Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Romans 10:1-4
As believers, it is not at all uncommon. Having someone in whom we care who doesn’t know Christ. Our prayer for these people is always for their salvation. That was Paul’s concern for his fellow Jews. He was able to testify that they had a certain zeal for God yet it was not in accordance with knowledge. Thus he had great concern for their spiritual well being. In today’s passage, Paul gives us four explanations surrounding his concern.
- Desire for others to be saved
One of the hallmarks of Christian authenticity is our desire to see others saved. Without this core longing, we would have to reevaluate what we truly believe. Scripture leaves us little room to doubt God’s desire regarding salvation:
“Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?”
Ezekiel 18:23
“For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live.”
Ezekiel 18:32
This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men (mankind) to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.
1 Timothy 2:3-6
God “desires that all mankind be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” yet He has created us with the ability to respond to or reject His love. It was Paul’s “heart desire” and “prayer” that his fellow Jews would come to know Christ. This should be our desire as well.
- Zeal without knowledge
There is no shortage of religious thinking and philosophy in our world today. There are many who trust their eternal destiny to the observance of ceremonial ritual and good works. The idea of “being a good person” has replaced the truth that we are all equally in need of a Savior (Romans 5:18, James 2:10). Many people will identify themselves as religious but how many of these people have received salvation through faith in Christ? The Jews of Paul’s day had a religious zeal for God but it was misplaced because it was not rooted in knowledge that comes from the truth of scripture. To neglect immersing ourselves in the study of the Word (the Bible) will put us in this most dangerous of spiritual conditions. Consider God’s declaration regarding empty ritual:
Then the Lord said, “Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote…”
Isaiah 29:13
Religious motion, tradition, and routine, without a heart for God, are realities in the lives of many. Salvation requires moving into a personal, intimate relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Nothing short of this kind of spiritual transformation will save (John 14:6, Colossians 1:13-14).
- Identifying the problem
If we have any doubts as to what Paul’s concern was regarding these people, who he so loved, consider this concise and clear description of their problem:
For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
Romans 10:3
There are three parts to this explanation. First, the people did not know that salvation comes by faith in Jesus. People need to hear the gospel (Romans 10:14). Secondly, they were seeking to establish their own righteousness through good works. This is how we can identify religion. It focuses on the recipient more than it does the Giver. When our behavior becomes center stage and the power of the cross is diminished, we know we have digressed into a spirit of religion. But thirdly, because the people did not know the truth and because they were attempting to establish their own righteousness through works, “they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.” So what exactly does that mean? It means that they were not saved because they had not received that salvation by faith in Jesus. In order for us to come to a saving knowledge of Christ, we must admit our need and abandoned any attempt on our part to earn or keep our salvation. It is a gift and like all gifts, it only needs to be received (Romans 6:23).
- A spiritual principle
Paul finishes with the spiritual principle behind this truth:
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Romans 10:4
This word “end” can be defined as “culmination.” Jesus is the culmination of the law for righteousness. This means that Christ has fulfilled the Law and has done everything necessary for sinful man to come to God (Matthew 5:17). When we fully trust in His provision, we find salvation. To place the burden of fulfilling the Law on ourselves is to distort the gospel (Romans 4:4-5, Galatians 5:4). What Jesus did is enough and it is enough to fully and completely save (Romans 5:18).
Finally, Paul tells us for whom this salvation is intended. “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” When we come to Jesus by faith, admitting our need for a Savior, acknowledging His sacrifice and resurrection, and asking Him to save us on that basis, He does! (Romans 10:13). Salvation is a spiritual transaction between a sinner and God. But when we do receive this wonderful, eternal gift, our lives our changed (for the better) forever!
It is possible for us to be religious and to have a zeal for God. The question is, “Is that zeal in accordance with the truth of scripture?” May you live the rest of this day knowing that you are secure in Christ!
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