The study of the Book of Romans reaches chapter 10, and Brother Gideon Levytam opens with Paul's burden for his people: my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. The Hebrew word for salvation, yeshuah (יְשׁוּעָה), is the very name of Yeshua. Jewish individuals had believed, the apostles among them, but Israel as a nation was not yet saved. Israel has a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. No nation has carried such devotion from generation to generation: morning prayers in the synagogue, the Sabbath, the feasts. But zeal does not save. Drawing from the Hebrew Scriptures, Gideon shows what Israel missed. Being ignorant of God's righteousness, the nation went about to establish its own righteousness and did not submit to the righteousness of God. The whole religious world shares the same problem: a righteousness built on what man does for God. Isaiah says all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). The law was never given to save Israel, but to drive the nation to its need of the Messiah. Salvation is something God does for man. Abraham was declared righteous because he believed the LORD, and it was counted to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6). Every person by nature is lost, and the Messiah came to seek and to save the lost. Everyone who turns to the Lord Yeshua is saved, and at His return Paul's prayer will be answered: Israel as a nation will be saved.
Romans 10:1-3 - My Heart's Desire Is That Israel Might Be Saved
Add to Favorites