The UGLY truth

Smart!  Who, in their right mind, would enter this BBQ restaurant and admit that they were UGLY?  So, for all intents and purposes, this is a BOGUS ADVERTISING!!!  However, what if someone saw this sign and looked in the mirror and realized that they were TRULY UGLY?  Would they go in and ask for a free meal?  Even if they did, would anyone really be so rude as to agree with them and actually give them the meal?  Assuming this person could really GET THIS FREE MEAL, WOULD IT BE WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION???  Now, I am NOT talking about MONEY, but rather PRIDE!!!  Admitting the truth can be sobering and its consequences sometimes dreadful...

Joshua, Chapter 7

1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the devoted things; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. Therefore Yahweh’s anger burned against the children of Israel.  2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, “Go up and spy out the land.”

The men went up and spied out Ai.  3 They returned to Joshua, and said to him, “Don’t let all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and strike Ai. Don’t make all the people to toil there, for there are only a few of them.”  4 So about three thousand men of the people went up there, and they fled before the men of Ai. 5 The men of Ai struck about thirty-six men of them, and they chased them from before the gate even to Shebarim, and struck them at the descent. The hearts of the people melted, and became like water. 6 Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of Yahweh until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.  7 Joshua said, “Alas, Lord Yahweh, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to cause us to perish? I wish that we had been content and lived beyond the Jordan!  8 Oh, Lord, what shall I say, after that Israel has turned their backs before their enemies!  9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and will surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. What will you do for your great name?”

  10 Yahweh said to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you fallen on your face like that?  11 Israel has sinned. Yes, they have even transgressed my covenant which I commanded them. Yes, they have even taken of the devoted things, and have also stolen, and also deceived. They have even put it among their own stuff.  12 Therefore the children of Israel can’t stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will not be with you any more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you.

  13 “Get up! Sanctify the people, and say, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, for Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, “There is a devoted thing in the midst of you, Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted thing from among you.”

  14 “‘In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes. It shall be that the tribe which Yahweh selects shall come near by families. The family which Yahweh selects shall come near by households. The household which Yahweh selects shall come near man by man.  15 It shall be, that he who is taken with the devoted thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of Yahweh, and because he has done a disgraceful thing in Israel.’”

  16 So Joshua rose up early in the morning and brought Israel near by their tribes. The tribe of Judah was selected.  17 He brought near the family of Judah; and he selected the family of the Zerahites. He brought near the family of the Zerahites man by man, and Zabdi was selected. 18 He brought near his household man by man, and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was selected.  19 Joshua said to Achan, “My son, please give glory to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and make confession to him. Tell me now what you have done! Don’t hide it from me!”

  20 Achan answered Joshua, and said, “I have truly sinned against Yahweh, the God of Israel, and this is what I have done.  21 When I saw among the spoil a beautiful Babylonian robe, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, then I coveted them and took them. Behold, they are hidden in the ground in the middle of my tent, with the silver under it.”

  22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent. Behold, it was hidden in his tent, with the silver under it.  23 They took them from the middle of the tent, and brought them to Joshua and to all the children of Israel. They laid them down before Yahweh.  24 Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his cattle, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had; and they brought them up to the valley of Achor.  25 Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? Yahweh will trouble you this day.” All Israel stoned him with stones, and they burned them with fire and stoned them with stones.

 In this world you pay for what you do!!! One way or another; in ways you could never imagine, YOU PAY AND YOU PAY AND PAY SOME MORE!!!   One person sinned and a nation suffered.  Even though Achan admitted the truth, still, that truth had consequences!!!  It would have been much better if Achan had just resisted the "devoted thing".  Giving in to temptation always leads to trouble.  Again, don't do wrong and NEVER, EVER ADMIT THAT YOU ARE UGLY, no matter how hungry you are!!!!!

June 25 2 Samuel 16-18

June 25

2 Samuel 16-18

2Sa 16:1 When David was a little past the top of the ascent, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

2Sa 16:2 The king said to Ziba, What do you mean by these? Ziba said, The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as are faint in the wilderness may drink.

2Sa 16:3 The king said, Where is your master's son? Ziba said to the king, Behold, he abides at Jerusalem; for he said, Today will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

2Sa 16:4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, all that pertains to Mephibosheth is yours. Ziba said, I do obeisance; let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.

