2. Israel’s Failure
Romans 10:1-3

3. Romans 1:16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith”

4. Paul’s Desire An insight into Paul’s hope
A longing for what the other lacks
Often translated “good will” or “good pleasure”
It would be Paul’s “good pleasure” to see Israel saved

5. Paul’s Desire His association He is not speaking censoriously
Their condition now was like his was at one time (Acts 22:3; Gal. 1:14)
He did so in ignorance (1 Tim. 1:13)
He had been converted (Gal. 1:23)

6. Paul’s Desire Lessons to be learned All need salvation (1 Tim. 2:4)
Jesus has made justification possible (Rom. 3:24-26)
We must diligently seek salvation (Heb. 11:6)

7. Zeal Without Knowledge
Paul had once been filled with misplaced zeal (Acts 26:11, re. 22:3)
Zeal without knowledge is defective, being incomplete
“Desire/zeal without knowledge is not good” (Prov. 19:2, ESV)
The greater the intensity of zeal devoid of true knowledge, the more damage it does to itself and to others” (Lenski)
They failed to have true knowledge (Matt. 13:14-17; re. Isa. 6:9-10)

8. Zeal Without Knowledge
Lessons to be learned
This is a commentary on how sincerity is not a basis for salvation (Acts 10:1-2, 22; 11:14)
Salvation will not be without knowledge (Jn. 8:32)
Zeal is not a substitute for obedience (Matt. 7:21)

9. Israel’s Failure A fatal chain of events
“Not knowing God’s righteousness”
Not ignorant like the Athenians (Acts 17:23)
This is a rejection of Jesus and the truth of the gospel (Acts 13:27)
“Seeking to establish their own {righteousness}”
Not even Paul could do this (Phil. 3:9)
Justification is by faith, not law (Gal. 2:16)
“Did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God”
Hardness of heart (Rom. 2:4-5, 8-9)
Inexcuseable (Jn. 12:48)

10. Israel’s Failure Lessons to be learned
Ignorance is not bliss (Acts 17:30; Eph. 4:17-18)
The first step to obtaining the righteousness of God is to renounce our own righteousness (Acts 3:19)
Salvation is only in Christ (Acts 4:12)