Romans 10

The New International Version Chapter 10

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

Contrast between 2 types of righteousness here: one by faith and the other by the law (starts in 9:30)

Christ is the stumbling stone to those trying to pursue their own righteousness.

Christ’s righteousness is the one that saves

Racing imagery in ch 9. Gentiles weren't in the race yet they have finished it in right standing with God. Israel is in the race and running hard but have not completed it.

They are pumped up. They are passionate. But they aren’t informed. Sounds like today. Doesn’t take much to whip us into a frenzy of passion even if we don’t have all the info. They are running a race but they don’t know where the finish line is. They have already been DQ’ed.

Seeking their own righteousness they have not run after the righteousness of God that comes from God.

v4 Christ has been the end goal of the law. And the race is over. He has done it but they are still running like a hamster in a ball.

Why do you think we have such a hard time asking for help?

Its easy to think about why others have a hard time asking for help but why do you have a hard time looking to Jesus for help?

ill: Im thinking about a swimming test at the Wrightwood Country Club and not wanting a life vest because its not cool and you want to prove that you can swim on your own. Now take that situation but the bible would describe it less as a quaint country club and more like a Titanic sinking in freezing water. And the Jews and often you and I are saying nope! I can swim it on my own!

They thought the rules of the race was the race. Don’t start early, don’t cross out of your lane, don’t bump other runners. But they missed that JESUS was the race. They have not just missed him but stumbled over him.

The New International Version Chapter 10

5 Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” a 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” c (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’ ” d (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” f that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”  12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” p

Key difference between these 2 forms of righteousness is doing (the law) and believing (the gospel)

For everyone who believes. The righteousness of God by faith is universalistic.

By honing in on the Law so narrowly the Jews have put themselves in a position that they can only find life and salvation by doing the law. A task Paul has already clarified is impossible.

The Deuteronomy reference was talking about the word of the Law. No need to go off and find it in hard places. Its so close. John says that Jesus is the word. Paul has said that Jesus is the goal or the end or the perfection or the fulfillment of the law. So Paul replaces the word of the law with the word of the gospel. Righteousness by faith does not need to be earned, won, raced for, or strived for. It is SO near. The means of righteousness are readily available to us.

If a friend were to ask you what they need to do to be saved what would you tell them?

In Romans 10:8-9 Paul tells us that the righteousness of Christ is near to us. All we have to do is declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that he is raised from the dead. That’s kind of a low bar. Why do you think Paul highlights these two things out of anything else?

If we read that whoever believes in Jesus will never be put to shame why do many of us still experience shame today?

Deuteronomy reference:

The New International Version Chapter 30

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.

v9-13:

Since God has already done it all that is required is that people believe in what he has done. The gospel is near for everyone, not just the Jews. The law was only for the Jews.

Then Paul keeps with the mouth and heart motif from Deuteronomy. It is not kept in just the hearts of believers but also in the mouths. This describes the totality with which the law was supposed to be embraced. Something that penetrated hearts of Israel and was confessed on their mouths. Faith in Christ should be the same confidence in our heart that leads to an outward action like speaking. There are no undercover Christians.

Declare and believe that Jesus is Lord. I structure my life around HIM. Not a satisfactory conversation on vs 10 in NBC

The New International Version Chapter 10

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

This is how the message moves! so it sets up in vs 16 that since these things have been fulfilled the responsibility is not on God. Not on believers. But it is on the failure of those who have heard to respond in faith.

The New Bible Commentary 9:30–10:21 Israel’s Present: Disobedience

Paul uses a series of questions to set forth the series of conditions that must be met if people are ‘to call on the name of the Lord’ (13): messengers must be sent, the message must be preached, people must hear the message and hearing must be met by faith.

Read Romans 10:14-15. What do we have to do in response to this? What is the impact of this passage on our local church and on your understanding of the importance of missions?

The New International Version Chapter 10

16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” s 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. 18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:

“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.” v

19 Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,

“I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;

I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.” x

20 And Isaiah boldly says,

“I was found by those who did not seek me;

I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.” y

21 But concerning Israel he says,

“All day long I have held out my hands

to a disobedient and obstinate people.” z

vs 16. The good news has been brought to Israel so God and his word have not failed. But Israel has failed to receive this news.

The Jews stumbling block was not just christ but the inclusion of the gentiles in the church. Jews are still invited but have still failed to respond. For their desire to obtain righteousness by themselves and exclusively to their ethnicity.

To accept the gospel is to accept help and your need for it. And it is also to accept belonging to a people that you don’t get to choose.

The gospel was a stumbling block to the Jews because they didn’t want to ask for help and they didn’t like who got invited. What about the gospel is a stumbling block for you?