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*** LESSON 16 (August 3) *** Romans 10:1-21 No Distinction Between Jew and Greek It's helpful to remember that Paul didn't include chapter breaks in his letters. While we depend on chapters and verses for ease of reference, they can sometimes be a slight interruption. Romans 10 is a continuation of the same thought Paul was developing throughout Romans 9. He begins with a reaffirmation of his feelings for his fellow Jews. Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. (10:1-2) Take a moment to revisit Romans 9:4-5. How could the zeal of so many of Paul's kinsmen according to the flesh not be in accordance with knowledge? For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. (10:3) Remember the pivotal point Paul made in Romans 3:20-25. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. So many physical descendants of Abraham had stumbled,were stumbling, and continue to stumble over the chosen and precious cornerstone of God's entire plan for mankind's redemption-Jesus Christ (t pet 2:6). So many have failed to grasp the weight of the logical questions Paul asked of all-Jews in Romans 3:27-28.Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.this is the point to which Paul has returned in Romans 10. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into heaven?"' (that is, to bring Christ down) "or' Who will descend into the abyss?"' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (10:4-13) Everyone. Jew and Gentile. Male and female. Rich and poor. Free and slave. Everyone. On the same basis-the obedience of faith in Christ (Rom 7:5;3:27-22;76:25-27). Clearly, it was and is absolutely critical that this good news continues to spread. What does it mean to "have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge"? Can we make the same mistake today? lf so, how? How would you rephrase the tragic diagnosis of Romans 10:3? Why ?