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Romans 10:2 – Zeal for God

Posted on June 29, 2018 by Will

For I testify to them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

Truth to Learn

Zeal and devotion are good if they are not misplaced.

Behind the Words

Paul starts off this verse with “For I testify to them.” This is translated from the Greek words marturō gar. The Greek word gar is a primary particle which assigns a reason. Hence it is usually translated as “for.” This particular word is always post positive; that is, it always appears after the word to which it applies. The Greek word marturō is the word from which we get our English word martyr. It means “to be a witness.”

“Zeal” is from the Greek word dzēlos, which literally refers to “heat.” Figuratively, it is a reference to the heat of a person’s passion. Thus it is often translated as “zeal.”

The word translated “knowledge” is epiginōskō, which is made up of epi, meaning “on or upon” and ginōskō, which means “to know, to perceive, or to be aware of.” Hence epiginōskō literally means “to know upon.” That is, to perceive and understand based on the facts.

Meaning Explained

Paul is now declaring the reason why he is desirous of seeing all of Israel saved, while at the same time declaring the reason why they aren’t all saved. He tells us, “For I am a witness of the fact that they (his fellow Jews) have a zeal for God.” His witness is driven by the fact that not only was he that way himself, but he has personally known many devout Jews who were earnestly seeking after God and His righteousness.

The problem, according to Paul, is that they have been seeking after the righteousness of God in the wrong way. It hasn’t been “according to knowledge,” he says; that is to say, they haven’t recognized or understood the proper way to attain God’s righteousness because they didn’t understand the proper way.

As part of his calling from God, Paul is declaring the facts of salvation through the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He wants them to have knowledge of their Savior so that they might accept the truth and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul knows that many of his fellow Jews are ignorant of the truth. Because of that ignorance, even though they are very passionate about God and His righteousness, they are going about it all wrong.

Application

There are many who call themselves Christian today who are very passionate about God. But instead of seeking God through faith, they are trying to earn His favor. Some would call them devout, but their devotion is to their church or to living up to some set of standards. Some of them even believe that they can reach a point of sanctification in which they no longer sin. That, however, is a works oriented religion; it is not walking by faith.

Being zealous is a good thing. Being devoted to a good cause or to a church is wonderful. But it’s not the way of salvation. Salvation only comes through faith in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. Only through living by faith can we please the One who is our Heavenly Father. And we can only live by faith if we have knowledge of the truth. That’s why it is so important that we study the Bible!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 10:1 – Hate Sin, Love Sinners

Posted on June 28, 2018 by Will

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is for their salvation.

Truth to Learn

Paul loved his lost brothers and prayed for them while he proclaimed the Gospel message to them.

Behind the Words

The word translated “brothers” is adelphos, which is made up of the connective a, implying unity and delphus, meaning “the womb.” Hence, adelphos refers to those who have the same mother. It is frequently used metaphorically referring to those who are of the same lineage, as Paul does here.

“Desire” is translated from the Greek word eudokia, which is made up of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and a form of dokeō, meaning “to think.” Thus we see that this word literally means “to have good thoughts.” Eudokia is often translated as “desire, delight, kindness, or wish.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous chapter the Apostle Paul expressed his great concern for his brothers in the flesh, the nation of Israel. He was troubled by the fact that so many of them were out of the way of salvation. Here’s how he expressed it in the opening verses of that chapter:

I speak the truth in Christ, not a lie, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit, that my sorrow is great and I have continual grief in my heart. For I almost wish that I was accursed from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kindred according to the flesh (Romans 9:1-3)

He loved his fellow Jews and was deeply grieved by the fact that they rejected Jesus as their Messiah, the One for whom they had been waiting for centuries. He went on to show that God has chosen some of them for salvation but not others. He also showed that God has also called some of the Gentiles to salvation over his Jewish kinsmen.

