Romans
Chapter 10
I.
The Rejection of Israel (Chapter 9).
II.
The Availability of Salvation To Israel (Chapter 10).
III.
Israel's Restoration (Chapter 11).
|
|
In
Romans chapter 10 Paul explains to his readers that the salvation, which
Israel failed to attain to, has always been freely available.
|
|
1.
The Jew's Ignorance of Righteousness (v. 1-4).
|
| 1.
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that
they might be saved. |
V.
1 |
– |
“hearts
desire…saved” = As in the beginning of chapter 9 Paul does not
hesitate to express his consuming burden for lost Israel. Paul did
not let his emotions dictate for him a more comfortable view of Israel’s
dilemma. |
| 2.
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according
to knowledge. |
V.
2 |
– |
“zeal
of God” = Zealous but still unsaved. Notice the unsaved can also:
-Pray
(Proverbs 28:9).
-Perform
religious service (Proverbs 15:8).
-Proclaim
God’s Word (Matthew 7:22).
-Perform
“great” works (Matthew 7:22). |
| 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. |
V.
3 |
– |
“ignorant…God’s
righteousness” = What was it that Israel was ignorant of?
-
-Unaware
of the great separation between God and man.
-
-Unaware
of the cost of sin.
-
-Unaware
of God’s remedy for sin.
|
|
|
– |
“not
submitted” = “Paul’s use of the verb ‘submit’ shows that the righteousness
of God is an active force to which one must humbly and obediently subordinate
oneself.” (NICNT) |
| 4.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one
that believeth. |
V.
4 |
– |
“end”
= “telos” = goal, completion, The Law of the O.T. is fulfilled in Christ.
The Jews, as “masters” of the law, should have understood that faith in
Christ is God’s was of salvation. (Similar words are used by Christ in
Matthew 5:17)
|
|
2.
The Availability of Righteousness (v.5-13).
|
| 5.
For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That
the man which doeth those things shall live by them. |
V.5 |
– |
“righteousness
which is of the law” = In order to claim righteousness based on the
law one would need to do the impossible: 100% obedience. |
| 6.
But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say
not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring
Christ down from above:) |
V.
6 |
– |
“righteousness
which is of faith” = True righteousness. |
| 7.
Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ
again from the dead.)
8.
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth,
and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; |
V.6,7,8 |
– |
“Who
shall ascend into heaven…shall descend into the deep” = Here,
Paul is quoting from Deuteronomy 30:11-14. The point of the Deuteronomy
passage is that the people had no excuse for not obeying God’s Word.
Along the same lines, Paul quotes the passage adding a present application
about the revelation of Jesus Christ. Faith in Christ, which is God’s
way of righteousness, has not been hidden from Israel that they may say,
“Who shall ascend to heaven (to bring down the Messiah, so we can be saved).
Nor can they say, “Who shall descend into the deep (to raise the Messiah
from the dead, so we can believe and be saved). The “righteousness
of faith” was available to Israel. |
|
|
– |
“But
what saith it?” = The message of “righteousness by faith” was both
accessible (“nigh thee”) and understandable (“in thy heart”). |
| 9.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved.
10.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.
11.
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12.
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same
Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. |
V.9 |
– |
“confess
with thy mouth…believe” = Concerning this verse Dr. Moo writes,
“Paul is explaining the ‘nearness’ of the word of faith, the gospel, by
emphasizing that it demands only a simple response…Paul’s stress on faith
in this context, is a twofold one: ‘if you confess with your mouth” and
“if you believe in your heart.” Both the presence of these two conditions
and the order in which they occur are due to Paul’s desire to show how
his ‘word of faith’ precisely matches the description of the word in Deut.
30:14, as being ‘in your mouth’ and ‘in your heart” (NICNT)
Therefore,
the purpose of this verse is not to add “confession” to believing for the
reception of salvation. The Bible is clear that it is “belief” alone
which brings salvation (Acts 16:31, John 3:16, Romans 5:1, ect…).
The
“confession” of Christ as Lord, as well refers to the necessity of accepting
the Deity of Christ as essential for salvation. One may not understand
all there is to know about Christ’s Deity at the time of salvation but
to place faith in a Christ who is not God is to deny the Christ of the
Bible (see John 8:24). |
| 13.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall
be saved. |
V.13 |
– |
“whosoever
shall call…shall be saved” = In this verse we see both the availability
of salvation for all and the security of those who receive it. “Thanks
be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (II Corinthians 9:15). |
|
|
- |
“Lord”
= “kurios” = Quoted from Joel 2:32 this verse as a applied to Christ shows
His Deity where the “LORD” of that passage is the word "Jehovah".
|
|
3.
Israel’s Accountability for not “Believing” (v.14-21).
|
| 14.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15.
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is
written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace,
and bring glad tidings of good things! |
V.14,15 |
– |
Here,
Paul outlines in reverse order how and individual comes to “call” upon
God for salvation:
1)
In order to “call” they must “believe”.
2)
In order to “believe” they must “hear”.
3)
In order to “hear” they must be “preached to”.
4)
In order to be “preached to” a preacher must be “sent”. |
| 16.
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord,
who hath believed our report? |
V.
16 |
– |
“But
they have not…obeyed” = In spite of “hearing” the message which
was “preached” by men “sent” from God Israel still did not “call” upon
the Lord for salvation. |
| 17.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. |
V.
17 |
– |
“faith
cometh by hearing…the word of God” = Hearing the Word of God
brings faith. In a sense we can say that some may listen but fail
to hear? |
| 18.
But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into
all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
19.
But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke
you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will
anger you.
20.
But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me
not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
21.
But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto
a disobedient and gainsaying people.
|
V.18,19 |
– |
“Have
they not heard…Did not Israel know?” = Yes, Israel did hear
God’s message and should have known.
Conclusion
Israel
has no excuse for their present condition. They cannot accuse God
of not providing for and making known to them salvation. In what
ways are all without excuse for their lost condition?
The
witness of Creation (Psalm 19:1-3).
The
witness of Conscience (Romans 1:18-21).
The
witness of Commandments (God’s written revelation: the Bible).
|
