Romans 10

Key Verse: Romans 10:12 (KJV): There is NO DIFFERENCE between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.

The main point of this lesson is how the Jewish nation failed to grasp God’s expectations of them to fulfill God's purpose for them.  Paul cites many Old Testament verses in support of this concept.

Chapter 10 is one of the most offensive chapters in the New Testament to a religious Jew.  It essentially says they are wrong about salvation.

Romans 9:27-32:  Concerning Israel, Isaiah the prophet cried out, "Though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand on the seashore, only a small number will be saved. For the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth quickly and with finality." And Isaiah said in another place, "If the Lord Almighty had not spared a few of us, we would have been wiped out as completely as Sodom and Gomorrah." Well then, what shall we say about these things? Just this: The Gentiles have been made right with God by faith, even though they were not seeking him. But the Jews, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law and being good instead of by depending on faith. They stumbled over the great rock in their path.

(1) Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is that the Jewish people might be saved.

• Romans 9:2-3: My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed -- cut off from Christ! -- if that would save them.
• Romans 11:26: And so all Israel will be saved. Do you remember what the prophets said about this? "A Deliverer will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israel from all ungodliness.
• Paul never stopped praying for the Jewish people The lesson for us? Never stop praying for someone’s salvation.
• Paul does not rejoice that they have stumbled at that stumbling stone, even though they hounded him from city to city to thwart his preaching.

(2) I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal.

• The Greek reads literally: “They have zeal for God but not according to knowledge.”
• Eugene H. Petersen in The Message paraphrases it: “I readily admit that the Jews are impressively energetic regarding God–but they are doing it exactly backwards.”
• Zeal for God, but not according to knowledge, is a perfect description of Paul himself before his conversion. Saul of Tarsus was a notorious persecutor of Christians before Jesus confronted him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-20).
• Paul and Israel both had zeal for God, but it was zeal that lacked knowledge, knowledge that Jesus is the Messiah.

(3) For they don't understand God's way of making people right with himself. Instead, they are clinging to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. They won't go along with God's way.

• Does this sound like many "religious" people today? - including many religious leaders and preachers.
• He says there are two kinds of righteousness, the righteousness of GOD and the righteousness of man, which are mutually exclusive. Paul declares that the righteousness of man is in direct opposition to the righteousness of GOD, which is the major lesson of the chapter.
• What had they done? They had externalized the law and had kept it to the letter but rejected it in spirit. They had the "form of godliness, but [denied] the power thereof," the form without the substance; and "the LORD looketh on the heart!"
• Human ordinances and traditions replaced God’s commandments in the Jewish system and still do to this day.
• Matthew 22:29: Jesus replied, "Your problem is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God.
  • What a statement and slam to those who so assiduously studied the scriptures - and all their interpretations (the Midrash today).
• Matthew 15:6, 9: And so, by your own tradition, you nullify the direct commandment of God. ... Their worship is a farce, for they replace God's commands with their own man-made teachings.'"
• This is not just true of the Jews then and today, it is also true of many in churches today - hoping the church attendance (especially on Easter), good works, "being good" or better than the next guy, performing religious rites, etc. when faith in Christ is what is required.
• According to a survey conducted in 1997 by Barna Research "Angels are in; Devil & Holy Spirit are out," 53% of Americans agreed that “Good works can earn a place in heaven.”
• There is a prevailing view that all religions are essentially the same. They are simply different roads leading up the same mountain. One road goes east, the other west, but they all end up at the same place. According to a 2005 Newsweek/Beliefnet poll, “eight in 10 Americans–including 68 percent of evangelicals—believe that more than one faith can be a path to salvation.” George Barna reported that 64% of Americans agreed with the following statement: “Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and others all pray to the same God, even though they use different names for God.” Barna reported that 62% of those surveyed agreed that “it does not matter what religious faith you follow because all religious faiths teach the same lessons about life.”

(4) For Christ has accomplished the whole purpose of the law. ALL who believe in him are made right with God.

• Galatians 3:24-25: Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian and teacher to lead us until Christ came. So now, through faith in Christ, we are made right with God. But now that faith in Christ has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.
• Matthew 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.
• The choice between law and Christ. It was one or the other, with no mixture of the two. The righteousness which the law demanded is perfectly seen in Christ, but in none other. The law demanded righteousness: Christ brought righteousness.
• God gave the Mosaic Law for two purposes primarily.
  1. One purpose was to reveal the character and standards of a holy God. Consequently people would recognize their inability to be good enough to earn acceptance by God and so look to God for salvation (7:13, Galatians 3:24).
  2. The second purpose was to regulate the moral, religious and civil life of the children of Israel.

(5) For Moses wrote that the law's way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands.

• Leviticus 18:5: If you obey my laws and regulations, you will find life through them. I am the LORD.
• Mark 10:17-27: As he was starting out on a trip, a man came running up to Jesus, knelt down, and asked, "Good Teacher, what should I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked. "Only God is truly good. But as for your question, you know the commandments: 'Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not testify falsely. Do not cheat. Honor your father and mother.' " "Teacher," the man replied, "I've obeyed all these commandments since I was a child." Jesus felt genuine love for this man as he looked at him. "You lack only one thing," he told him. "Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." At this, the man's face fell, and he went sadly away because he had many possessions. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for rich people to get into the Kingdom of God!" This amazed them. But Jesus said again, "Dear children, it is very hard to get into the Kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!" The disciples were astounded. "Then who in the world can be saved?" they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God."
• In verses 5-10, Paul seeks to contrast “works righteousness” with “faith righteousness.” In attempting to prove his point, Paul draws our attention to two Old Testament illustrations. The first illustration comes from a statement found initially in Leviticus 18:5 and repeated frequently thereafter. The essence of this statement is, “Do this and live.” The converse of this statement might be stated, “Do this or die."
• The Law of Moses makes the path to righteousness through the law plain. If you want to live by the law (find life through the law), you must do the law - and do it COMPLETELY and PERFECTLY.

(6) But the way of getting right with God through faith says, "You don't need to go to heaven" (to find Christ and bring him down to help you).

• Deuteronomy 30:12-14: It is not up in heaven, so distant that you must ask, 'Who will go to heaven and bring it down so we can hear and obey it?' It is not beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, 'Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear and obey it?' The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.

(7) And it says, "You don't need to go to the *place of the dead" (to bring Christ back to life again).

• *place of the dead: "abussos" - bottomless pit, hades.

(8) Salvation that comes from trusting Christ -- which is the message we preach -- is already within easy reach. In fact, the Scriptures say, "The message is close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart."

• Deuteronomy 30:11-14: "This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand or perform. It is not up in heaven, so distant that you must ask, 'Who will go to heaven and bring it down so we can hear and obey it?' It is not beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, 'Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear and obey it?' The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.

(9) For 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.

• *Lord: "kurios" - used in the Greek Old Testament of God and also used of the emperor. Kurios in the Septuagint is used of God.
• Confession has the idea of agreeing with. When we confess . . . the Lord Jesus, we agree with what God said about Jesus, and with what Jesus said about Himself. It means we recognize that Jesus is God, that He is the Messiah, and that His work on the cross is the only way of salvation for mankind.
• For Paul, the confession that Jesus is Lord meant the acknowledgment that Jesus shares the name and the nature, the holiness, the authority, power, majesty and eternity of the one and only true God. He means that Jesus is the Yahweh God of the Old Testament.
• Spurgeon: "We believe everything which the Lord Jesus has taught, but we must go a step further, and trust him. It is not even enough to believe in him, as being the Son of God, and the anointed of the Lord; but we must believe on him . . . The faith that saves is not believing certain truths, nor even believing that Jesus is a Savior; but it is resting on him, depending on him, lying with all your weight on Christ as the foundation of your hope. Believe that he can save you; believe that he will save you; at any rate leave the whole matter of your salvation with him in unquestioning confidence. Depend upon him without fear as to your present and eternal salvation. This is the faith which saves the soul."
• In the Roman world, citizens were expected to acknowledge that Caesar was Lord (divine). So the original recipients of this epistle, especially, had to face the issue of who really is divine, Jesus or Caesar. Isn't it interesting that rulers in ancient cultures wanted their citizens to consider them divine? Egypt, Babylon, Rome. Even dictators today are treated like gods, such as in North Korea.