2Sa 16:5 When king David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of the house of Saul came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out, and cursed still as he came.

2Sa 16:6 He cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.

2Sa 16:7 Thus said Shimei when he cursed, Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and base fellow:

2Sa 16:8 Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and Yahweh has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son; and behold, you are caught by your own mischief, because you are a man of blood.

2Sa 16:9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head."

2Sa 16:10 The king said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Because he curses, and because Yahweh has said to him, Curse David; who then shall say, Why have you done so?

2Sa 16:11 David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeks my life: how much more may this Benjamite now do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for Yahweh has invited him.

2Sa 16:12 It may be that Yahweh will look on the wrong done to me, and that Yahweh will requite me good for his cursing of me this day.

2Sa 16:13 So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

2Sa 16:14 The king, and all the people who were with him, came weary; and he refreshed himself there.

2Sa 16:15 Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

2Sa 16:16 It happened, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, Long live the king, Long live the king.

2Sa 16:17 Absalom said to Hushai, Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend?

2Sa 16:18 Hushai said to Absalom, No; but whom Yahweh, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I be, and with him will I abide.

2Sa 16:19 Again, whom should I serve? Shouldn't I serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in your father's presence, so will I be in your presence.

2Sa 16:20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give your counsel what we shall do.

2Sa 16:21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father's concubines, that he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father: then the hands of all who are with you will be strong.

2Sa 16:22 So they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house; and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

2Sa 16:23 The counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

2Sa 17:1 Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

2Sa 17:2 and I will come on him while he is weary and exhausted, and will make him afraid; and all the people who are with him shall flee; and I will strike the king only;

2Sa 17:3 and I will bring back all the people to you: the man whom you seek is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.

2Sa 17:4 The saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

2Sa 17:5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he says.

2Sa 17:6 When Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, Ahithophel has spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not, speak up.

2Sa 17:7 Hushai said to Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel has given this time is not good.

2Sa 17:8 Hushai said moreover, You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are fierce in their minds, as a bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

2Sa 17:9 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will happen, when some of them are fallen at the first, that whoever hears it will say, There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.

2Sa 17:10 Even he who is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men.

2Sa 17:11 But I counsel that all Israel be gathered together to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that you go to battle in your own person.

2Sa 17:12 So shall we come on him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light on him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him we will not leave so much as one.

2Sa 17:13 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there not be one small stone found there.

2Sa 17:14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For Yahweh had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring evil on Absalom.

2Sa 17:15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Ahithophel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel that way; and I have counseled this way.

2Sa 17:16 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Don't lodge this night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people who are with him.

2Sa 17:17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En Rogel; and a female servant used to go and tell them; and they went and told king David: for they might not be seen to come into the city.

2Sa 17:18 But a boy saw them, and told Absalom: and they went both of them away quickly, and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down there.

2Sa 17:19 The woman took and spread the covering over the well's mouth, and strewed bruised grain thereon; and nothing was known.

2Sa 17:20 Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? The woman said to them, They have gone over the brook of water. When they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

2Sa 17:21 It happened, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said to David, Arise and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you.

2Sa 17:22 Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they passed over the Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them who had not gone over the Jordan.

2Sa 17:23 When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, and arose, and got him home, to his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the tomb of his father.

2Sa 17:24 Then David came to Mahanaim. Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

2Sa 17:25 Absalom set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man, whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab's mother.

2Sa 17:26 Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.

2Sa 17:27 It happened, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,

2Sa 17:28 brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and meal, and parched grain, and beans, and lentils, and parched pulse,

2Sa 17:29 and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David, and for the people who were with him, to eat: for they said, The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

2Sa 18:1 David numbered the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

2Sa 18:2 David sent forth the people, a third part under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

2Sa 18:3 But the people said, You shall not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you are ready to help us out of the city.

2Sa 18:4 The king said to them, I will do what seems best to you. The king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.

2Sa 18:5 The king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. All the people heard when the king commanded all the captains concerning Absalom.

2Sa 18:6 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.

2Sa 18:7 The people of Israel were struck there before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men.

2Sa 18:8 For the battle was there spread over the surface of all the country; and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

2Sa 18:9 Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the sky and earth; and the mule that was under him went on.

2Sa 18:10 A certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.

