As we move forward in Romans, we have to ask ourselves why would Paul stake everything on the belief of Jesus as our salvation? And ultimately the answer is because God was pointing to Jesus all along through His Word. And we all have to respond to this evidence. Will we grab onto what God has presented us or will we reject it?
So let’s get started into Romans 10. And as we move forward, we have to reiterate what Paul reiterates over and over. It is not religion, it’s not works, it isn’t some activity performed, it isn’t routine, it is only through a relationship with Jesus that salvation is given.
Romans 9:31
Paul is speaking directly to those who would say that they are a “good person”. Paul points out that the motions are only repetition and vain, and that God doesn’t have their hearts. If you are just going through the motions, it is empty because it doesn’t come from a relationship with the Father. So Israel misses the place where they can say, “I have arrived.” The law does not provide that. 400 years before the law was given, Abraham was said to be a righteous person, not because he followed a law but because he had a relationship with God.
Romans 9:32
Either you believe that Jesus is the basis of your belief, and is the center of your faith, OR you are stumbling over him and are not standing on solid ground. So when Jesus is offered as the foundation, he won’t trip us and he won’t disappoint us. Why did the Israelites miss Jesus, and the answer is that they missed him because of their focus on the law. Jesus became a stumbling block and ultimately lead to their ultimate conclusion by leading Jesus to crucifixion.
Romans 10:1-2
Here is where people might say that Paul is being judgemental. He prays for the salvation of Israel. A people that he acknowledges have a zeal for God, but because they missed Jesus they are fallen. But this is not judgemental of the people of Israel. Paul has outlined what salvation looks like leading to this point, and it is obvious that Israel is missing the mark.
Romans 10:3-4
Paul shows that Israel failed to submit to God and what God was pointing towards in the Messiah. ******** We are surrounded by a culture, a world, that will try hard to present a different salvation aside from Jesus. Even some Christian groups will try to dictate to Jesus the terms of salvation. Trying to have their cake and eat it too. So when we look at the offerings of religion, we have to be clear of what brings salvation. Jesus needs to be our commanding officer. Our faith in him will be our firm foundation. But we have to be clear, if we don’t put Jesus as the center, we will forever put Jesus as a stumbling rock in our lives.
10:1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 or “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for
“Their voice has gone out to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.”
19 But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,
“I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation;
with a foolish nation I will make you angry.”
20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,
“I have been found by those who did not seek me;
I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”
21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” (ESV)
31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. (ESV)
32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, (ESV)
10:1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. (ESV)
3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (ESV)
