10:1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.
Paul once again discloses his heart’s desire, something that he earnestly prays for, that his fellow Jews would be saved (see also Romans 9:1-3). This is something that we can mirror from Paul, we too need to desire those that are lost to be saved. Remember, God uses people, we may not understand why, but He does, we all have some form of “work of ministry,” to do (see Ephesians 4:11-16, see also Ephesians 2:10).
10:2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
Paul recognizes that the Jews may have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. Zeal, yes, but not for what is true, they lack knowledge of God and His plan of salvation, they do not know Jesus. Paul points out that they are indeed ignorant of the righteousness of God. Instead of seeking Jesus, they seek to establish their own righteousness.
10:3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
There are two very large obstacles to salvation, the first is ignorance and the second is self-righteousness. Ignorance definitely comes from a lack of knowledge, but it can also come from one thinking they already know the truth and therefore never consider seeking any further (this can happen to those raised in a church as they may learn some things in Sunday School but may not be fully aware of the whole counsel of God or perhaps even know the truth about Jesus). For a person afflicted with self-righteousness, they think they are okay, “just the way they are,” or that what they are doing in life is pleasing to God and therefore have little or no use for Jesus. The Jews that Paul is talking about were convinced that they had already satisfied God by either their bloodline (being an Israelite) or their works righteousness (including circumcision, observing rituals, etc.), or perhaps a combination of both. How could did they possibly believe that? Isn’t the Bible clear regarding salvation? Who convinced them of that? Apparently, they were influenced by their parents and the teachings of various rabbis. The process of upbringing is extremely influential in the development of a worldview. That is why we need to regularly read and understand the Bible for ourselves. Incorrect interpretation may have been passed down through generations of well-intended teachers, but it is our responsibility to check and accept the truth for ourselves (remember Acts 17:11). Paul says the Jews did not submit to God’s righteousness. Their worldview rejected the truth about Jesus. Which further points out that if one is ignorant of something, one cannot submit to something you are not aware of (see Romans 10:14-21).
10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Paul makes it clear that Jesus is the end of the law for those who believe in Him (see Matthew 5:17-20), since the law can no longer condemn or affect a Christian (remember Romans 8:1-8, see also Galatians 3:23-29). But that only applies to those who have accepted and have faith in Jesus. We receive God’s righteousness through Jesus when we believe in Him. Salivation is a free gift, but it must be accepted and received by the person first. Just like a gift on a birthday or Christmas, if you don’t accept the gift, the gift remains unclaimed and therefore is not yours, which means that in this scenario, the law continues to be applicable, requiring condemnation.
The Message of Salvation is Available to All
10:5 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).
Paul contrasts the concept of righteousness obtained from the law to that of righteousness obtained through faith (note the word ‘concept’, since righteousness is unattainable by human beings through the law, we can only reference it as a concept). He begins with a quote from Moses, which is believed to have come from Leviticus 18:5, essentially saying that if someone is pursuing righteousness based on the law, that they are living by the commandments of the law, in other words they are pursuing a form of “works righteousness,” (see also Nehemiah 9:29; Ezekiel 20:11-13, 21; Matthew 19:17; Galatians 3:12). Then he compares that to the righteousness based on faith, by once again quoting Moses, except this time he quotes from Deuteronomy 30:12-13, and then adds commentary between the passages. Paul says that the person who pursues righteousness through faith does not need to do anything, no need to go up into heaven and bring Christ down to earth nor go down to the deep and bring Christ up from the dead. By using these extreme examples, Paul is referring to humanity’s inability to do anything for their own salvation. We certainly cannot go up to heaven, nor can we go down to Hades or the Abyss. Righteousness through faith requires no action, as God has covered everything for us. The contrast is clear, righteousness through the law requires work, while righteousness through faith does not.
10:8 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.”
Continuing from the passage from Deuteronomy, Paul explains that God’s Word is always near to us, as it is in our mouths and hearts. What word? The word of faith that we proclaim to be true. Because, if we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God actually raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved (see Matthew 10:32-33; Luke 12:8; Philippians 2:9-11). We need to understand that Paul is not giving us some formulaic process to be saved. We are not to break this down into procedural steps (for example step one: speak these words; step two: believe this is true; step three: you’re saved). When someone knows and accepts something as being fact, they will speak and think as though they are indeed true. Since we know that Jesus lived a sinless life, suffered, died on a cross and rose to life again, we live and interact with others knowing we are saved and will not end up in hell. Paul explains that with the heart we believe and therefore we are justified (made righteous) and with our mouths we confess Jesus is Lord, we are saved. He once again quotes Isaiah 28:16 (see Romans 9:33), reminding us that everyone who believes in Him, will not be put to shame (condemned). Since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, Jesus is Lord over all. We are all equal before God, no one has a higher calling or any special privileges. He bestows His riches on all who call on Him. Paul concludes this point by saying that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord, which we know is Jesus, will be saved (quoting from Joel 2:32, see also Acts 2:21).
