A Life in Exile

One of the most touching passages in Scripture is found in Paul’s letter to the believers in Rome. The tenth chapter of this epistle reminds us just how tender this former Pharisee had become. Though he was called as an apostle to the Gentiles, he never stopped praying for his own people, the Jews. His heart was burdened by their persistence in establishing their own righteousness.

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them is for their salvation. I can testify about them that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. Since they are ignorant of the righteousness of God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness.

Romans 10:1-3 CSB

His love was so dear for them, that he wrote how he wished he could be cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of his people (Romans 9:3). Yet, he knew that the hope he knew in Christ Jesus was also available to them; they just had to open their minds and hearts and accept it by faith. This brings us to our lesson from the past for today.

The law of righteousness.

The purpose of the Law of Moses had become a snare instead in the lives of the Israelites. While the Law was given as a guideline for holy living, it was also designed to reveal its own inadequacy. Sin would never allow the people to fully comply with the Law, leading them to the conclusion that something greater was needed—a savior. Unfortunately, the pride of man found a self-satisfaction in the Law that was not from God but from Satan, and as Jesus entered into the world, the Pharisees had perfected this movement of self-righteousness that was in direct opposition to God’s Word and plan. That is what broke Paul’s heart for his people. He’d been there and done that but after seeing the light (literally), he now knew the truth.

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes, since Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: The one who does these things will live by them.

Romans 10:4-5

God had given laws to Moses to keep the people of Israel distinct from the pagans in the land, and, as he wrote in Leviticus 18:5, they would live and prosper if they obeyed them. Did they? No. That was the crux of the issue, which the first-century Pharisees and religious leaders didn’t get. Not only did their ancestors not live by the laws of God, they weren’t either. Theirs was a “do as I say, not as I do” kind of faith, and Jesus was spot on in calling out their hypocrisy.

The law of righteousness by faith.

The righteousness that is by faith says:

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

To the Romans, Paul is giving an overview of the faith, but to the believers in Galatia, he’s pressing the point for a different reason. Throughout his ministry, Paul was plagued with a group of Judaizers who went around to many of the churches he’d established and caused confusion and disorder by telling Gentile Christ-followers that in order to follow Jesus, they had to first become Jews through circumcision. Christ was not enough for this band of spiritual terrorists, and they wreaked havoc throughout the region and irritated Paul to no end. You can hear it in his words.

You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh?

Galatians 3:1-3

To press his point, he quotes several Old Testament verses along with our verse from Leviticus.

Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith. But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.

Galatians 3:11-13a

The point he wants to make is THE LAW WAS NOT ENOUGH! No one could live by it, that why true righteousness is found only in faith—faith that is in the One who redeemed us from the curse of the law—Jesus Christ.

We cannot live by the law. Period. It’s not within our power this side of eternity.

How will you then live? By your own abilities to be good or by faith in the accomplished work of Jesus Christ on your behalf? Choose faith.

 Grace and Peace

If you missed the last Learning from the Past post, click HERE, or start the series from the BEGINNING.