10^th Chapter of Romans

Romans 10:1 (all verses are from the New International Version)

Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.

THE JEWISH PROBLEM

One of the greatest stumbling blocks to the general acceptance of the Gospel of Christ was Jewish unbelief. While considerable numbers of Jews, especially in Judea, had become Christians, the nation as a whole was not only unbelieving but bitterly antagonistic. The Jewish rulers had crucified Christ. They had persecuted the church at every opportunity. It was Jewish unbelievers who made trouble for Paul in almost every city he went. If Jesus was really the Messiah promised in the prophetic writings of their own Scriptures, how did it happen that God's own nation rejected Him? Chapters 9, 10 and 11 contain the Spirit's answer. -- Halley's Bible Handbook

Even though Paul just finished describing at the end of the last chapter Israel's situation as bleak (morbid, hopeless and barren), he still has much hope for their salvation, shown by his prayer to God for all Israel to be saved. It was his heart's desire! The only barrier to Israel's salvation was their own unbelief. Paul desires for them to be saved through the Gospel, specifically through the words of Jesus (Rom_10:16-17). As much as Paul loved his countrymen he knew their hope was only in Christ. This proves Paul was not a pre-millennialist since he didn't believe that all Israel would be saved - only those who are in Christ!

Is this how you pray for those you love? Is it your conviction that without the Gospel they will never have hope? If so then your heart's desire will be to pray for them to accept the Gospel and to use every opportunity to share the Gospel with them.

Romans 10:2

For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.

Paul mentions five things that were preventing Israel from being saved. These five barriers also prevent any person, not just Israelites, from being saved.

1 - Zeal Without Knowledge

Hos_4:6 NIV My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.

The Jews had the desire to be a holy people, belonging to God and destined for greatness, but they were not knowledgeable in the pursuit of that goal. Theirs was a pure desire of the heart, void of concrete action or plan on how to be fulfilled. We know the dangers the heart harbors (Jer_17:9; Luk_6:45). Without God's knowledge to guide the heart, any zeal can lead you astray. Zeal for anything without godly knowledge from the Bible is a purely subjective venture which brings about the consequences of the next four barriers which continue to obstruct salvation.

Paul says here that he was personally able to testify about their zeal. He knew it firsthand as a former Pharisee! The Old Testament has many examples of the zeal of the Jews for God, how they detested paganism and the prominent polytheism of the Greek and Roman cultures.

In the absence of knowledge you will fill in from your own heart the things you consider to be good and righteous. These however, have no power or no value in God's sight for they are worthless and vain. In the absence of knowledge you end up worshipping your own heart.

Mat_15:6-9 NIV Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 8 " 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'"

Mat_22:29 NIV Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.

Romans 10:3

Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.

2 - Ignorant of the righteousness of God

Having a desire for something is never enough. It is a good starting point that needs to be followed up by concrete plans of action. In the absence of specific knowledge to be able to fulfill your desire (ignorance), you will seek to establish your own convictions about the matter and fail to submit to true wisdom, which in this case is the righteousness of God.

3 - Sought to establish their own righteousness

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths (2Ti_4:4). This is what Israel, and anyone who ignored God's righteousness, eventually does by default. They implement their own traditions and religious devices as if by them they can gain the righteousness of God that is alone in Jesus Christ (Rom_1:16-17). Turning aside from truth will always be detrimental! The only way not to turn to myths is by not turning away from the truth!

4 - Failed to submit to God's righteousness

Rom_10:3 NIV Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.

An example of how the Jews failed to submit to God's righteousness in the Gospel by trying to establish their own is found here:

Act_15:1-5 NIV Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. 5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."

Here are some ways religious groups today make the same mistake and end up condemning themselves and those who hear them instead of saving them:

1. Those who profess salvation by faith only, aside from obedience.

2. Those who profess salvation by accepting/believing Jesus into their heart.

3. Those who claim it makes no difference what one believes.

4. Those who profess one church just as good as another.

5. Those who say yes to the man, but no to the plan.

6. Those who profess "once saved, always saved".

7. Those who profess that it takes a direct operation of the Holy Spirit to be saved.

Romans 10:4

Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

5 - They failed to believe in God's plan fulfilled through Jesus!

They failed to accept Christ, who is the end (telos: (to set out for a definite point or goal); properly the point aimed at as a limit, that is, (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state (termination [literally, figuratively or indefinitely], result [immediate, ultimate or prophetic], purpose)) of the law. As we learned in chapter 4 the law of Moses, held so dearly by the Jews, was completely fulfilled in Jesus. Moses' Law was a temporary measure until all righteousness could be fulfilled in Christ by faith:

Rom_4:13 NIV It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

Gal_3:24 NIV So the law was put in charge (was our custodian [tutor]) to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.

So Jesus is the end of the law bringing true righteousness that is by faith for everyone who believes. Of course this last clause, to everyone who believes, is a synecdoche for God's entire plan of salvation in Jesus Christ. Paul could have used any number of synecdoches he's used before like, to everyone in Christ, or to everyone who has faith, or to everyone who obeys, etc.

The preposition to (in for righteousness to everyone) expresses purpose or goal. Christ is not the end of the law in an absolute sense. He does not abolish the will of God as expressed in the law. Rather his coming signals its end with regard to the attainment of righteousness (that is, right relationship with God). He is the revelation of God’s righteousness (Rom_1:17). His life is an incarnation of God’s relation-restoring action, God’s way of setting us right (Rom_10:3). Therefore, the law as a means of approach to God, as that which determines relationship with God, as that which was perceived in Paul’s Jewish tradition to lead to life on the basis of conformity, has been abolished. (In this passage) we are confronted with the affirmation that the law no longer determines our relationship with God. -- Hard Sayings of the Bible (emph. mine)

Mat_5:17 NIV Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Act_3:22 NIV For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you."

Joh_1:17 NIV For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:5

Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them."

Paul is quoting Lev_18:5. Righteousness based on the law was defined as by how well you followed (lived, applied) the commandments, that is, how well you obeyed them.

We know of no one who was able to keep the commandments perfectly other than Jesus Christ. He obtained righteousness by His perfect faith, becoming the source of righteousness for all who have been transferred to Him by faith.

The mountain fact concerning Christ is that he indeed kept the law perfectly, his faith and obedience reaching a state of absolute perfection for every second of his total life on earth. That is what God requires to save any man. That is the righteousness which alone can save; and it is available to people "in Christ"; the great device of God's redemption plan being not that of transferring righteousness into sinners, but that of transferring sinners into Christ, where the righteousness is. -- Coffman

Romans 10:6-7

But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) "or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

RIGHTEOUSNESS BASED ON FAITH

It is important to be reminded again how true righteousness is obtained by faith. This is the perfect kind of righteousness, the one based on faith. Not because it is based on our perfect faith but because it is based on the faith of Jesus who is our righteousness! Recall the following passages we studied from the King James Version:

Rom_3:22 KJV Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:

Phi_3:9 KJV And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Gal_2:16 KJV Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Justification by faith is not from the sinner's point of view but from the faith of Jesus. Any attempt to make man's faith a basis of justification ends up being a meritorious attempt at justification, which reduces the faith to a work; akin to being justified by works of law. -- Pedro Gelabert, Commentary on Romans Chapter 3

What follows in verses 6-8 is a parallel of Jewish or worldly expectations (righteousness based on law) and Christian expectations (righteousness based on faith). Paul borrows the form of his expression from Deu_30:11-14 :

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

We could consider this a Messianic prophecy since it is talking about the Word of God, the commandments, being the central focus. Notice how Moses is reassuring the Israelites that God has not asked them to do something too difficult or beyond their reach. All they are required to do is keep that word, which is always near, in their mouth and in their heart in full obedience.

Paul changes the words slightly to accommodate for the Jew's lack of faith in Christ expressed in such words during his crucifixion:

Mat_27:40 NIV "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"

Mar_15:30 NIV ...come down from the cross and save yourself!"

Luk_23:39 NIV "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

Luk_23:37 NIV "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."

So Paul is taunting their lack of belief in these expressions by putting these words in their mouth to mirror the encouragement given by Moses to the Israelites in the desert: "All right, if Jesus is the Messiah, bring him down from heaven, or up from the grave, and let him lead our nation in throwing off the yoke of Roman bondage."

But if their righteousness was based on actual faith they would not have asked such things for they would have recognized the Messiah in Jesus Christ!

The Jews expected a physical restoration of their kingdom (Act_1:6), something God had never planted in their minds - they were the ones who originally wanted a physical kingdom, to be like the rest of the world (1Sa_8:7). So the restoration they were expecting was a physical one instead of God's true Kingdom fulfilled - a kingdom not of this world (Joh_18:36)! But they didn't recognize God's Son nor God's intent (Joh_1:11). They were expecting signs and wonders and the only one they got was the sign of Jonah (Mat_12:38-39).

Just as the people of Moses’ day did not have to go to heaven to find out what was right, neither did they have to descend into the deep to discover truth, because it had been revealed by God. The same is true with Jesus and the gospel of Christ. -- World Video Bible School Commentary

Those who are righteous by faith don't have their eyes set on the external (physical) things: miracles, wonders and signs - they have their focus set on God's Word - on obeying Him as we will see it beautifully explained in verses 9-13.

Col_3:1-3 NIV Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

So many today, like the people back then, want to try to find the truth by any other means than by looking at Jesus. They would rather believe in anything ludicrous or senseless than in the simple Gospel of Jesus. Anything that tries to distract you from the Gospel, especially using some sort of sign or wonder or false miracle is the work of the devil:

2Th_2:9-10 NIV The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

Real miracles, signs and wonders were already used to establish the Gospel (Mar_16:15-20; Act_2:22; Act_5:12; Act_14:3; 2Co_12:12; Heb_2:4). They are not used by God anymore (1Co_13:8-10), but by the devil to detract from the work of God! But beware, these "new" miracles, signs and wonders are fake! They never have been nor will be like anything the people experienced at Jesus' hands or the apostle's hands.

Many people also depend on human tradition and other things they have learned in the world that may sound wise or cunning, but really is hollow and deceptive. Faith, which comes from hearing the words of Jesus (Rom_10:17) is the only real thing.

Col_2:6-8 NIV So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Many more nowadays like to base their lives on visions and other psychic or "spiritual" phenomena. These are in complete disconnect with reality and with Jesus. Rules and regulations that usually govern this kind of "wisdom" give it up as human commands and teachings that have no spiritual power.

Col_2:18-23 NIV Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19 He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. 20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Romans 10:8

But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:

So, what does real wisdom dictate? What does righteousness based on faith says?

Here we go back to Deu_30:11-14:

1. The word is near you - You don't have to do the impossible to get the wisdom of God. It is not at the top of the mountain nor at the bottom of the ocean nor in some remote location on outer space. It is near! As near as God is (Act_17:26-28)! All you have to do is accept this word by faith. That's the only way you can make it yours - by accepting it, taking it in, taking your stand on it by obeying it (1Co_15:1-4). Then it will be in your mouth and in your heart:

2. The word is in your mouth - What can you do when the Word of God is in your mouth? Can you keep it in and not let it out? Jeremiah tried this and could not (Jer_20:9)! God's word is to be confessed (acknowledged; professed) as we will see in the next verse. Our job as vessels of honor is to deliver the Word that has been planted in us for the salvation of other souls. No other job precedes this one!

3. The word is in your heart - The heart is where we form convictions based on what we learn. The heart is not to form convictions based on what we feel - that's the sickness of the heart (Jer_17:9-10). It should harbor convictions based on what we know to be true. Remember that Paul's point here is that the Jews had zeal without knowledge. Our knowledge comes from God's Word - point being that it is God's Word that should reign and guide our heart (2Co_4:6)!

Righteousness based on faith is concerned about letting the word be planted in our mouth and in our heart! Any word or idea or doctrine? NO! The Spirit is talking about the word of faith proclaimed by Jesus, Paul and the other apostles - the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

We are to believe and accept and work the words God has planted in our mind and heart! We do that by allowing the words to transform us within (Rom_12:2) and letting the word out of our mouths for others to be able to take them in and be transformed by them! The word is to be preached (proclaimed) (kerusso: to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel): - preach, proclaim, publish.) in order to accomplish this.

Romans 10:9

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

The righteousness based on faith is based on confession and belief.

