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For they being ignorant of God\u2019s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Righteousness only comes by voluntarily submitting your will to the will of Almighty God.<\/p>\n The word translated \u201cignorant<\/span>\u201d is agnoe\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which is a compound word made up of a<\/em><\/span>, indicating \u201cnot\u201d and noe\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto perceive or understand.\u201d<\/p>\n The word translated \u201cestablish<\/span>\u201d is hist\u0113mi<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto stand.\u201d By application, it also means \u201cto make something to stand in place\u201d or \u201cto establish something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSubmitted<\/span>\u201d is a form of the word hupotass\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which is a compound word made up of hupo<\/em> <\/span>or hypo<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cunder\u201d or \u201cbeneath\u201d and tasso<\/em><\/span>, which means \u201cto place in an orderly manner.\u201d It is a military term which means \u201cto place oneself under the authority of someone else.\u201d This word does not imply that someone is forcibly put under the authority of another, rather a voluntary placing of oneself under the command and authority of another.<\/p>\n Paul now explains what he meant in the previous verse when he said that his Jewish brothers had a zeal for God but not according to knowledge. He starts off this verse by stating that they were ignorant of God\u2019s righteousness. The Israelites did not understand God\u2019s righteousness or the fact that we cannot attain God\u2019s righteousness because we are spiritually flawed by our sin nature.<\/p>\n He then goes on to say, not only did the Israelites not understand God\u2019s righteousness, they also tried to establish their own form of righteousness based on what the Law told them to do. They firmly, even zealously, believed that by keeping the whole Law they could become as righteous as God Himself.<\/p>\n But, as Paul will tell us in the next few verses, there is only one person who can completely fulfill the Law and that is Jesus Christ. The reason that Christ was able to keep the whole Law is twofold. First of all, he doesn\u2019t have a sin nature and secondly, because He is God, he cannot sin.<\/p>\n Finally, Paul tells us in this verse that the Israelites could not obtain the righteousness of God because they have not submitted themselves to God\u2019s righteousness. These Israelites who had a great zeal for God were trying to obtain that righteousness by their own means instead of humbling themselves before God and allowing Him to grant His righteousness to them.<\/p>\n There are many professed Christians today who are still trying to earn righteousness when what they need to do is to submit themselves to God. Instead of working hard to obtain righteousness we need to submit to God\u2019s will and receive His righteousness by grace.<\/p>\n Are you still trying to obtain your own righteousness by obeying all the rules and ordinances of your church? Or are you humbled before the hand of Almighty God and completely submitted to His will?<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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