Freedom

​Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
"Why in the world would the apostle pray for something that is predestinated to happen?" So was the question posed.
The answer is: He is not.
He is sincerely stating that he prays for the salvation of his own people. He is praying for people that are zealous toward God, active and committed to doing what they understand is right. Their lives are consumed with the weight of their sin, conviction, and regret. They struggle daily with their lot in life and their own failures overwhelms them.
They have accepted a form of religion, been raised to submit to it. They sincerely believe that their efforts and errors assure them a place in heaven or else earn them a cell in hell. Paul's prayer is for such people, his own folks, to be free of that torment and burden.
The message is to them that Christ has done for them what they can not, would not, never will do or accomplish. Eternal life is theirs or else they would not concern themselves with their present condition. Their desire to seek God and do what is right is evidence that God has already given them life and they sit in the same cell of ritual with the door opened to freedom and refuse to stand up and leave.
So, how do you tell God's children they are free? How do you tell them that believing in Jesus' finished work is the end of the law. How do you tell them that their ability and belief is because they are children? How do you tell them that life is theirs to have, just submit to the truth and by faith walk out of your own prison? How do you tell them that you pray for their release because they have already been pardoned?
Maybe I just did? Are you listening?