Stuck in the Past?

Romans 10:1-5

Message No. 0730 | Twitter @GodandUs | www.wisdom-speaks.ca

Many people become outdated just by their inability to cope with new ways of doing things. Some are very clearly allergic to change, and it does not matter how much you try to get them to change, it doesn’t happen. The next level to change allergy is the inability to comprehend the need for, or the details of change. For example, many years ago when I worked in the bank, we needed to computerize all our departments, moving away from manual. I remember that in one of the departments, one of the key personnels strongly opposed us, asking why we needed to computerize the department. He was almost vowing that our efforts would fail. We immediately understood his stance, he was an older guy and was afraid that he did not have what it took to understand how computers worked and might lose his job in the process. We, of course, had a job to do, and we completed the project and left his department.

People who are most resistant to change are those who feel that they have a lot to lose if the change occurred. They are those who have constituted themselves as power holders, and the change was about to dethrone them. In the case of Israel, it was the religious leaders – the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Sanhedrin, the Chief Priests, and others. These had long ruled Israel in spiritual matters and were very powerful institutions in the society. When Jesus came with a different approach, it was understandable why they stood so strongly against Him: they were about to lose their powers!

However, the antagonism of the religious powers to Christ was also borne out of what the Torah had taught them for centuries, how they needed to live, how they needed to apply justice, how they must atone for their sins, and other how’s. They had learned that righteousness must be earned by living right, and if anyone did not live right, he or she needed to pay for the error or the disobedience by doing something, or by being killed. Having lived for so long under these laws, it was impossible for them to wake up to the idea that someone had paid and atoned for their sins. It was difficult for them to cope with the fact that they could be justified without paying. Here’s how Paul summarized this problem in Romans chapter 10 verses 1 – 4:

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

While one would understand the stance of Israel’s religious leaders, how should we interpret the attitude of some of our citizens in today’s world. 2000 years after Christ paid the price for our redemption by dying a painful death on the cross, some powerful people still believe that they have enough money to pay for their sins. They do not believe that they need redemption, because they see themselves as morally perfect. They tell you that they have not offended anyone, and certainly that they have not offended God. Why then should anyone talk to them about repentance, or forgiveness, or salvation, or any such thing?

It is one thing for centuries of devotion to the Law of Moses to keep someone from accepting the free gift of salvation from God, and it is another thing for pride and arrogance to keep others from surrendering their lives to Christ. Israel’s religious leaders were stuck in the past, in the Law of Moses, and they prevented a very large Israeli population from accepting Christ as their Savior. But two millennia after Christ died and resurrected, what dominant practice could be preventing people from understanding redemption today?

In verses 3 and 4 of Romans chapter 10, Paul wrote that Israel was ignorant of God’s righteousness, and were seeking to establish their own righteousness, but Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. It does not matter how rich we are, or how hard we work, or how morally perfect we are, we cannot establish our own righteousness. Just the fact that we are born as humans already places the label ‘Sinner’ on us, and even if we are ready to die for our sins, our blood does not qualify to pay for redemption. Only the Blood of Jesus Christ is able to redeem us and accredit righteousness to us.

If you are still struggling with self-righteousness and are still ashamed that you have to bring yourself low to accept something free of charge, though you are so rich that you can pay for anything, please know that salvation is one big exception. It is one thing you cannot pay for. I pray that this understanding helps our wealthy folks to humble themselves and surrender to Jesus, for the end is near, even though we do not like how that sounds.

PLEASE ACT NOW:

If you are yet to give your life to Christ, you do not have a covenant with God and His promises do not apply to you. To come under these promises, please surrender your life to Christ today, by praying this prayer:

Lord I know that I am a sinner and I am unable to save myself. I am sorry for my sins and I pray that you please forgive me. I am aware that Your Son Jesus died for my sins and I accept Him as my Lord and savior. I surrender my life unto you from this moment. Please take control of my entire being and help me to be obedient to your Word, going forward. Thank you, Lord, for hearing me. I have prayed in Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you prayed the foregoing prayer, you have just been born again. Please find a Bible believing church in your area and ask to see the pastor. Let him or her know that you have just given your life to Christ and s/he will guide you on next steps in your journey as a child of God. The Lord bless you!

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