(10) FOR it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

(11) As the Scriptures tell us, "ANYONE who believes in him will not be disappointed."

• Isaiah 28:16: Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem. It is firm, a tested and precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never run away again.

(12) JEW AND GENTILE ARE THE SAME in this respect. They all have the same Lord, who generously gives his riches to all who ask for them.

• Galatians 3:28: There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians -- you are one in Christ Jesus.

(13) For "ANYONE who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

• Joel 2:32: And anyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. There will be people on Mount Zion in Jerusalem who escape, just as the LORD has said. These will be among the survivors whom the LORD has called.
• Acts 2:21: And anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

(14) But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?

(15) And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

• Isaiah 52:7: How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!

(16) But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, "Lord, who has believed our message?"

• Isaiah 53:1: Who has believed our message? To whom will the LORD reveal his saving power?
• John 12:42-43: Many people, including some of the Jewish leaders, believed in him. But they wouldn't admit it to anyone because of their fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.
• If salvation is so simple, available to all who trust in the person and work of Jesus, then why does Israel seem to be cast off from God? Because many among them had not believed his report - because they have not trusted in God’s Word through Isaiah and other messengers of the gospel, they are not saved.

(17) Yet faith comes from listening to this message of good news -- the Good News about Christ.

• Hebrews 11:1: What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.

(18) But what about the Jews? Have they actually heard the message? Yes, they have: "The message of God's creation has gone out to everyone, and its words to all the world."

• Psalm 19:4: yet their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world. The sun lives in the heavens where God placed it.

(19) But did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God had said, "I will rouse your jealousy by blessing other nations. I will make you angry by blessing the foolish Gentiles."

• Deuteronomy 32:21: They have roused my jealousy by worshiping non-gods; they have provoked my fury with useless idols. Now I will rouse their jealousy by blessing other nations; I will provoke their fury by blessing the foolish Gentiles.

(20) And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God: "I was found by people who were not looking for me. I showed myself to those who were not asking for me."

• Isaiah 65:1: The LORD says, "People who never before inquired about me are now asking about me. I am being found by people who were not looking for me. To them I have said, 'I am here!'

(21) But regarding Israel, God said, "All day long I opened my arms to them, but they kept disobeying me and arguing with me."

• Isaiah 65:2: "I opened my arms to my own people all day long, but they have rebelled. They follow their own evil paths and thoughts.

Chapter 10 deals with Israel's present rejection of Jesus Christ that has resulted in God's temporary rejection of her. Both rejections will change in the future, as the next chapter explains where Paul talks about Israel's future salvation.

Romans 11:1-5:  I ask, then, has God rejected his people, the Jews? Of course not! Remember that I myself am a Jew, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin. No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you remember what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, "Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I alone am left, and now they are trying to kill me, too." And do you remember God's reply? He said, "You are not the only one left. I have seven thousand others who have never bowed down to Baal!" It is the same today, for not all the Jews have turned away from God. A few are being saved as a result of God's kindness in choosing them.

NOTES:

• Unless otherwise noted, the scripture version used is the New Living Translation, copyright 1996, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois.
• Disclaimer: Source material for this study has been gleaned from many different sources. I have attempted to acknowledge these sources at romansoverview.blogspot.com/2012/12/romans-references.html
• Index to all our studies are at http://oakview-bible-fellowship.blogspot.com/