2Sa 18:11 Joab said to the man who told him, Behold, you saw it, and why didn't you strike him there to the ground? and I would have given you ten pieces of silver, and a sash.

2Sa 18:12 The man said to Joab, Though I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I still wouldn't put forth my hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.

2Sa 18:13 Otherwise if I had dealt falsely against his life (and there is no matter hid from the king), then you yourself would have set yourself against me.

2Sa 18:14 Then said Joab, I may not wait thus with you. He took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.

2Sa 18:15 Ten young men who bore Joab's armor surrounded and struck Absalom, and killed him.

2Sa 18:16 Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held back the people.

2Sa 18:17 They took Absalom, and cast him into the great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones: and all Israel fled everyone to his tent.

2Sa 18:18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar, which is in the king's dale; for he said, I have no son to keep my name in memory: and he called the pillar after his own name; and it is called Absalom's monument, to this day.

2Sa 18:19 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king news, how that Yahweh has avenged him of his enemies.

2Sa 18:20 Joab said to him, You shall not be the bearer of news this day, but you shall bear news another day; but this day you shall bear no news, because the king's son is dead.

2Sa 18:21 Then said Joab to the Cushite, Go, tell the king what you have seen. The Cushite bowed himself to Joab, and ran.

2Sa 18:22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But come what may, Please let me also run after the Cushite. Joab said, Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news?

2Sa 18:23 But come what may, said he, I will run. He said to him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and outran the Cushite.

2Sa 18:24 Now David was sitting between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate to the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man running alone.

2Sa 18:25 The watchman cried, and told the king. The king said, If he be alone, there is news in his mouth. He came apace, and drew near.

2Sa 18:26 The watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the porter, and said, Behold, another man running alone. The king said, He also brings news.

2Sa 18:27 The watchman said, I think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. The king said, He is a good man, and comes with good news.

2Sa 18:28 Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, All is well. He bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and said, Blessed be Yahweh your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king.

2Sa 18:29 The king said, Is it well with the young man Absalom? Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, even me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I don't know what it was.

2Sa 18:30 The king said, Turn aside, and stand here. He turned aside, and stood still.

2Sa 18:31 Behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, News for my lord the king; for Yahweh has avenged you this day of all those who rose up against you.

2Sa 18:32 The king said to the Cushite, Is it well with the young man Absalom? The Cushite answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you to do you hurt, be as that young man is.

2Sa 18:33 The king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would I had died for you, Absalom, my son, my son!

Jun. 25 John 21

Jun. 25

John 21

Joh 21:1 After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way.

Joh 21:2 Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.

Joh 21:3 Simon Peter said to them, "I'm going fishing." They told him, "We are also coming with you." They immediately went out, and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing.

Joh 21:4 But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn't know that it was Jesus.

Joh 21:5 Jesus therefore said to them, "Children, have you anything to eat?" They answered him, "No."

Joh 21:6 He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." They cast it therefore, and now they weren't able to draw it in for the multitude of fish.

Joh 21:7 That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It's the Lord!" So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around him (for he was naked), and threw himself into the sea.

Joh 21:8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away), dragging the net full of fish.

Joh 21:9 So when they got out on the land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.

Joh 21:10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught."

Joh 21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fish, one hundred fifty-three; and even though there were so many, the net wasn't torn.

Joh 21:12 Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." None of the disciples dared inquire of him, "Who are you?" knowing that it was the Lord.

Joh 21:13 Then Jesus came and took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise.

Joh 21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples, after he had risen from the dead.

Joh 21:15 So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."

Joh 21:16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."

Joh 21:17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?" Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, "Do you have affection for me?" He said to him, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I have affection for you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.

Joh 21:18 Most certainly I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself, and walked where you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you, and carry you where you don't want to go."

Joh 21:19 Now he said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. When he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me."

Joh 21:20 Then Peter, turning around, saw a disciple following. This was the disciple whom Jesus sincerely loved, the one who had also leaned on Jesus' breast at the supper and asked, "Lord, who is going to betray You?"

Joh 21:21 Peter seeing him, said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?"

Joh 21:22 Jesus said to him, "If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you? You follow me."

Joh 21:23 This saying therefore went out among the brothers, that this disciple wouldn't die. Yet Jesus didn't say to him that he wouldn't die, but, "If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you?"

