By: Robert Serreyn
Question? I am unclear about “Not According to Knowledge” in Romans 10:2, could you help, thank you sir?
Romans 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Answer:
The Apostle Paul was speaking about the “Spiritual State” of the Nation of Israel as a whole. In fact he stated in V1…
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
As noted in V2 Paul said that the Nation of Israel “Have a zeal of God”, To put it in modern terms, They went to church every sunday, They tithed, They obeyed the Ten Commandments, etc, In other words “They were Religious” BUT were not saved as are MOST people.
In 1 John 5:13 the Bible states…
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
The word KNOW is the Greek word EIDO and it means “BE SURE OF”
The Apostle John stated that we CAN KNOW or “Be Sure Of” that we have eternal life (going to heaven) by Believing (placing our trust alone in) in the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; (2) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (3) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
Therefore the Apostle Paul SAID in Romans 10:2 that the Nation of Israel WERE RELIGIOUS but they were NOT SURE OF (Not according to knowledge) of having eternal life BECAUSE they were basing their salvation (going to heaven) BY THEIR religious works and merits and not in Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Word of God.
The same thing is mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:5 by Paul where he states that many…
Having a form of godliness = They are religious – Matthew 7:22-23
(22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
But denying the power thereof = Don’t believe in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ – Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ – 1 Corinthians 15:1-4); to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Gentile = Non Jew).
Therefore Paul’s WARNING to us is…
From such turn away. – Romans 16:17, 2 Corinthians 11:13.
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
2 Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles (preachers), deceitful workers (False Teachers), transforming (proclaiming) themselves into the (to be) apostles (preachers) of Christ.
In Conclusion:
Most people ARE RELIGIOUS (have a zeal of God) but they are Unsaved, Lost BECAUSE…
– They HAVE NOT Trusted In Christ alone as their saviour – John 3:16.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
-They HAVE NOT Believed in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ alone for their salvation – 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; (2) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (3) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
– They HAVE NOT Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved – Acts 16:31.
Unfortunately most people will stand before the Lord and say…
(22) Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Sadly BUT with Rightly Justified Judgement the Lord will have to say to them…
(23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (do not believe).
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH