.  God Himself grants repentance from sins and faith to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Praise God for His grace to Hell-deserving sinners such as we. 

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the GIFT OF GOD; not of works, lest any man (or woman) should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) (Romans 10:17)

This is what the Bible refers to as ‘the law of righteousness’.  “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”  (Romans 4:3) (Galatians 3:6) (James 2:23)

Why was Abraham’s belief ‘counted unto him for righteousness’?  Because the Lord had granted him the necessary saving faith to repent from his sins, believe in God’s promise; and receive the full righteousness of his coming Messiah/Saviour, Jesus the risen Christ.  What grace!  What profound simplicity!  Hallelujah!  What a Saviour! 

“Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
(Hebrews 11:8)

Thought:  If we know we are saved, Eternally - let’s show we are saved by being more like Christ, daily.

The Wrath? Or the Rapture? Romans 9:11-28

Text:  “Pilate saith unto them, ‘What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ?’ “

Matthew 27:22.

Good morning, Christian ‘vessel of mercy’!  Praise God that he has chosen both thee and me to be partakers of His mercy!  We shall, therefore, never experience the full weight of His Holy wrath against sin - for we are Eternally safe, in Christ Jesus.  (John 10:27-30)

But, how does our text above relate to our selected Bible reading for today?  Is there some connection, or has the  Bible teacher perhaps made an error in his humble choice of text?  We are taught in Scriptures always to compare Spiritual things with Spiritual things.  (1 Corinthians 2:13)

Therefore, for relevance of comparison in today’s text, and in fact pertaining to all interpretation of Holy Scripture; we must always let the authority of Scripture interpret Scripture - there is no room in the process for the mere will or opinions of mortal men/women.  (2 Peter 1:20-21)

God’s Word is a perfect whole, all Scripture supports all other Scripture, and comparing writings from various books of God’s inspired Word helps us to form the various doctrines of our faith.

  Thus, we cannot take a verse, or in some cases half a verse of Scripture, and make a doctrine from it.  Doctrinal passages of our Bible must always be supported by what theologians refer to as ‘the whole thread of revealed Scriptural truth’ - the thread of truth which God has intricately woven throughout the books of the Old and the New Testaments.  We have God’s own Word, therefore,  on  what we do and do not believe.  Hallelujah!  That’s the truth!  Amen.  (John 17:17) (Isaiah 8:20)

The relevance of my chosen text for today is the fact that it is this question - “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?” – that, when answered, determines for time and Eternity whether or not we shall one day experience the wrath or the rapture of the Lord God.

For Christ acceptors, the Eternal rapture described in verses like Psalm 16:11.  For Christ rejecters, Eternal wrath in a Hell that is hot indeed.  (Mark 9:43-48) (Psalm 9:17)

What have we done with Christ’s free offer of Salvation?  That is the real question for all sinners such as we.  (Acts 4:12) (Luke 19:10)

But, “What about the Calvinist doctrine of Unconditional Election?”, I hear some ask.  (i.e. the belief that God chooses whom He will save, and whom He will harden towards the Gospel instead)  The point I am here making, dear friend, as a believer in so-called Calvinist theology myself, is, that if one is among the Elect of God, then one can PROVE it by the answer one gives to Pilate’s poignant question!

Let us go no further.  Let us ask ourselves, in the privacy of our own hearts and homes: “Have I received Christ Jesus as my own personal Saviour AND Lord?”  Think for a moment on this rhetorical question. (Selah – now think on this!)

If we can answer in the affirmative then, praise God, we know for a certainty that we are indeed His Elect vessels of mercy.  Because this is so, we can never ever experience the dreaded wrath of a thrice Holy God of wrath against sin.  What relief this truth brings to mere sinners such as we.  Hallelujah!  I am saved by the grace of God!  (Jude 4) (1 Peter 2:8-9) (Romans 9:18-24)

God has chosen you and I to experience His Eternal rapture and delivered us from His Eternal wrath.  Does this thought not thrill your very soul?  Amen, it certainly thrills mine.  Thanks be to God for His unmerited Election grace and love!  Safe in the arms of Jesus indeed. (John 15:16) (Revelation 20:10-15)

God is therefore proven to be God Alone by our Bible passage and text. He created mankind - thus, He can do with us whatsoever He Himself desires to do.  God’s Sovereignty stands unchallenged by the pathetic beliefs, religion, and creeds of mere puny and mortal man.        (Psalm 115:3) (Ephesians 1:11) (John 15:16)

We are SAVED God’s way, or we are not saved at all.  Christ is the ONLY way of Salvation - rejecters of this fundamental truth receive God’s terrible wrath.  This is the Gospel truth!  Believe it.  Receive Christ.  Wait for the rapture of Heaven.  Amen, it is so, Lord Jesus, amen.

Thought:  God’s unconditional Election - deserves man’s unconditional acceptance.