But, you may ask, if Paul truly believed that God is the one who chooses who will be saved, why was Paul so intent on evangelizing the Jews, calling on them to accept Jesus as the Messiah? The answer is in the Great Commission. All Christians are commanded to preach the gospel. We don’t know whom God will choose, but they must believe God’s promise through His grace in order to be saved.

In the first half of the current chapter, Paul will show that the reason why so many Jews were lost is because they tried to earn their way into righteousness by keeping the Law instead of receiving the gift of salvation through faith.

Paul had been accused by some of his countrymen of deserting his Jewish brothers in favor of this new Way called Christianity. He starts off the current chapter with a declaration that not only has he not deserted them, but that he has a strong desire for them to be saved. And, he will show that salvation is to be received through faith, not through works.

Application

We are told to hate sin but to love sinners. We are told to proclaim the good news of God’s promise of salvation through the blood of Christ. We do not save sinners, only God can do that. We are to pray for sinners and proclaim the gospel. And we are to be a witness for God by the way we live our lives.

Are you fulfilling the Great Commission?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 9:33 – Little Stone or Massive Rock

Posted on June 27, 2018 by Will

As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and the one believing on Him will not be put to shame."

Truth to Learn

To the Jews Jesus is merely a stumbling stone in the pathway of life. To Christians He is a solid rock of salvation.

Behind the Words

“Lay” is from the Greek word tithēmi, meaning “to set in place” or “to lay something down.”

The word “stone” is from lithos, which refers to a stone (anything from the size of a pebble to the size of a millstone or a block of a building).

“Rock,” on the other hand, is from petra, which refers to “a huge mass of rock like a rock outcropping of a mountain.”

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul was very well versed in the Law and the Prophets. He studied them under Gamaliel, one of the greatest rabbinical teachers of his day. As a result, he had a thorough understanding of what we now call the Old Testament. Here’s what he told the Israelites of his time (after He was saved):

I am indeed a man, a Jew born in Tarsus of Cilicia, and brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, having been taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. (Acts 22:3)

In the current verse Paul not only demonstrates his knowledge of what is written in the Old Testament but also what is meant by these writings. He does this by quoting two separate verses and combining them in a manner that reveals the intent of both passages. The first verse quoted is Isaiah 8:14, which reads:

He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

The second verse quoted is Isaiah 28:16, which reads:

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; he who believes will not act hastily.”

The stone which Isaiah referred to is the Messiah, the Christ. He is the chief cornerstone upon which the church is built. But the Israelites rejected their Messiah and, as a result, He has become a stumbling stone to them and a huge rock of offence. To the Jews of Paul’s day (and the Jews of our day) Jesus was an imposter who was executed for His crimes. To them He was simply a pebble or a small rock, but to God He is a huge, massive, solid rock of salvation. So, instead of believing on the rock of salvation and receiving God’s imputed righteousness, they continue to try to earn their own righteousness by obeying all the precepts and commandments in the Law and, as a result, miss out on righteousness completely.

Application

Are you righteous, my friend? If so, was that righteousness granted to you by God’s choice alone or do you believe that you earned it by doing something? Careful! This is a trick question.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 9:32 – Seeking God’s Favor?

Posted on June 26, 2018 by Will

Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.

Truth to Learn

Works don’t produce God’s favor, only faith can do that.

Behind the Words

“Stumbled” is from the Greek word proskoptō, which means “to strike against” or to “trip over.”

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul now explains why the Israelites failed to achieve righteousness even though they pursued it vigorously. He says very clearly that the reason they failed to achieve righteousness is because they did not pursue it by faith. Instead, he says, they pursued it by works of the Law.

The devout Jews did many things daily in an attempt to please God. They prayed, they fasted, they sacrificed, they gave their tithes, they studied the Law and the Prophets, and they listened to the Rabbis to learn the oral laws so that they could be sure to obey all that they were commanded to do. Because they were so intent on earning God’s favor by obedience, they denied, even rejected the one in whom they could have obtained God’s favor, Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah. They tripped over the stumbling stone whom they called Jesus of Nazareth, denying that He was their Messiah.

But before we get too condemning of these Israelites, let’s look at our churches and church members today. Many of us are putting our effort into praying, fasting, offering our time in service to the church, giving tithes, reading our Bibles daily, and listening to all that our priests and ministers tell us so that we can be obedient to God and to the church with all of its expectations. In short, we are trying to earn God’s favor just as the Israelites did a couple of thousand years ago, and still do today.

In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, the writer recounts example after example of those who obtained God’s favor because of their faith, not because of their obedience to God or to a set of church rules. Tucked away in this chapter is the sixth verse which says:

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists, and that He is rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

The writer doesn’t say “without obedience,” he says “without faith.” Trying to be obedient causes stumbling, while living by faith produces victory! God is pleased with a life of faith, not a life of obedience.

Application

So let me ask you, why do you pray? Why do you read your Bible? Why do you give to your church? Why do you obediently attend church regularly and listen carefully to the sermon or homily each week? Are you trying to earn God’s favor like the Israelites did? Or is it because you believe God’s Word and you want to Glorify Him in all you do? Do you do it out of obligation and a hope of rewards? Or do you do it out of grateful, humble actions of faith?

Think about that and be honest with yourself!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 9:31 – Faith, not Obedience

Posted on June 25, 2018 by Will

but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain to a law of righteousness.

Truth to Learn

God does not reward obedience, he rewards faith.

Behind the Words

The word “pursuing” is diōkō, the same root word as was translated pursue in the previous verse.

“Attain” is phthano, which we talked about in the previous verse. It means “to come suddenly upon something” or “to arrive at a goal.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul made the point that the Gentiles who do not vigorously pursue righteousness have, nonetheless, seized upon it with eagerness. He now tells us that the Israelites did vigorously pursue righteousness but they have not arrived at the goal.

So, why couldn’t the Israelites reach the goal (righteousness) they were working so hard to obtain and why did the Gentiles seize the righteousness which they weren’t pursuing? The difference is works verses faith. The Israelites tried to please God and obtain His righteousness by doing works of obedience. They tried to work their way to righteousness. However, God does not reward obedience, He rewards faith. Let me say that again, God does not reward obedience, He rewards faith.

Let’s look at an example from the Old Testament. After God led the Israelites through the wilderness and gave them the Law through Moses’ leadership, he led them into the Promised Land where they began to eliminate all the inhabitants of the land. Under Joshua’s leadership they were successful at driving the people out of the land. After Joshua’s death, however, the new generation failed to drive the remainder of the people out of the land.

On the surface, this looks like a failure of obedience. After all, God told them to do it, but they didn’t. However, if we look at it closely we will see that it was not a lack of obedience, it was a lack of faith. Here’s how it is expressed in the book of Judges:

Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals; and they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they pursued other gods, the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the LORD to anger. (Judges 2:11,12)

God considered His relationship with the Israelites like a marriage relationship just as He considers the relationship between the church and Christ a marriage relationship. But the Israelites were unfaithful to their husband-God. God’s anger against the Israelites was because of unfaithfulness, not disobedience. That’s the point that Paul is making in today’s verse. Righteousness is not obtained by works, but by faith. Likewise, God’s favor is not obtained by obedience, but by faith.

Application

Are you still trying to please God by your good works? Or do you perform your good works out of gratitude because you believe God’s promise of salvation through the blood of Christ. Let me say it one last time, God does not reward obedience, He rewards faith!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 9:30 – Not Attained by Pursuing

Posted on June 22, 2018 by Will

What shall we say then? That Gentiles, not pursuing righteousness, have taken on a righteousness, even the righteousness of faith;

Truth to Learn

Righteousness comes as a result of faith, not works.

Behind the Words

“Pursuing” is from the Greek verb diōkō, meaning “to actively and intentionally go after something.”

The Greek word translated “have taken on” is katelaben, which is made up of kata, used as an intensifier and a form of lambanō, meaning “to take.” So in its root form this word means “to take aggressively” or “to seize with eagerness.” There is another Greek word that is translated “take on.” It is phthanō, meaning “to come suddenly upon something” or “to arrive at a goal.” Thus, we see that Paul is referring to the Gentiles having taken possession of a prize rather than having reached a goal that they were pursuing.

The word “righteousness” is from dikaiosune, which is derived from the noun dikaios meaning “one who does what is right or just.” The ending sune, makes it an abstraction, so it refers to “the character or quality of being righteous or of having obtained righteousness.”

“Of” is from the Greek word ek, meaning “out of” or “as the result of.” The righteousness that is recorded in God’s book is not the result of any action on our part. It is the result of faith, believing God’s promise to us.

Meaning Explained

“What shall we say then?” With this rhetorical question, Paul begins his summation of this entire chapter. Even though he spent a great deal of time and energy making the case for God’s sovereign choosing (election), that has only been a supporting point of his argument. The main point is that the Gentiles have received the prize of justification (righteousness) without constantly pursuing after it, and the Jews, who constantly pursued righteousness, have not received it.

You see, the Jews had vigorously pursued righteousness by seeking rigorous adherence to the Law, but they did not obtain it. They believed they had to do something. They believed so strongly that righteousness came by obedience that they consumed their entire lives in being obedient to God’s commandments. The Gentiles, on the other hand, did not pursue righteousness but have now been declared righteous by God through faith. They did not pursue righteousness by doing works or by following all the rules; they simply believed the gospel message. Those who believe that Jesus is the Christ and that He died on the cross to pay for their sins are declared as righteous in God’s record book and only they will be permitted in God’s presence without condemnation.

Application

When God chooses those who will be saved, He does not give them a magic formula of things to say or do. He gives them faith to believe His promise of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. This only serves to strengthen Paul’s argument that God chooses whom He will save and He does so through the gift of faith. (see Ephesians 2:8)

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 9:29 – General God the Merciful

Posted on June 21, 2018 by Will

And as Isaiah said before: "Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have become like Gomorrah."

Truth to Learn

The leader of Heaven’s army chooses to save only a few.

Behind the Words

The words “said before” are from the Greek verb proereō, which is made up of pro, meaning “before, in time or position” and ereō, meaning “to say or proclaim.” Thus we see that proereō means “to speak in advance” or “to foretell.”

The word “Lord” is from the Greek word kurios, meaning “master or ruler.”

“Sabaoth” is not a Greek word, but a transliteration of the Hebrew word tseva’ah, which means “armies or military hosts organized for war.” It is a reference to the armies of heaven, the angelic hosts.

The word “seed” is translated from the Greek word sperma, meaning “that which is sown, containing the germ of life which will produce new fruit.” In Isaiah’s passage it is the Hebrew word sariyd, meaning “a survivor, or one who remains after a battle.”

Meaning Explained

Paul now quotes another of Isaiah’s prophesies from the Septuagint version of the Old Testament.

Unless the LORD of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah. (Isaiah 1:9)

He makes reference to the Lord of the hosts of Heaven, the great and powerful leader of the mightiest of all armies. As the leader of the most powerful army ever, He will do as He determines and none can stop Him.

Isaiah’s point is that unless the mighty God had chosen to preserve a small number of survivors of Israel, they would have been completely destroyed just as Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for lack of 10 righteous people. This is a reference to the fact that Abraham negotiated with God for saving Sodom if only 10 righteous people were found in the city. As it turned out there were only Lot, his wife, and his two daughters. You can read all about these events in Genesis chapters 18 and 19.

Now, Paul’s point is the same as the previous verse, namely that God might cast off the entire nation because they have followed after other gods, saving only a few as His chosen ones. Thus, Paul demonstrates that God is ultimately the one who chooses who is destroyed and who is preserved. This is especially poignant given what Paul has already told us way back in Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,

The net effect of all this is that the Jewish Christians in Rome (and all of us who are God’s chosen ones) should fall to their knees and thank the Lord of hosts that he has not cut them off as they deserve, but has chosen to impute to them His righteousness and allow them into His eternal presence.

Application

Instead of complaining that it isn’t fair for God to destroy most of humanity and preserve only a few by His choice, let’s be eternally grateful that He opened our eyes to the truth of the gospel. He chose to save us even though we don’t deserve it.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 9:28 – God’s Determined Actions

Posted on June 20, 2018 by Will

For He is finishing the work and has cut it short in righteousness, because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth."

Truth to Learn

God has already determined what He is going to do with regard to mankind.

Behind the Words

“Is finishing” is from the Greek verb sunteleō, composed of sun, used as an intensifier and teleō, meaning “to finish.” So we see that this word means “to completely finish.”

The words “cut it short” are translated from the Greek word suntemnō, which is made up of sun, again used as an intensifier and temnō, meaning “to divide” or “to cut.” Hence, it means “to cut short.” With regard to words, it means “to make concise.” Figuratively, it means “to decide, determine, or make a decree.” You can see from the Hebrew translation quoted below that it is this figurative meaning which Paul intended.

Meaning Explained

This is a quotation of Isaiah 10:23 and is quoted in conjunction with the previous verse. Paul is reciting the Septuagint version of the Isaiah passage here. The Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Old Testament. It was translated from Hebrew into Greek somewhere between 300 and 200 years before the time of Christ. It was the version of the Law and the Prophets that many Greek speaking Jews read in the Roman Empire and, therefore, is the version that the Roman Jewish Christians would have known best. The Hebrew translation of this verse is:

For the Lord GOD of hosts will make a determined end in the midst of all the land. (Isaiah 10:23)

The Greek version preserves the basic intent of the passage but expresses it in a slightly different manner. It starts off with, “For He is finishing the work.” That is to say that God is about to end the work with respect to Jews (implied from the previous verse). The phrase “cut it short in righteousness” means that He will make a determination (a choice) and do so in a righteous manner.

So the effect of this passage is:

God is about to end His work with respect to Jews and He will do so by His own decision and do so in righteousness based on what He previously determined.

You can clearly see that this is in keeping with what Paul has been saying all along with respect to the fact that God does not save all and, in fact, has chosen ahead of time whom He will save and will do so in a righteous manner. Paul is also warning the Jewish Christians in Rome that God is about to end His dealings with the Jewish people (at least, until the time of the end as spoken by the prophet Daniel in chapter 9 of his book).

An interesting thing to note is that this letter was written sometime around 53 AD and Jerusalem was totally destroyed, with all the inhabitants being slain, by the Romans a mere 17 years later.

Application

God alone decides what He is going to do with regard to the lives of men. He did so with the sons of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and He does so with regard to His adopted children. What God decides is not controlled by the will of man. God’s will is supreme. He is sovereign over all.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 9:27 – His Choice, Then and Now

Posted on June 19, 2018 by Will

Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: "If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved.

Truth to Learn

God chooses who will be saved from spiritual death just as He chooses who will be saved from physical death.

Behind the Words

The word translated “cries out” is the Greek verb kradzō, meaning “to screech” like a raven. It represents a loud impassioned scream or shriek used to get people’s attention.

Meaning Explained

Paul now quotes another of the prophets to show that God is sovereign regarding who receives salvation. In this case he clearly shows that not all of Israel will be saved. The quotation is from Isaiah 10:22:

For though your people, O Israel, is as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return; a destruction is decreed overflowing with righteousness.

Much of Biblical prophecy has an application to events occurring at the time the prophecy is given as well as a future application, especially to events of the end times. The prophecy of Isaiah here quoted applied to the preservation of a remnant of Israel from the destruction and desolation that was coming upon them by the Assyrian King Sennacherib and his army. In its future application, however, it is commonly understood by Jews as looking to the end times. It declares that God will abandon to ruin a great many of the seed of Abraham, and yet maintain his word of promise to Abraham through a chosen few, a remnant, who will be saved.

Let’s take a look at that promise God gave to Abraham. In Genesis 22 Abraham proved he was willing to be obedient to God by being willing to sacrifice his promised son, Isaac. Though God stopped him before the actual killing, He also proceeded to promise Abraham the following:

Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and He said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son — blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of His enemies. (Genesis 22:15-17)

Abraham did not live to see God’s promise fulfilled, but he believed it nonetheless. Eventually, the number of descendants of Abraham became too many to be counted as promised. But Isaiah clearly states that even though the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob became as the sand of the sea, only a remnant, a portion of them, would be saved from destruction. This is a clear example of God choosing some of the Jews and rejecting many others.

If God chooses some Jews to be saved and allows others to be destroyed, it is just as valid that He chooses some of the Gentiles to be saved while the rest will be recipients of His wrath in the Lake of Fire.

Application

Those who were saved from destruction by Sennacherib did not choose to be saved any more than those who died refused to be saved. God did the choosing then, just as He does now.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 9:26 – Everywhere His Children

Posted on June 18, 2018 by Will

And it will be in the place where it was said to them, You are not my people, there they shall be called sons of the living God.

Truth to Learn

God chooses people from around the world to be His children.

Behind the Words

“People” is translated from laos, which we looked at before. This implies that those who are spoken of in this verse had not been part of God’s family until He chose them.

The word “sons” is from huios. Strictly speaking, this refers to a male child. However, it is often used in the New Testament as a reference to a child without reference to gender.

Meaning Explained

Paul has been demonstrating to his readers that God is clearly sovereign in His choice of whom He will bless and who will be cast into hellfire. He has made it very clear that it is God’s choice regarding who will receive righteousness and who will receive condemnation. In the previous verse he quoted Hosea 2:23 in which God proclaims that He will call them His people who were previously not His people. That is, Hosea was prophesying that non-Jews would be proclaimed as God’s people. He now quotes another passage from Hosea. This time he is quoting Hosea 1:10 which says,

Yet the number of the sons of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which is not measured nor numbered. And it shall be, in the place where it was said to them, you are not My people, there it shall be said to them, you are the sons of the living God.

One of the really significant things about Paul’s quoting these passages is the fact that Hosea was a prophet to whom God gave direction to marry a prostitute and to raise his children as if they were illegitimate children. This was done as a sign to the Jews that God was displeased with their following after other gods (which God considers harlotry). Here’s what God tells us in Hosea 1:2:

The beginning of Jehovah speaking by Hosea. And Jehovah said to Hosea, Go, take to yourself a wife of adultery and children of adultery. For the land has utterly gone lusting away from Jehovah.

Because of this warning from God, the Children of Israel were told that God would one day call those who were not His people (Gentiles) as the sons of the Living God. Paul is now demonstrating to the Jewish Christians in Rome that this prophecy is being fulfilled in the choosing of the Gentiles as well as Jews in the church age. In Hosea’s time the Jews were required to worship at the temple in Jerusalem on given occasions at prescribed times of the year. But now, because Hosea’s prophecy is fulfilled, we can worship God anywhere and do so through faith rather than deeds of legalism.

Paul will further show in the coming verses that this calling of the Gentiles will not be through the works of the Law or church rituals but by the justification through faith that he has talked about in the earlier chapters of this letter.

Application

The Jews were required to worship in Jerusalem and follow a prescribed set of rituals. Those who are chosen of God today must worship in spirit and truth, but they can do so anywhere. As those who are called the children of the living God, we are spread throughout the world to proclaim the gospel truth.

In God's service, for His glory,