Untitled Sermon (3)

30 What then are we to say? Gentiles, who did not strive for righteousness, have attained it, that is, righteousness through faith; 31 but Israel, who did strive for the righteousness that is based on the law, did not succeed in fulfilling that law. 32 Why not? Because they did not strive for it on the basis of faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written,

“See, I am laying in Zion a stone that will make people stumble, a rock that will make them fall,

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

5 Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say?

“The word is near you,

on your lips and in your heart”

(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11 The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. 13 For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

14 But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? 15 And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” 16 But not all have obeyed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.

18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for

“Their voice has gone out to all the earth,

and their words to the ends of the world.”

19 Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,

“I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation;

with a foolish nation I will make you angry.”

20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,

“I have been found by those who did not seek me;

I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”

21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

Prayer

Intro

Main

A Goal of Righteousness

Many of you will not know that I have a great fondness fantasy books. I delight in reading of unlikely heroes going on murderously difficult quests. I enjoy a good story filled with love and hate, and strength, weakness. Watching the protagonist of the story grow and evolve as he treads a perilous path towards his goal.

One of the key elements to a good fantasy story is a ‘worth goal’. What are they trying to achieve, what is it that they are after, what goal lies at the end of their quest or journey. It is essential that this be a suitable goal. Why is it important…. Because the goal must be of more value that all the suffering that hero will go through. It must be significant enough in the minds eye of the hero that he will endure the blistering heat of desert, the freezing cold of the mountain top, the sodden itch of the mosquito infested bog. It must draw him like a magnet, on and on and on until they meet together. The goals image will be what gives him the strength to endure personal challenges and growth.

One of the key elements to a good fantasy story is a ‘worthy goal’. What are they trying to achieve, what is it that they are after, what goal lies at the end of their quest or journey. It is essential that this be a suitable goal. Why is it important…. Because the goal must be of more value that all the suffering that hero will go through. It must be significant enough in the minds eye of the hero that he will endure the blistering heat of desert, the freezing cold of the mountain top, the sodden itch of the mosquito infested bog. It must draw him like a magnet, on and on and on until they meet together. The goals image will be what gives him the strength to endure personal challenges and growth.

[Pic] Some examples of Goals. Froddo, from the Lord of the Rings what was his Goal? How did he endure such personal torment as carrying the One Ring to Mt Doom? What drew him like a magnet through Orcs, wraiths, wars, bogs, caves?..... It was the Shire. He didn’t want to see his home, friends and family killed or enslaved. That is what pushed him on.

[Pic] What was the Goal of Lion Witch and the Wardrobe? What drew the kids from merry old England to a medieval war with speaking animals? It was Freedom from the Evil Queens grasp on the land.

What we must realise this morning as we read the text of is that we are reading the about the quests of two different peoples. The Gentiles and the Jews. It is a passage where Paul is comparing the journeys of two different peoples as they seek to achieve a seemingly similar goal.

Israels Goal. The worthy achievement that they seek at the end of their quest is righteousness. They are described in 9:31 as striving for it. Let’s read what Paul says about the Gentiles Goal. Their Goal is likewise righteousness… Why separate them. Paul does it because although they have the same name of ‘righteousness’ they are indeed different. The righteousness that the Gentiles have obtained is the Righteousness of faith, the Righteousness of God. The righteousness that Israel desires is the righteousness not of faith but of works, not the righteousness of God, but of themselves. They are different things and of different quality. It two people comparing their rings only to find that one of you is in possession of a platinum band, diamond encrusted ring and the other a 2 dollar plastic toy. Can you believe what it is that the Gentiles possess? They have in their possession the righteousness of God himself. It’s like going to someone’s house and they tell you we just god a new bird come take a look and discover it’s a mythological phoenix. How did you come into possession of that! How did they get the righteousness of the one that created the universe in a handful of words? This is the pinnacle of goals surely.

But then you look at Israel’s goal, human righteousness… and you wonder… what is going on inside of your mind that this is something worth devoting your life to chasing? This is no phoenix in a cage. No diamond encrusted ring. Why do you want it? How is it that this goal, this rubbish imitation is what draw you with such force?

Pauls says in 10:2 that Israel desires for righteousness of works is out of ignorance and a lack of enlightenment. They simply don’t know better. They are unaware that the goal is garbage and that there is a far more worthy goal out there. In their eyes the righteousness of man is of incredible value. They are living in a lie and they don’t know it. How sad! I feel bad for their situation here. Ignorance can be so easily fixed. They simply need to hear of the righteousness of God. How much better it is that that of man and works.

The Righteousness of God is far better quality than the righteousness of man. It is a far more valuable goal, and worthy ending to a quest. Imagine what you would be able to withstand knowing that the righteousness of God is at the end of the road? The question we must then ask ourselves, is which of these do I seek? The righteousness of God or the righteousness of man. How do I know? Perhaps I am one of the ignorant, and what I really pursue is the cheap imitation lie of man, and not the genuine article of God.

These are good questions to ask. How do I know what it is that I am seeking? The answer to that can be found in the shape of your quest to obtain the goal.

