Question of the Week: What do you need or crave most, peace, joy, love, forgiveness, rest?
Happy Sabbath! It is so good to be home. Last weekend I was in Arizona with Mike and Lynn. I returned filled with love and a better understanding of Jesus! I'd say it was a terrific week! I am still so thankful to be home! Thankful to connect with my husband, thankful to see my church family again, thankful to be back working hard! God is good!
This week we are going to tackle chapter 10. At first read, it may seem like a bit of review and in a way it is, but I think we will find plenty to discuss.
Let's start feasting!
READ: Romans 10
Romans 10New International Version (NIV)
10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
5 Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.”[a] 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”[b] (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’”[c] (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”[d] that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[e] 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[f]
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”[g]
16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”[h] 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. 18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:
19 Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,
“I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”[j]
I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”[j]
20 And Isaiah boldly says,
21 But concerning Israel he says,
We are going to tackle this chapter in three sections.
1. Verses 1-4 KNOWING
2. Verses 5-13 ANSWER
3. Verses 14-21 CLOSING
1. This past week I was visiting Mike and Lynn Ortel, what a joy it was! At one time Mike asked me if I knew about epignosis? What? Obviously I had no idea what he was talking about. He then got out the Adventist bible commentary and started reading a page that was well underlined. He kept expressing how important it was that I know this... epignosis this!
I appreciated his enthusiasm even more than what he was telling me... I wondered why he was choosing to share this particular lesson at this particular time. Then last Sabbath the preacher spoke about the importance of "knowing" Jesus.
Then I read chapter 10 again, as I prepare for this weeks lesson.... in verse two... epignosis. Wow really! Mikes sharing was inspired by God! No doubt about it! How thankful I am to serve a God who will communicate with us through His servants! Thank you Mike Ortel for listening to the Holy Spirit!
So here is a little lesson passed on to you from Mike Ortel! :)
So what is Paul so upset about?
What happened to them? How does He explain it?
Let's look close at that funny word. Here knowledge is not a more common word gnosis, it is epignosis. Epignosis is knowledge with a punch. It is more than just knowledge or understanding. It is a more focused understanding, a deeper understanding. Below is a picture of the page in Mikes SDA bible commentary. Lets look at that together.
Mike finished up his lesson, with the emphasis that really knowing Jesus brings change, "knowing" Jesus is everything! It is all we need. It is that relationship and being in relationship with Him that answers all our questions. It is that relationship that will give us the peace we all seek. It is that relationship that will change us from the inside out. It is so much more than understanding him or having knowlege, it is a knowing that is so complete it doesn't leave you the same!
I looked these words up online and found several resources. Here is another definition of epignosis...
"a knowledge which perfectly unites the subject with the object;
Wouldn't it be wonderful to be perfectly united with Jesus?
Here are just a couple other verses that have epignosis.
Ephesians 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Romans:1:28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
Do you epignosis Jesus?
What is that like?
It is knowing Him, really and relationally knowing Him!
What is the result of this knowledge?
This knowledge is transformative! It is a knowledge that doesn't leave you in the same place.
2. Paul goes on to tell us quite clearly the gospel! The GOOD NEWS!
Verse: 9-10
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Do you really believe this?
It comes down to heart and mouth.
Interesting isn't it?
Heart. What do we know about the heart?
This is referring to our mind right? Our heart, the organ doesn't have anything to do with it right? While we are looking up words why not this one too.
kardia kar-dee'-ah: the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle -- (+ broken-)heart(-ed).
If you put these two sections together, what is Paul saying? The word epignosis means to really know not just an understanding but a deep focused knowing of the fact that Jesus died for us. We have to KNOW His righteousness. Otherwise we try to do it! Otherwise we get caught up in the rat race of trying to clean ourselves up or we give up and quit trying and just give in to the other side.
Have you ever been so tired of trying, or wishing, or dreaming of being free from the clasp of sin, that you just give into it?
Have you ever worked so hard on your sinfulness that you forgot to stop and surrender it to Jesus?
The Israelites were experts at working on it all! They worked on each other, when one law wasn't enough to keep them "clean" they created more and more and more. They were so busy trying to be good they missed the only one who was good and the only answer.
In verse 11 it reads, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
What would you say has reigned in your life, peace and joy or shame?
If we know it is Him and only Him that frees us. If we know it, with our heart, from the core, our middle, deep in our soul, we epignosis what He has done for us, then our mouths profess it, and WE ARE SAVED.
Not just saved, someday when He comes but NOW! Today, saved! Saved from the shame. Saved from sin. Saved.
3. In his closing Paul talks about how they had heard. They should have known, but they didn't. Somehow they missed it completely. With all the right knowledge and even a zeal for God they missed it.
Why? How?
We know, we have heard, we teach, we preach, but do we epignosis?
How do we have that kid of knowing?
How do we have that saving relationship?
I want to suggest it isn't very complicated. It is a relationship that He wants with you.
This past week Chris and I were apart and it was challenging at times finding time to talk. With the time differences, work, etc. we had a hard time making the time. After several days of barely speaking I found myself needing to talk with him. So I finally decided to get up at 4 am so that I could catch him before he went to work.
Do what it takes to spend time with Him!
Get up earlier, stay up later!
I know our work, our play, our entertainment, our children, our church, can all get in the way.
Seriously, what is more important?
If we want to grow as a church we need to be a church filled with people who radiate the love of God, because they have been spending time in His presence!
If we want to LIVE! IF we want to be SAVED! FIND THE TIME!
Spend time with God. It is really that simple.
Spend time with Him in prayer.
Spend time with Him by reading his love notes to you.
Spend time with Him by going to Him with your good news!
Spend time with Him working together with Him to spread joy to those around you!
Spend time with Him singing praises to Him.
Spend time with Him and the result will be.....Epignosis Jesus!
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