Willful Ignorance

Romans 10 speaks contextually to the problem of unbelieving Jews. But also by implication to all those who would attempt to please God by self-righteousness. Over previous sermons we have considered: ignorance of God's holiness; ignorance of human depravity; ignorance of the merit of Christ's obedience; and ignorance of the right context of biblical terms.

The proposition of trusting the righteousness of another seems to run crosswise to the instinct of self preservation. The gospel tells a man to abandon every effort to save himself and instead to hang his self-interest on the word of God. This goes against the covenant of works and results in men going about to establish their own righteousness.

The proposal of trusting an alien righteousness is repelled by pride and love of independance. This is the fundamental reason that men reject a gracious gospel. There are two systems of salvation and only two: and everyone chooses one or the other. Either one attempts to save himself or he submits to the righteousness of God by faith in Christ.

God proclaims what righteousness he accepts. If you mean to plead your own righteousness at the bar of God there will be many there with you. Standing with you will be countless Jews of Paul's generation who also went about to establish their own righteousness and did not submit themselves to the righteousness of God.
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