The Four How’s of Salvation and Righteousness (Romans 10:1-18)

I. Israel's idea of righteousness and being saved was the wrong way, and it led them to reject Christ. (Rom. 9:30-33; 10:1-3)

A. Paul questioned their salvation and righteousness due to their rejecting Christ, stating, "They stumbled over the stumbling stone," as do those today not accepting of God's way (Rom. 9:32c)

B. Like Paul, we should grieve and desire strongly to see those like Israel saved; knowing their way is not beneficial regardless of our disagreeing.[1](v. 1)

C. Many, although misguided, may exhibit a strong devotion to their false ideas yet not conform to God's right way of assigning salvation and righteousness. (v. 2)

D. Like Israel, many today believe that they will be accepted by God by their merits, not realizing Christ's living a perfect life fulfilled God's Law, thereby giving mankind access to His righteousness by faith. (10:3-4; Matt. 5:17; Gal. 3:24)

II. Humanity can genuinely know and have God's way made available for righteousness and salvation. (10:5-13)

A. The only persons not in need are those who have lived a perfect life without any moral failures, ever, as God's Law, "requires obedience to all of its commands." (v. 5 [NLT])

B. Since man is not capable of the perfect life, one can only depend on God's provision, which is near and available by faith, i.e., it is not out of our reach if we believe since God accomplished His goal for the Law in Jesus Christ. (vv. 6-8; Duet. 30:13)

C. Through the faith God gives, salvation and righteousness are as close as your words and your heart, as close as confessing and believing. (vv. 9-10)

D. God's salvation and righteousness are available to any who would, by faith, believe in His predetermined way, Christ, and His righteousness. (vv. 11-13)

III. How? How? How? How? God's way is not thorough humanity's merits for anything related to the Gospel of Christ and is inescapable. (10:14-18)

A. Paul then asks the “how” questions. Three times “how” applies to the unsaved, and once to the saved. (Vv. 14-15)

1. How shall they call? The unsaved. (v.14)

2. How shall they believe? The unsaved. (v.14)

3. How shall they hear? The unsaved. (v.14)

4. How shall they preach? The saved. (v. 15)

B. The questions are answered in verse 17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (v. 17 [NKJV]), which means that from preaching the word of God, to calling, believing, and hearing the word of God, the word of God and faith are inescapable in obtaining righteousness and salvation.

Conclusion

Paul addresses our complete salvation through Christ, the Law's goal, and not through our effort (v. 1-3), and that Jesus was the Law’s goal (He fulfilled the Law) so that He might pass His righteousness to believers (v. 4). Paul then draws the parallel between the Law and Christ, quoting Duet. 30:11-13, in verses 6-8 of Romans, “This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach,” speaking to the availability of salvation to all who believe despite Christ's resurrection and ascension to heaven. Therefore, despite Christ going up to heaven, salvation like the Law, for Old Testament saints, is not out of our reach because, “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is the word of faith which we preach): made clear in verse eight that His word is near to save those who believe. Furthermore, this is how.

[1]“the Apostle pauses for a moment, impelled by his own strong feelings and the deep tragedy of his countryman’s rejection, to express his sorrow and affection.” W. Sanday, & A. C. Headlam, A critical and exegetical commentary on the Epistle of the Romans 3d ed. (New York: C. Scribner’s Sons, 1897) 282.