To call upon God requires us to first acknowledge that there is a God, that He is the only one who sets the rules, that we fall short of those rules (in a big way) and that we cannot save ourselves (no works-righteousness and certainly no self-righteousness) and since we cannot change the situation or do anything about our condemnation, we call on His name.
10:14 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!”
Paul once again exposes how God works, He employs people, He engaged the Israelites in the Old Testament and He incorporated believers from Jesus’ resurrection on through today. He involves people in His kingdom, people are integral to “God’s Operating System” How does it work today? Paul says that it is impossible to call on God if you don’t know Him and that is where we, followers of Jesus, come into the story. Paul creates a simple “flow chart” for us to follow, beginning with the question, “How will they (can be any unbeliever) call on Jesus, whom they don’t believe in?” How are they to believe in someone they have never heard about? How are they going to learn about Jesus if no one is teaching, preaching or proclaiming the gospel message? Paul is talking to each one of us, he is not talking to those that are professional preachers. Every believer can, and every believer should proclaim the gospel. Looking at the bottom of the “flow chart,” Paul asks how it is possible for one to preach if they are not sent (Greek word ‘apostellō’, same root word is used in the word ‘apostle’, referring to someone sent with a message from one with authority). Do you remember what instruction Jesus gave every believer to do? Remember He did commission us to go (see Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15), we have indeed been sent (not sit!). Paul is talking to all Christians, reminding us that we have been sent, so that the gospel message can be heard by those around us. He now quotes from Isaiah 52:7, noting how God is pleased by those who carry the message of salvation to others. “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:15b) How beautiful are your feet?
10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”
But the truth is that not everyone will accept the good news (the Greek word that is translated here as ‘obeyed’ is ‘hypakouō’, referring to the process of listening and then responding). Paul quotes Isaiah 53:1, asking who has believed what they were taught? When Isaiah wrote this section of Scripture, he was pointing to the then-future Messiah who would be pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities (crucified for our sins, see the verses that follow, especially Isaiah 53:5). This is the same verse that the Apostle John used to show the unbelief of those who witnessed first-hand what Jesus was doing and yet still disbelieved. “When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (John 12:36-38)
10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 10:17 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.”
Paul summarizes by writing, “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” (Romans 10:17, NLT) Reminding us that the source of faith is the gospel message, found only in the Bible (see also Galatians 3:1-9). But physical hearing is not enough, the message must be heard and understood, prompting Paul to ask two more questions. The first question he asks is, did they hear? Did the Israelites that Isaiah was writing to hear? Paul answers the question with a quotation from Psalm 19:4 (see also 1 Thessalonians 1:8), saying indeed they have, “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” (Romans 10:18b, see also Matthew 24:14; Mark 16:15) Paul’s second question asks, did they understand? To answer that, Paul returns to Moses, now quoting from Deuteronomy 32:21, that due to their unwillingness to listen, God will make them jealous of those who are not a nation, referring to the Gentiles, someone who did not know God like they do (Paul will return to the subject of Israel becoming jealous in the next chapter, see Romans 11:11-16).
10:20 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.”
Understanding how the following passages that Paul chose from the Old Testament could be controversial and possibly upsetting to many Jews, he precedes them by saying Isaiah was very bold to point out that the Messiah was found by those who did not seek Him and that He showed Himself to those who never asked for Him (quoting from Isaiah 65:1). In other words, long before Jesus’ ministry, Isaiah wrote that many of the Israelites would reject and deny the Christ. But Paul continued the quotation from Isaiah to include the fact that God, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” (Romans 10:21b, quoting Isaiah 65:2). Even though He was rejected by those that refused to believe and were contrary, He is still waiting with His arms out. This should remind us of what Jesus said when He lamented over Jerusalem, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matthew 23:37-39, see also Luke 13:34-35). God is waiting, He has not rejected the Israelites, note the word ‘until’, He is waiting for them to recognize who He is and for them to call on Him, just as Paul has identified here in this chapter.