Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

Ignorant of God's Righteousness

****Rom.10:1 Brothers, my heart's desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved. 10:2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 10:3 For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn't subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

Many Christian's don't understand there is more than one righteousness, that is, by their efforts in trying to be obedient to God's word the bible. In order to truly understand the book of Roman's we must understand this fundamental truth, which is?

Romans 3:25 whom God set forth to be an atoning sacrifice{or, a propitiation}, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God's forbearance;

The law had a righteousness, and Christ has a righteousness, and than there is a self-righteousness, so what was the righteousness of the law for Israel? It would be the blood upon God's altar so Israel could keep the righteousness of the law. There was no self-righteousness found in the law. Righteousness of the law was a gift of God's mercy by inocent blood to redeem law breakers. Subsequently, Paul speak of the righteousness of the law, but heres the problem.

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

James 1:20 for the anger of man doesn't produce the righteousness of God.
Hebrews 7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

The problem for Israel was they emphasised knowledge of the law as bring righteousness to them, which was false. They like many today put faith in their understanding of God's words as righteousness, not the gift upon the altar (blood). However, even the demon's believe, knowledge does not equal righteousness, yet, those loving self-righteousness love knowledge more than the truth of God.

Luke 1:77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,

Luke 11:52 Woe to you lawyers! For you took away the key of knowledge. You didn't enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in, you hindered."

Romans 3:20 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

1 Corinthians 8:1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

2 Timothy 2:25 in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth,

2 Timothy 3:7 always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

This intellectual pursuit of righteousness through the power and control of knowledge did not make Israel or her teachers righteous. Now the same standing away from the Christ was entering into the body of Christ were the glory of knowledge outshined the righteousness of Christ. Zeal for knowledge is not righteousness, which is, a self-righteousness, it is good for one to wants to know God, and/or some deep truth of the bible, but let none be fooled, self-effort will not bring us salvation. Faith in Christ righteousness will discarding our own worthless, for truth in Christ worthiness which actually saves us.

Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God's wrath through him.

Romans 5:10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life.

2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God, in those who are saved, and in those who perish;2:16 to the one a stench from death to death; to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 2:17 For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.

The law beautiful as it was, good and righteous as it was did not bring Israel to Christ, it did not perfect them, it cost most of them to be condemned. Moreover, it caused them to stumble in Christ being a rockmass of offense, why? Because their so called superior knowledge rejected Christ, he did not fit their intellectual idea of God's messiah, why? Because one had to accept Christ by faith, humbly. Not only did Israel stumble they were deeply ofended over Christ and his teachings by their pride of knowledge.

1Cor.1:19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing."{Isaiah 29:14} 1:20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn't God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 1:21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn't know God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe.
1:22 For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom,
1:23 but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks, 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1:26 For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble; 1:27 but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; 1:28 and God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are: 1:29 that no flesh should boast before God. 1:30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 1:31 that, according as it is written, "He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."{Jeremiah 9:24}

Chirst brought in God's righteousness by his blood, by his blood he removed the law, making us one with God through the body of Christ. This step of faith was found in a verly lowly person to this world, rejected, despised, and hated by those with intellectual knowledge of the law.

Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Don't set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don't be wise in your own conceits.

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;

Zephaniah 2:3 Seek Yahweh, all you humble of the land, who have kept his ordinances. Seek righteousness. Seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of Yahweh's anger.

Matthew 21:5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, behold, your King comes to you, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."{Zechariah 9:9}

See also: www.nu-truth.com