The purpose of the mouth is to confess (derived from: homo - together; same and logos - words; speech | homologeo: to assent, that is, covenant, acknowledge: - confess, profess, declare openly and freely; give thanks, promise.) God's words stored in your heart. Being that the tongue is such a dangerous tool (Jas_3:5-8), one to be used with great caution (Jas_3:1-2), the safest way to use it is to be dedicated to use it to save and build others up by proclaiming the Word of God!

It (to confess) properly means to “speak what agrees with something which others speak or maintain.” Thus, confession or profession expresses our “agreement or concord with what God holds to be true, and what he declares to be true.” It denotes a public declaration or assent to that, here expressed by the words “with thy mouth.” A profession of religion then denotes a public declaration of our agreement with what God has declared, and extends to all his declarations about our lost estate, our sin, and need of a Saviour; to his doctrines about his own nature, holiness, and law; about the Saviour and the Holy Spirit; about the necessity of a change of heart and holiness of life; and about the grave and the judgment; about heaven and hell. As the doctrine respecting a Redeemer is the main and leading doctrine, it is put here by way of eminence, as in fact involving all others; and publicly to express our assent to this, is to declare our agreement with God on all kindred truths. -- Albert Barnes

Our confession can occur like this:

Mat_10:32-33 NIV Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

Proclaiming Jesus publicly to all peoples is our main form of confession. Your confession should also be witnessed and corroborated by others who hold to the same standard when you first decide to join Jesus in baptism:

1Ti_6:12 NIV Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Paul is probably referring to when Timothy first confessed Jesus as Lord when he was baptized, but we cannot limit the scope of this verse to be a one-time profession of our faith in light of Mat_10:32-33. It is like the confession of a couple's love for each other on their wedding day - staring out as a public profession of their love, yet that confession needs to continue if the marriage is to continue.

The Spirit, through Paul, is fighting the formula-like religion the Jews were professing. They had narrowed everything down to a formula, which is why they neither confessed nor really believed on a continual basis. Not only that, but they were also confessing to man-made rules and regulations, which caused them to judge each other and further lies and deceptions amongst God's people. That is not what righteousness based on real faith is about. Think about the problem many so called churches face: their own destruction by confessing man made doctrine (Jas_3:14-16). Remember, you don't need to go to a college, seminary or any other man-made institute to have God's Word - it is near!

Our confession needs to be Jesus-centered. All we say, and for that matter, all we do needs to be Jesus-centered. Everything that comes out of our mouths needs to uphold Jesus as Lord. Everything that we do needs to say Jesus is Lord. Our confession needs to be a testimony of our lives in Christ.

Jas_3:17-18 NIV But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

The correct use of the heart God gave us is to hold onto those Words no matter what - to believe them. To believe is to be convicted by those Words from the Bible and let them guide everything we do. We don't just believe anything, but something very specific that will make our faith flourish the way God wants it to flourish: we need to be convinced that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is one of the tenets of the Gospel message (1Co_15:3-4). If you are absolutely convinced of that, nothing else will matter and you will go on living your life as though Jesus died yesterday, rose today and is coming tomorrow! Everything that you do in this life will be affected by that belief - it will change you thoroughly, which is the purpose of God planting the Gospel seed in your heart! That is what the Word of faith is for!

This type of confession and belief (faith) will save you.

Actively confessing Jesus at your baptism because you really believe God raised Him from the dead and the subsequent active confession of Jesus before men is a test to true discipleship. Paul relayed this to Timothy with slightly different words:

1Ti_4:16 NIV Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

By mentioning "hearers" it obviously means that persevering in the faith at some point requires active confession of it to others. Notice how salvation is a result in both this verse, Rom_10:9 and 1Ti_4:16.

Does this mean that the entire salvation plan is contained within these two passages? All we have to do is believe God raised Jesus from the dead and confess this Gospel to other people and we will be saved? Well, by saying "Gospel" I am already letting you know the right answer. We've already seen from Romans 6 that obedience to the Gospel involves uniting ourselves to Christ through baptism, which is how we get the word of God in us in the first place - by having us get into Jesus through baptism. Since Paul already mentioned this back in chapter 6, Paul is talking about keeping our salvation here in this verse. How you keep yourself saved is by continuing to be convicted in your heart and confessing with your mouth. You don't have to perform any difficult or improbable feat, nor go to great lengths other than continuing to keep your focus on the Gospel in your heart and coming out of your mouth. That's the simple Gospel truth!