A Quest Not Required

Let us compare the quests of the Gentiles to that of Israel.

[Video]

Israel in the pursuit of righteousness are described by Paul as a people that strive, a people that have great zeal in their pursuit. They are not setting out a slow pace and turning around at the smallest difficulties on the road. Pauls words of the Journey describe ascending into heaven to find their goal. Or to plumb the depths of the abyss. It can be easily said that Paul here is describing a journey of epic proportions. The impossible heights of heaven, the unfathomable depths of the sea. These are not easy journeys, imagine the pains, the struggles. Frodo climbed some shocking mountains but he never scaled heaven. Even in this day and age of science and discovery how much of the heavens have we discovered, how much of the depths of the sea? If David Attenborough is to believed we still know so little about our ocean. We known only a little of the creatures that call those realms home. This journey is impossible….and I don’t mean that it a, its achievable but just really hard sense. It is not possible for man to achieve what Paul is talking about. The heights that are required to be scaled and the depths to be plumbed in achieving even that cheap imitation righteousness of man and works are beyond the reach of man.

Three movies, 9hrs, unless you have the extended version of travel, endurance, war, and death to get the One Ring to Mt Doom. When it could have taken 15 min… to achieve the same thing. Why is it that the Fellowship took the harder root? Like Israel they were ignorant. If only someone had told them (Gandalf!) this quest would not have been required. Their Goal could have been achieved with ease.

What of the Gentiles? What does the quest look like? 9:30 has Paul saying that the Gentiles do not strive for their righteousness. More than that. They already have it… What are we left thinking. Israel was after a imitation works righteousness. Even that was out of reach. Yet the gentiles who’s goal is the genuine article, the righteousness of God. The value of which cannot be fathomed just have it. No quest at all. The scaling heaven, not abyss. They start off with it in hand. What is going on? This seems so reverse. Paul says in 10:6 that their righteousness is given into their hands because of their faith. They do not need to ascend the heights or plumb the depths. 10:8 What does righteousness that comes by faith say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart”. They is no need to set out on a great and grand quest, to suffer needlessly for something that you will never attain. The Word is near you. Jesus brought the righteousness down from the heaven to you, up from the abyss to you. It is here, it is within your grasp, you just need to have faith.

What did Israel’s quest for Righteousness look like? They were described by Paul as a people that strive, a people that had a great zeal in their pursuit of their goal. They are not set out at a slow pace and turning around at the smallest difficulties on the road. Pauls words of the Journey describe ascending into heaven to find their goal. Or to plumb the depths of the abyss. It can be easily said that Paul here is describing a journey of epic proportions. The impossible heights of heaven, the unfathomable depths of the sea. These are not easy journeys, imagine the pains, the struggles. Frodo climbed some shocking mountains but he never scaled heaven. Even in this day and age of science and discovery how much of the heavens have we discovered, how much of the depths of the sea? If David Attenborough is to believed we still know so little about our ocean. We known only a little of the creatures that call those realms home. This journey is impossible….and I don’t mean that it a, its achievable but just really hard sense. It is not possible for man to achieve what Paul is talking about. The heights that are required to be scaled and the depths to be plumbed in achieving even that cheap imitation righteousness of man and works are beyond the reach of man.

Who hear has seen the T.V. series ‘the good place’. The premise of this series is that through life every deed, good or bad has a value. Every helping hand gets you +10 points, every angry word gets you -10 points. And at the end your score is what gains you entry into heaven of hell. Your score is your righteousness. This is the same as what Israel is doing to achieve the goal of righteousness. Every action is counted and measured or quantified. Is this what we do? Is this what you do? Is this the shape of your quest? Are you calculating the points earned at the end of the day? Where you good, or where you bad? Will you ever be good enough? Perhaps this is not how you see yourself, but how the people that you have known and loved see themselves. Always measuring, always trying to climb those terrible heights and never finding the end. This is Israel’s story.

10:9 because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

But what of the Gentiles. What does their Quest look like? They after all attained, not the righteousness of works and man, but that of God. What heights must they have scaled? What must they have endured to achieve such a goal. Paul says in 9:30 that the Gentiles… did not strive for it. In 10:20 the Gentiles are described as ‘those who did not seek, and did not ask’… What? What! Paul is making it clear that the Gentiles did not even leave the front door to attain the righteousness of God, let alone set out on a quest. They have not ascended into heaven, they have not gone into the abyss. They are not described as having great zeal or striving. But… they are described as having faith! What they are that Israel is not is enlightened. They are not ignorant of a simpler way, a better way. They known that the quest is not required! As we saw in the video ‘there is an easier way’. The measuring of deeds, and personal growth. The quantifying of points. Non of it is required! Infact it is pointless. What they know is that the righteousness of God is somethings that does not need to be sought in heaven or in the abyss, but as Paul says in 10:8 “the word is near you, on your lips and in your heart”. Jesus has brought the righteousness of God. That incredibly precious and rare goal down from heaven, up from the abyss and brought it right here. where it is accessible. Jesus carried it from the impossible place that sinful humanity could never reach. The quest is not required. The incredible goal of the Righteousness of God is within grasp.

