“Clearing up the Confusion and Confirming the Truth”

Church of the Living God

Bible Study Lesson

Presenter: Overseer Ennis F. Tait

Date:   Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Series: Transformation – 40 Days of Consecration

Scripture Reference:  Romans 10:1-21

Focus Verses: Romans 10:1-4

Today’s Discussion:    “Clearing up the Confusion and Confirming the Truth”

The lesson aim is to clarify the truth about salvation.  More importantly, we will learn the facts about how “those that believe” receive the gift of salvation.  Paul further explains that there’s nothing else required of an individual to be saved other than confession of the mouth and belief in the heart. (Reference: Romans 10:9-10)  Many Christians believe the Holy Bible is the authority that governs spiritual issues and religious matters involving believers and non-believers.  However, Christianity is not a religion.  Subsequently, by secular definition Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on faith in God and Jesus Christ. 

The theme of Romans 10 is “Israel rejects salvation through faith”.  Conversely, Paul’s opening statement in this 10^th chapter sets the tone for his message of truth to the gentiles that “salvation is free” to all who believe.  Paul leads this missionary effort with two critical factors: his “heart’s desire and prayer to God”.  Both are essential to soul winning. Paul expresses his desire for Israel to be saved.  Paul says he is praying to God for Israel that they be saved.  The key to Paul’s intercessory prayer is Israel’s salvation is his heart’s desire. (Reference: Psalms 37:4; James 5:16)

Paul’s message to this church concludes that each believer is expected to accept and apply God’s word (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) to their lives. (Reference: Romans 12:1-2) Paul confronts the Jews about their self-righteous behavior and attempt to use religion to exclude others from the church (ekklesia).  Paul’s letter to this spiritually detached congregation reveals that the Jews became their own worst enemy and fell short of “the glory of God” because of unbelief and social-economic injustice. 

Paul teaches that salvation is not connected to any group, class, or congregation.    Paul’s presentation raises a very important question. Can a person know God and not be saved?

(Review verses 1-4)

• “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.  2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 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.  4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

Zeal - properly, heat, i.e. (figuratively) "zeal" (in a favorable sense, ardor; in an unfavorable one, jealousy, as of a husband [figuratively, of God], or an enemy, malice):

Knowledge - recognition, i.e. (by implication) full discernment, acknowledgement:

Righteousness - equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification