Romans 10_1-21 Know God

Secular:

It is yours…
First place…
A Job promotion.... employee of the month… player of the game…
And they get up an announce it…And it goes to someone else…
Panic… confusion…
Injustice…. Maybe anger…
The reading of a will… you are excluded!
What is going on here!

Biblical:

Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. 3 For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. 6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: "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, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART "-- that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." 14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!" 16 However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?" 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 18 But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; "THEIR VOICE HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD." 19 But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says, "I WILL MAKE YOU JEALOUS BY THAT WHICH IS NOT A NATION, BY A NATION WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WILL I ANGER YOU." 20 And Isaiah is very bold and says, "I WAS FOUND BY THOSE WHO DID NOT SEEK ME, I BECAME MANIFEST TO THOSE WHO DID NOT ASK FOR ME." 21 But as for Israel He says, "ALL THE DAY LONG I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HANDS TO A DISOBEDIENT AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE."

Personal:

We fight for that which we intimately know and love and consider valuable….

We fight for kids
We fight for our spouse
We fight for our cause
We fight for freedom
We fight for those things which capture our heart…
I fought for Lisa… I wanted to get closer, to get to know her…

I wanted my family to know her…
She was someone I valued…

Bridge:

Some of what we are talking today is similar…
Paul has a deep desire to share his God…. With those who have been closest to him…
He aches for them…
He wants them to clear the clouds that have formed around their relationship with God….
To see clearly…
Desire… Real knowledge…. Real relationship… and to Share it

Body:

Desire:

Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.

If you know…

You desire….

You desire God…. more… insatiable
Psalm 63:1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. 4 So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. 5 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. 6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, 7 For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. 8 My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. 9 But those who seek my life to destroy it, Will go into the depths of the earth. 10 They will be delivered over to the power of the sword; They will be a prey for foxes. 11 But the king will rejoice in God; Everyone who swears by Him will glory, For the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.

Chocolate… why is it so alluring…desirable… because we know… how sweet, how creamy, the potential is mmmmmmm….

The desire that they would know salvation… truly know God is based on the desire of his Heart for God.
Sharing a great restaurant.

Your desire… is others….

Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
No hording it…
Remember Paul loved his community… his “people”.
And his life was marked by desire
A desire for God
And a desire for God to be Known.

He goes on to affirm their zeal…

Amalgamation of cities…
Numerous streets in the various cities with the same name
In an emergency… the fire department responded… with great zeal to the right address on the right street… in the wrong town….
The response time was good… the equipment and the fire-fighters were prepared…. They raced off to the wrong place.
With great zeal the Jews had missed the destination they pursued… For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.

They had a great desire but the wrong destination!
That is sooooooo much like our age.
Every road is valid…
Every path is good…
Look at how zealous…
Faith is a God-given commitment to truth…
Zealous… Enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal and tireless diligence in its furtherance… the cause, the ideal, the goal without knowledge… without truth…. Is empty no matter the tireless diligence!!
Run to the wrong address

Have you ever been late for an appointment… wonder if you are on the right road… speed up…
Only to find out you were zipping along in the wrong direction….
Paul is arms waving….

I like the way you drive… you are a veritable Mario Andretti!! But you are going the wrong way! Lisa and the derby….
Desire for God… (If we are confused…. Directions to a place that doesn’t exist)
Desire that Others would now Him… to his Glory and for their Soul!

Desire

Do you really know…

3 For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness.

Thinking you know…. And knowing are different.
We equate what we think… with knowing….
But knowing is based on truth… not on us.
What I just said is an absolute and fundamental shift….
If you get it…. You can know God.
If knowing God is based on what you think… your ideas, goals and concepts… you don’t really know
If your connectedness to God is based on your righteousness… goodness… you really don’t know
If your relationship with God is anchored in truth…

Absolute truth…
Of His righteousness
Of His Word
Of His Son…
Then Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Not about what we do….
Not about what we scheme… what we think…
But Truth… in Faith… In Jesus Christ!
Our salvation isn’t in obedience to the law… it is in the Truth That Jesus Christ is Lord of the Law…. Fulfilment of all it demands… and our imputed righteousness!
For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness… live by righteousness based on what you do…. The deficient righteousness… then you will reap its due…
Conversely…
Live the righteousness of Christ… the holy and perfect righteousness… then you will reap its due… true righteousness… true communion with Christ….
Do you really know?

Real Knowledge… Real Relationship

6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: "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, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART "-- that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

Righteousness by fast faith in truth confirms the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.
The law says… look for some mystic or esoteric experience… to see Christ in Heaven or to see Christ in Hell.
The law is do it yourself….
Look for something according to your own plan or schedule… or… capacity…. According to your own thought…
But in Faith truth testifies to the righteousness given us through his death, through his burial, in his resurrection and in his ascension to heaven…

Anchored in the person of Christ
Not in the Law

Confess… believe… Saved
Heart in Faith, Mouth in Confession, Salvation of the Soul
"WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

Know Christ
Desire God, Real Knowledge, Real Relationship

Who… ?

Bringing in the Spiky haired guy home…. Funky looking guy… Greeks to Jews

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." 14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!" 16 However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?" 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 18 But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; "THEIR VOICE HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD." 19 But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says, "I WILL MAKE YOU JEALOUS BY THAT WHICH IS NOT A NATION, BY A NATION WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WILL I ANGER YOU." 20 And Isaiah is very bold and says, "I WAS FOUND BY THOSE WHO DID NOT SEEK ME, I BECAME MANIFEST TO THOSE WHO DID NOT ASK FOR ME." 21 But as for Israel He says, "ALL THE DAY LONG I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HANDS TO A DISOBEDIENT AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE."

No distinction in the offer…. Jew or Greek
13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."
But who can call….

Those who hear!
14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!"

Bring the good news…

Paul uses the old testament to tell them…. This isn’t new…
Paul uses the old testament to show them that they had failed as a chosen people to convey God’s message…
They had viewed it as exclusive… and horded it amongst themselves…

Desire God… Real Knowledge … Real Relationship… Preach it!!
Moses told them… "I WILL MAKE YOU JEALOUS BY THAT WHICH IS NOT A NATION, BY A NATION WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WILL I ANGER YOU."
I gave you the message and the mandate… and you failed…
I know your going to get all worked up when I broaden my approach…
Cuz… as for Israel He says, "ALL THE DAY LONG I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HANDS TO A DISOBEDIENT AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE."
Don’t want that for us…
Desire God… Real Knowledge … Real Relationship… Preach it!!

Conclusion:

Desire…

Do you really know?

Know in the biblical sense….

Real Knowledge… Real Relationship

Who?