Romans 10:3, Ignorant of God’s Righteousness
Romans 10:3 (KJV) 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
It is strange that the Jewish people, created by God as the people of God, not know God. Jesus’ gave this indictment to the Jews during His earthly ministry. God’s righteousness does not come with a mechanical outward obedience of the God’s laws as taught by the scribes and Pharisees. That’s not true righteousness,
Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus says the “form of godliness” taught by the scribes and Pharisees will not bring you to heaven. It’s a serious statement here. The Pharisee is one whom the people thought is an authority about things of God. Jesus exposed him as a blind guide. Jesus’ entire ministry is to point the way back to God through Him! He is the Lamb of God that will take away the sin of the world, to restore the broken relationship between God and man. He is the Mediator between God and man. Being fully God, He represented God and being fully man, He represented. Man. He bridged the way back for sinful man to a thrice holy God.
True holiness and true love begin with a transformed heart. A person is transformed from within to something new. A new nature where inner holiness and love are present in the heart. From the beginning, the Bible tells us that man is made in God’s image. What does that image of God look like? It comes in the regeneration when one is born again, the image of God is restored. When one’s sin is washed clean and forgiven by the merits of Christ’s death on the cross. And His resurrection from the dead breathes new life, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, to the soul.
The Jews has to accept the Person of Jesus Christ and His atoning work on their behalf to receive God’s righteousness. This is reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. This is the power of God unto salvation that the Jews rejected. It is common among the Jews to believe that Jesus is a good man but He is not God. The righteousness of God comes with the keeping of the law by their own strength. This is the folly of powerless man-made righteousness.
Thank God for the gospel that is able to give spiritual life to the soul through faith. May this gospel be shared that men and women and may God open their spiritual eyes, heal their blindness. May God give us a ministry of intercession for these lost souls. The Apostle Paul sets for us an example of true care and concern for the souls of his countrymen. Amen.