10/08/2016 - ZEAL WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING IS WORTHLESS

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For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.    Romans 10.2

The history of Judaism has its roots in Abraham, when he decided not to defile himself with the cults of his land. When he listened to the voice of God, the patriarch set off to a place that would be shown to him (Genesis 12:1). Wherever he arrived, he would lift up an altar to the Lord and he would call on Him. Although he lived amongst polytheistic nations, Abraham gave testimony that he believed in the Almighty; planting the seed of faith in the only God. 

The faith of the Hebrew people was confirmed and rooted in the Law of Moses, called the Old Covenant, where the Torah came from – a set of books mainly composed by the Pentateuch – the five first books of the Bible. The Jews try to follow it blindly, for, because they don’t have the Holy Spirit, they can’t understand the real meaning of what is registered in it, as well as the other subjects which the prophets and the Psalms spoke about.

A similar case happens in many so called evangelical circles, where only the promises have any value. For those people who attend these, it is not relevant to keep the commandments; what matters are the prayers and the testimonies of blessings. Now, the enemy is capable of doing anything to fool those who truly don’t know the Lord yet. That is why it is necessary to examine the Scriptures, for it is a command Jesus gave us (John 5:39). 

Have zeal for the Lord to take care of the church or synagogue, and, in some cases, with fanaticism, is what interests many people, for, they assume that they are fulfilling God´s purposes. However, this is not what the verse we are studying says. Through it, we learn that it is important to have understanding concerning divine will, about the plan of salvation and of what Jesus accomplished in His death, when He abolished sin and its consequences. Besides, we must do the work that He has commanded us. 

Hosea wanted to know from the Lord why did the children of Israel suffer, and the answer was that they were destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Although all the prophets spoke in details about what the Messiah did in our place, many people today still don’t agree with the fact that He replaced us on Calvary, overcoming and stripping the devil and its demons of the authority they had over us, and that by His stripes we were healed (Isaiah 53:5). 

There is no revelation besides that which God has granted through His Son. All that was written concerning what He would do has already been accomplished. For this reason, now, we just have to believe and cry out for the blessings that belong to us and, thus, we will not be embarrassed. Therefore, do not submit to the whims of the evil one. The truth is that there is only complete deliverance in the Son of God, and whoever has accepted Him has been saved and sealed for the Day of the eternal redemption. 

To believe in the Most High is more than a religion, it is to have a personal contact with Him. There are no reasons not to convert. After all, when a person listens to the preaching of the Word, deep in their heart something arises, similar to a voice, which tells them that that is the way. Those who are not born again, from water – the Word – and the Spirit, cannot see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3-5). 

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares