Chap 10_Romans

OOOOOOOOO -Romans 10:1–13 (NIV84) Brothers, 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 that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

5 Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that is by 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 deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

Paul continues to plead and convince his Jewish people of his love for them. He strives for them to be saved. He says they are driven and committed [zeal] but their desperate yearning is towards the wrong key.

Paul can testify about their zeal, they had been chasing him for years. The smallest possible definition of keeping the Sabbath laws were laid out. Work was defined as “ could not lift anything on the Sabbath that weighed more than 2 dried figs, nothing could be cooked, if a person was sick - he could be given prevented him from getting sicker, but medicine that would not heal on the Sabbath. Remember the Jews going after Jesus because He healed on the Sabbath.

In the 4th Book of the Maccabees - Antiochus Epiphanies [ 170 bc] in trying to stomp out the rebellion told Eleazer the priest to eat pork. The Jew refused and said even if you plucked his eyes out he would not eat pork. Nothing can force us to disobey the law. He was ordered to be beaten- flesh torn off by whips, blood streamed down - his flanks torn open by wounds, they kicked him. The soldiers felt so bad for him they brought him meat and told him to eat it and say that it was pork. he refused and was finally killed. All about a little morsel of pork barbecue, he gave his life. That is zeal!!

Paul said that they are clueless about the right way to reach salvation. They impose their belief that their own salvation based on the study and adherence to the law. The requirements of the law could never be reached. Keeping the law was not only difficult, it was impossible. As James said James 2:10 (NIV84) 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

Yet they kept to their own righteous works of the law rather than the righteousness imposed by God.

This condition of the Jew reflects on the pervasiveness and strength of sin. Sin can be described as focus and glorification of “self” instead of God. Paul as well as other apostles and Jesus, himself were continually referencing the scripture that the Jews had. The same scripture that the Jews honored, gave of their wealth. These scriptures of old pointed to what was now being fulfilled and yet the Jew who gave up so much to the law is ignorant of the realization of the scriptures.

So they submitted to superficial legal practises to gain credit for themselves and denied the credit [ justification] received by submitting to Christ.

..... 4 Christ is the end [“telos”] of the law - means the goal is completed, fulfilled. “The end as it was intended”. There is nothing more, nor less - All is done!

Moses said the law for righteousness is for those that believes and does them- but who can do them.....But the righteousness that is by 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 deep?’” Some commentators say that Moses is referring to the Law God has given the people as his side of the covenant. Moses is assuring the Israelites that the Law is ‘not difficult … nor beyond reach … up in heaven … nor … beyond the sea.’ Some commentators say that this refers to Moses going up the mountain to bring back the word of God nor receiving the direction of the dead or others say this refers to crossing over the Red Sea.

But all of these options say that the treasure is not gained by searching elsewhere. Rather, he says, ‘the word is near you … in your mouth and heart’ ..Deuteronomy 30:11–14 (NIV84) 11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 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.

OOOOOOOOO 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess 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 confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts 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.”

....... 9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Paul is referencing truth both from a negative approach >Matthew 15:17–18 (NIV84) 18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ and the positive approach > Job 33:3 (NIV84) 3 My words come from an upright heart; my lips sincerely speak what I know.

What you believe in your heart will overflow into your speech. And confessing is confirming, proclaiming what is in your heart.

Lord = kyrios- in OT Greek referred to as translating Jehovah, in common language it was the king. So the Lord Jesus refers refers to God and king. Jesus is God.

.....the resurrection was unique, it was bringing back God not just reviving someone assumed to be dead. Jesus is worshipped not as a martyr, but the living victor. He conquered death and sin.

.... 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile.....… 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” The Gentiles who had little reference to the confirming scripture that the Jew had. And yet the Gentiles were coming to the faith and the Jews with all that they had been taught, were resisting the promises and prophesies that they cherished. Instead of honoring and accepting the principle, purpose of the law and who the law pointed to , they worshipped the laws itself.

OOOOOOOOO Romans 10:14–18 (NIV84) 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 they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of 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.”

A common discussion among the Jews was how doe Gentiles know. Paul poses the dilemma with rhetorical questions.

Remember that there was trade and there discussions about events, but news was derived from travelers, treaders. Other people didn’t leave villages - they might go to Passover in Jerusalem, but the common person stayed relatively close to his birth home. … they are sent But this refers to intentionally and for the purpose of this message they go out. “Sent” is the verb form of apostle. Appointed and probably supported for the purpose of delivering the message. The Pony Express of the day. Nothing will stop the message.

Paul refers to Isaiah For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?

18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: Paul’s frustation is not just upset- these are his people continuing in blind hardness - away from their purpose as a people- rejecting the very thing they proclaimed over the centuries.

But the excuses are taking away. >Psalm 19:1–4 (NIV84) 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world....

OOOOOOOOO Romans 10:19 (NIV84) 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.”

Even Moses had trouble getting thru the hardened hearts of the Israelis. So God will make Israel jealous by making himself known and accepted by non-Israelites

OOOOOOOOO Romans 10:20 (NIV84) 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.”

OOOOOOOOO Romans 10:21 (NIV84) 21 But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”