The Righteousness of God: Salvation for All Who Believe
Paul's heart's desire and prayer for Israel is that they may be saved. Despite their zeal for God, they lack knowledge. They sought to establish their own righteousness instead of submitting to God's.
But the gospel is simple, accessible, universal. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Zeal without knowledge
"Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge."
Paul longs for Israel's salvation. Prayer flows from love.
Israel's problem is not lack of zeal but misdirected zeal. Zeal without knowledge leads astray. Sincerity does not guarantee truth. Right intentions with wrong theology lead to destruction.
Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.
Seeking to establish your own righteousness is the essence of legalism.
Christ is the culmination of the law
"Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes."
Culmination means goal, end, fulfillment. Christ is where the law was pointing. The law's purpose was to lead to Christ.
Righteousness is now available to everyone who believes, not just those who keep the law.
Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law: The person who does these things will live by them. Law righteousness requires perfect obedience.
But no one does perfectly, so no one lives by law-keeping.
Christ fulfills the law, and righteousness comes by faith in Him.
The word is near you
"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) 'or "Who will descend into the deep?"' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)."
Faith righteousness is different. It does not require impossible feats.
Ascending to heaven to bring Christ down is unnecessary; Christ has already come. Descending to the dead to raise Christ is also unnecessary; Christ has already risen.
The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim.
The gospel is accessible, not distant.
Confess and believe
"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."
Two elements: confession and belief.
Confession: Jesus is Lord, affirming His deity and authority. Belief: God raised Jesus. The resurrection is central.
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.
Heart belief leads to justification. Mouth confession leads to salvation. Belief and confession are inseparable. True faith confesses Christ publicly.
Salvation comes through confession and belief.
No difference between Jew and Gentile
"For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him."
No distinction in salvation. Jew and Gentile come to God the same way. The same Lord (Jesus) is Lord of all.
He richly blesses all who call on Him. Salvation is universally available through Christ.
For, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Calling on the name of the Lord is the means of salvation.
Everyone means no exceptions. This is the simplicity of the gospel: call on Jesus and be saved.
The gospel is for everyone who believes.
How can they call?
"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?"
A logical chain. Calling requires belief. Belief requires hearing. Hearing requires preaching.
The gospel must be proclaimed for people to be saved.
And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!
Sent messengers are God's appointed means. Bringing good news is a glorious task.
The gospel must be preached for people to believe.
Faith comes from hearing
"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ."
The origin of faith: hearing the message. The content: the word about Christ.
Faith is created by the proclaimed gospel. Hearing God's word produces faith.
But not all who hear believe. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message?
The tragedy: not all who hear accept. Belief is not automatic. Unbelief persists despite the message.
Faith comes from hearing the word about Christ.
Israel did hear
"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.'"
Israel's problem was not lack of opportunity. They heard. The message reached them.
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.
Israel did understand. Moses prophesied that Gentiles would provoke Israel to jealousy. This has happened. Gentile salvation should move Israel to seek Christ.
Israel heard and understood but rejected the message.
Hands held out
"But concerning Israel he says, 'All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.'"
God's posture toward Israel: hands held out in invitation. Yet Israel is disobedient and obstinate.
God's patience is met with rebellion. This is the tragedy: divine grace rejected by human stubbornness.
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.
The irony: Gentiles who did not seek God found Him. God revealed Himself to those who were not asking. Grace reaches the unexpected.
God's grace is rejected by the obstinate but received by the unlikely.
Final exhortation
Romans 10 simplifies the gospel: confess Jesus as Lord, believe God raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved.
There is no difference between Jew and Gentile. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
But faith comes from hearing the message. The gospel must be proclaimed. Preachers must be sent. Beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.
Do not seek to establish your own righteousness. Do not pursue the law as the way of salvation. Instead, submit to God's righteousness by faith in Christ.
The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. Call on the name of the Lord. Everyone who does will be saved.
Closing prayer
Father, thank You that salvation is available to all who call on the name of the Lord. Forgive us for seeking to establish our own righteousness. Help us to submit to Your righteousness by faith in Christ. Send us to proclaim the good news, that others may hear and believe. In Jesus' name, amen.