Joh 21:24 This is the disciple who testifies about these things, and wrote these things. We know that his witness is true.

Joh 21:25 There are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they would all be written, I suppose that even the world itself wouldn't have room for the books that would be written.

"THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS" Chapter Ten by Mark Copeland

                      "THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS"

                              Chapter Ten

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To see the importance of combining zeal with knowledge

2) To understand that Israel had plenty of opportunity to heed the
   gospel of Christ, but for the most part they had rejected it

SUMMARY

As Paul continues to explain God's dealings with the nation of Israel, 
he repeats his expression of love towards them (1).  Though as a nation
they had plenty of zeal, unfortunately their zeal was not according to
knowledge (2).  Thus they rejected the righteousness of God while 
trying to establish their own righteousness through the Law of Moses.  
But Paul explains that Christ is the fulfillment of the Law and has 
brought it to an end (3-4).

The righteousness God now offers is based upon faith in Christ, not 
keeping the Law.  It involves not the accomplishment of some great feat 
(like ascending to heaven or descending to hell), but such things as 
confessing Jesus as Lord and believing that God raised Him from the 
dead (5-10).  As foretold by Scripture, it is offered to all, both Jew 
and Gentile (11-13).  And it is offered through the medium of preaching 
the Word (14-15).

The problem with the nation of Israel, then, is that not all of them 
received the gospel message, even when they had ample opportunity 
(16-18).  But as Moses predicted, the day would come when God would 
provoke Israel to jealousy by another people, who Isaiah said did not 
seek God yet found Him, while Israel was constantly rebelling against 
Him (19-21).

OUTLINE

I. ISRAEL'S REFUSAL OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS (1-15)

   A. PAUL'S EXPRESSION OF CONCERN FOR ISRAEL (1-4)
      1. That Israel be saved, for they have zeal but not knowledge
         (1-2)
      2. Through ignorance, they seek to save themselves by the Law,
         and do not submit to God's righteousness in Christ which 
         brings an end to the Law (3-4)

   B. RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW vs. RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH IN CHRIST
      (5-15)
      1. Righteousness of the Law as defined by Moses (5)
      2. Righteousness by faith as defined by Paul (6-15)
         a. Involves the mouth and the heart (6-8)
         b. Involves confessing Jesus and believing in His resurrection
            (9-10)
         c. Offered to all who believe and call on Him (11-13)
         d. Accomplished through the medium of preaching (14-15)

II. ISRAEL'S NEGLECT OF THE GOSPEL (16-21)

   A. NOT ALL OBEYED THE GOSPEL (16-18)
      1. As Isaiah predicted (16)
      2. Even though they had ample opportunity (17-18)

   B. THEIR NEGLECT, AND THE GENTILES RECEPTION, FORESEEN BY 
      SCRIPTURES (19-21)
      1. As spoken by Moses (19)
      2. As spoken by Isaiah (20-21)

WORDS TO PONDER

confess - lit., to speak the same thing, to assent, accord, agree
          with...; to declare openly by way of speaking out freely,
          such confession being the effect of deep conviction of facts
          (Mt 10:32; Ro 10:9,10) - VINE

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) List the main points of this chapter
   - Israel's Refusal Of God's Righteousness (1-15)
   - Israel's Neglect Of The Gospel (16-21)

2) What was Paul's prayer in behalf of the nation of Israel? (1)
   - That they may be saved

3) What was good about them?  What was wrong with them (2)
   - They have a zeal for God
   - But not according to knowledge

4) Why was Israel not submitting to the righteousness of God? (3)
   - In ignorance they were seeking to establish their own 
     righteousness

5) What should one confess?  What should one believe? (9-10)
   - The Lord Jesus (or, that Jesus is Lord)
   - That God raised Jesus from the dead

6) For whom is righteousness by faith intended? (11-13)
   - Whoever believes and calls upon the name of the Lord

7) What begins the process which finally enables one to call upon the
   Lord? (14-15)
   - The sending out of preachers

8) How does one come to have faith? (17)
   - By hearing the word of God

9) Did the Jews have opportunity to call upon the Lord? (18)
   - Yes, for the gospel had been spread to the ends of the world

10) How did God say He was going to make His people jealous? (19-20)
    - By making Himself manifest to those who had not been seeking Him
      (the Gentiles)