It is so simple. So easy.

Who hear has seen the T.V. series ‘the good place’? The premise of this series is that through life every deed, good or bad has a value. Every helping hand gets you +10 points, every angry word gets you -10 points. And at the end your score is what gains you entry into heaven of hell. Your score is your righteousness. This is the same as what Israel is doing to achieve the goal of righteousness. Every action is counted and measured or quantified. Is this what we do? Is this what you do? Is this the shape of your quest? Are you calculating the points earned at the end of the day? Where you good, or where you bad? Will you ever be good enough? Perhaps this is not how you see yourself, but how the people that you have known and love see themselves. Always measuring, always trying to climb those terrible heights and never finding the end.

A simple recipe for salvation

How is it that the Gentiles known this good news and Israel doesn’t? Paul says that the goal attained not by scaling heaven but in 10:9 if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. What is required to gain the righteousness of God, is that you believe and confess. That you would have faith. Simple. So simple that Paul gives us the entire recipe in 10:14-15 14 But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? 15 And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent?

A simple recipe for salvation

Pride comes before the fall

The difference between the Gentiles and Israel is illustrated in this recipe isn’t it. Belief. Belief is the missing ingredient for Israel. Verse 18 makes it clear that the message of Jesus Christ, the good news that because of him no quest is required, is known by Israel. But they do not believe it. 10:18 18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” They have heard it. People are proclaiming this good news to them. The book of Acts is ripe with historical detail as to the people that were sent to make this message known. And they were certainly sent. Sent at the instruction of Jesus himself. Because as Paus says in 10:17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. The hearing of the good news is the work of Jesus. He is the one sending the people. He is making himself known throughout the world. He sends his workers, and he opens the ears of those that are being spoken to. This is his prerogative.

Mums and Dads, sisters and brothers, friends in case we here begin to measure our ability to proclaim the message of Jesus against the unbelief of our lost friends and family remember it is a work of Jesus to bring hearing to all. Jesus is making his message known. He is including you, and I in the process of speaking but it is him that brings the hearing. What is heard comes through the word of Christ. Have faith, in him, less this too become a quest for righteousness.

It is the goal that will also unite and destroy relationships with others

So what is the problem. Why does Israel still not believe? Paul has said that words of Christ have been made known to them, and they have heard. Is that not enough?

For many of us as we have listened to this passage the sermon we are struck with thoughts not of ourselves, but of our family, friends and loved ones. Those people in our lives that have grown up like Israel, surrounded by the word of Christ. And instead of listening, and setting their sights of the Righteousness of God as their Goal have sought the righteousness of man and works. And after a season or more of never finding more than cheap imitations have rejected the quest all together.

Conclusion

Pride comes before the fall

Still that essential ingredient is missing. Belief in what is being heard. Israel knows that the their quest will be fruitless. That their journey will not end in glory and success. And they know that there is an easier way. Jesus has come to them, bearing with him the Righteousness of God. If they are to but believe and confess him as Lord.

Here is our problem. 9:32-33 They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written, “See, I am laying in Zion a stone that will make people stumble, a rock that will make them fall, This stumbling stone is known by another name. Jesus. It is in his action of grace. His bringing of God’s righteousness to us that causes Israel to turn their face away from such good news and hope. They have struggled on their quest for so long, denied the truth for so long, suffered for so long, given up so much that the message of a quest not required is not a joy to hear but an offence. How is it fair is their cry! How is it fair that it should be so easy after all this time. No, No it must be a lie, I couldn’t have struggled so long for no reason. No I will not believe.

How sad. Pride is what stopped them from hearing the great news of Jesus. A people that have such a long history with God, are described in 10:21 “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” They have heard, but they have chosen not to believe.

Conclusion

Do you struggle with this this morning. Do you hear salvation is so simple and close. And a part of you refuses to acknowledge it. Refuses to grasp it…. Are you proud this morning of the distance you have covered to become a better person and earn your righteousness. Does it niggle at you to hear me say, to hear paul say, that your quest is pointless, and after a cheap imitation. Does it niggle to hear that there are those here this morning, that have not tried so hard as you, have not suffered as you have and yet they proclaim to rejoice in the righteousness of God. Please lay down your pride. Lay down the quest. It is not required. You to can share in the righteousness of God. Just believe proclaim that Jesus is Lord, that God raise him from the dead.

Or perhaps this morning you heart is aching for your sons or daughters. Family, friends. Perhaps they like Israel were raised known and hearing the good news of Jesus Christ, but cannot surrender their pride to come under the Lordship of Jesus. Cannot believe though they have heard. If that is you this morning, I encourage you to continue to be Jesus words in their lives. Continue to tell them that they quest is not required, but do not look to your performance as to the hope of their salvation. It is the word of Christ that brings hearing. Continue to trust and believe in him.

Praise God this morning for the good news of Jesus Christ. No Quest is required. if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.