By Mike Ivaska, Associate Pastor
“For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” Romans 10:2-4 ESV
In this portion of Scripture, the apostle Paul is describing the role of Israel in God’s plan of salvation. He is also vindicating God’s righteousness, or justice.
To many people in Paul’s day the promises of God to Israel seemed to be failing. The formation of the New Testament church did not appear to fit Jewish/biblical expectations. In this portion of scripture Paul responds to these notions by saying 1) God is still in charge, 2) his will is still being accomplished through the mysteries of election and divine foreknowledge, and 3) those Jews who refuse to enter the New Covenant through Jesus have only themselves to blame – not God.
For our purposes, I want to draw our attention to Paul’s description of the unbelieving Jews’ passion for God. They indeed had a “zeal for God.” But what was wrong with this zeal? It was “not according to knowledge” – specifically the knowledge of Jesus and the free gift of justification by faith. Its not that they had never heard of Jesus. Indeed they had tried to kill Paul for preaching about him! There is a knowledge of Jesus even the devil has. That’s not what Paul is talking about. Paul is talking about the heart knowledge only a saint can have of the dear and precious Savior.
The leadership of Jerusalem, by way of their Roman occupiers, had crucified the Messiah. To enter into the salvation accomplished for them on the cross it would have required admitting that what they had done was radically wrong. And paradoxically they would have had to accept that their sin (killing the Messiah) had proven to be God’s predestined plan of salvation (the atonement). That would have been a jagged pill to swallow.
Is our own sin and inability any less difficult to confess, though? Is it any less humiliating when we realize how unholy our holiest acts can be? I also at times attempt to establish my own righteousness. Sometimes I am afraid that my passion will never come back, so I dig down deep inside to find it. Sometimes conviction over sin brings up within me a powerful desire to atone for myself through good works or feelings of sorrow. At these moments, I must be leery of the temptation and lies of sin and Satan. Passion is important, but it must be a passion for Jesus. Passion for Jesus is irrelevant if it does not include the work of Jesus on the cross on my behalf.
You and I, if we are born-again Christians, have been atoned for. Our sins have been paid for on the cross. We are declared righteous, which is better than just being declared “not guilty.” My zeal for Jesus must be the work of the Spirit in my heart as I contemplate the glory of the One who was slain on my behalf and who rose in victory over sin and death. My zeal must make Jesus big and leave me small.
We all need a passion for Jesus. But it must be “according to knowledge.”