The final product, of anything, requires the appropriate amount of ingredients. You
cannot bring about the desired result with only one ingredient. For example, you cannot make
the simplest of sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly, without first gathering the necessary
ingredients. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich has three necessary parts; the bread, upon
which you spread the peanut butter and jelly, peanut butter, and finally jelly. There is no such
thing as a “peanut butter and jelly sandwich” with only peanut butter. Conversely, there is no
such thing as a “peanut butter and jelly sandwich” with jelly only and the sandwich be called a
peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Now, this is not about cooking, but rather the salvation of mankind. In Romans chapter
10, the apostle Paul expresses his greatest desire. Remember that Paul was born a Jew (Acts
22:3), of the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 2:5), the son of a Pharisee (Acts 23:6), and Israelite
of the seed of Abraham (2 Corinthians 11:22). When writing to the Church in Rome, Paul states
that his “heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1).
No greater desire could ever be stated by someone concerning a group of people, especially
among those whom you call brethren. However, there is a missing ingredient that is actively
preventing the desires and wishes of Paul’s heart from becoming a reality.
Paul readily admits the Jews had zeal. Zeal, according to Thayer’s Greek Definitions, is
“excitement of mind, ardor, fervor in spirit, embracing, pursuing, defending anything.” Zeal, in
and of itself, is neither good or bad, in fact, it can be both. It is the motivation behind that zeal
that dictates its righteousness or its unrighteousness. Two quick examples: Phinehaus is
commended for zeal toward Jehovah (Numbers 25:11-13), however, Jehu, in 2 Kings 10:16-31,
is condemned for his zeal as he was only interested in exalting himself. The problem with the
zeal of the Jews, according to Paul, is the zeal they demonstrated was not according to the
knowledge of God. Concerning the knowledge of God, the Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological,
and Ecclesiastical Literature makes this note:
“By this is not meant a mere knowledge of his existence, for the devils believe that
God is; they tremble as they believe it, and they hate the God before whom they
tremble. It cannot be a mere partial acquaintance with the character of God,
because we cannot for a moment doubt that the Jews were partially acquainted
with God’s character, and vet our Lord said to them, "Ye neither know me nor my
Father." Neither can it be a dry, uninfluential, notional knowledge of God, however
accurate in its outline that knowledge may be. The knowledge of God includes far
more than this. It implies a real, personal, experimental, sanctifying acquaintance
with him. It especially regards him as a reconciled God in Christ-that is, the
reconciliation of all his perfections in the way of his mercy, unfolding them as the
basis for the soul’s confidence; that he is righteously and holily merciful,
pardoning sin at the expense of no other perfection, but in the full and perfect
harmony of all his perfections. Without this knowledge, all our advances in other
branches of knowledge are but vain and unprofitable.”
Therefore, going back to our original analogy, their sandwich was missing an ingredient! The
Jews were, in fact, setting aside the commandments of God and in their place, establishing their own form of doctrine and guidelines for righteousness (Romans 10:2). Without using the proper ingredients it is impossible for the result to be what you set out to create.
Many today have fallen into this same trap; being on fire for or zealous toward God, but
not incorporating the knowledge of God (“A clear understanding of the Word of God”) to harness said zeal. Zeal without knowledge is dangerous! It is similar to being motivated to act without any light to guide your path. Notice a couple examples from scripture of individuals who
displayed this kind of zeal without knowledge. 1) Peter, in John 18:10, when Jesus was in the
garden, about to receive the kiss of betrayal from Judas (Matthew 26:48), sees the mob and the intentions of Judas, asks Jesus, “Lord, Shall we smite with the sword” (Luke 22:49)? He will cut off the right ear of Malchus, servant to the high priest. This is the epitome of zeal without
knowledge. Jesus will, according to Luke 22:51, will touch the ear of Malchus and cause it to be healed and at the same time reprove Peter by saying, “Put away thy sword unto the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it” (John 18:11)? 2) The apostle Paul also had zeal, when writing to the Philippians, Paul says, “concerning zeal, [I] persecuted the
church...” (Philippians 3:6 “I” added N.C.). Paul would go on to speak in his own defense, in
Acts 22:4, that he “persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prison both
men and women.” Even though this meant the destruction of people’s lives, Paul felt no guilt.
“...Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day” (Acts 23:1).
These two were zealous for God, but did not execute that zeal based on the knowledge of God’s word. Zeal, without the addition of the knowledge of God will not secure our salvation.
The opposite is also true. Knowledge of God without zeal (the desire to act) is not
profitable for us, and will not lead to salvation. Without the proper enthusiasm, drive, motivation,
faith without action as we often say is dead. Notice a few examples of those who had the
knowledge but failed to apply such knowledge. 1) The Church at Sardis - Revelation 3:1-6. This
church is warned by divine edict that their works should match their profession of faith. “Be
watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy
works perfect before God” (Revelation 3:2). John would go on to write that these people, “had
received and heard” (v.3) and encouraged them to remember their origin in faith, else their
candlestick would be put out. 2) The Churches of Galatia - Galatians 5:7. Paul marvels, when
he writes, “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” The Galatians had begun their walk with God, but their fire for doing what was right went out as they fell prey to the false doctrines of others. 3) Jesus would use a parable to convey this idea in Luke 12:37-48, if the servants, who wait for the return of the master, knowing what the master’s will do not make the appropriate preparations, they shall be “beaten with many stripes” (Luke 12:47) for their disobedience. However, those whom the Lord finds watching (Luke 12:37), will receive the reward of sitting at the master’s table.
James would put it this way “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth not, to
him it is sin” (James 4:17). Our zeal must rise to the level of our knowledge. Hence it is
incumbent upon us to grow in our knowledge of God and stoke the fire of our zeal
simultaneously so we may grow thereby and always be ready to do good works (Titus 2:14).
Zeal and knowledge are the only acceptable ways to obtain the end result, salvation. This
is clearly demonstrated for us in the pages of sacred scripture. 1) “Brethren, I count not myself
to have apprehended: but one thing, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). 2) The Day of Pentecost, marked the establishment of the Church, 3000 souls submitted to God’s will that day, “Then they that gladly received the word were baptized: and the same day there were added about 3000 souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:41-42). 3) A crown of righteousness awaits us individually if we remain faithful to the end. Once again, Paul would write to his dear son in the faith, Timothy: “Hencforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).
Let us put together zeal and knowledge and obtain the salvation, freely offered by Jesus
our Lord.
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