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Romans 10.10
October 3rd 2021
Well, we have reached a fantastic chapter, which in my opinion is far easier to explain and teach than the previous – chapter 10 in the book of Romans.
In fact, it was this chapter that helped me personally see some of the most significant differences between my striving to be an active, faithful Latter-day Saint and a saved by grace through faith Christian.
Yes, the chapter continues to address the House of Israel, but it directly and clearly lays out the way to their being saved.
So, Paul has been talking all about the fact that while God (at one time) had called (elected) the House of Israel, He had now called the Gentile Nations to receive the Good News (because the House of Israel rejected it by believing that they could be accepted by God by what Paul calls the righteousness of the Law.)
So now, it’s almost like Paul inserts a fairly plain, easy to understand explanation of:
What he would like to see happen to Israel,
Why they fail to embrace this opportunity,
The opportunity itself,
And how it is shared and received.
I think it is very fitting that after addressing and explaining all the issues relative to the House of Israel and the Gentile nation, that chapter ten begins with:
“Brethren”
It’s almost like he is saying, “please know I love you, you are my people even though I am called to be an apostle to the Gentiles.
“Brethren . . .”
“Yes, the gospel has been offered to the Gentile nations, but . . .
“Brethren . . .”
So, let’s read to verse 10:
Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Praise God!
Alright, back to verse one: “Brethren!”
Romans 10:1 . . . my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.
My heart’s desire, my earnest and sincere wish for you is . . . that my brethren the Jews might be saved.
Excuse the redundant story, but the very first Christian church service I ever attended after being LDS was at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa.
I had not left the Mormon church. I had not written a book or established a website. I had been born again and was seeking to know how to proceed.
So, there I was, sitting alone, Chuck Smith was at the pulpit preaching a wonderful message and as I looked around all I could imagine and desire was that all the members of my former ward and stake were there experiencing this . . . with me.
It was my true heart desire.
That they were all freed from their meetings and the weight of the world placed on their backs, that they could soak in the liberty afforded ONLY through a relationship with Christ . . . and to be truly free in Him.
It was here that I experienced the call upon my life – to help introduce to my sisters and brethren the reality of Spiritual rebirth.
So, Paul says to his own, “My hearts desire and prayer to God . . . for Israel . . . is that they might be saved.”
A couple points on this. If all of Israel is saved (or is going to be saved) why this heart-felt expression by Paul?
If the notion of hyper-dispensationalism is true, and there are two paths to salvation, one for the Jew and one for the Gentile, why would he write such things?
Now I have to reiterate a super important point about the meaning of saved in scripture – remember, in that day there are a minimal of four applications to being saved:
saved from the sorrowful self who is trapped in sin
saved from the approaching wrath of God
saved from sin, death, hell, Satan and the grave, and/or
saved to the Kingdom of God
In this setting Paul seems to be talking about salvation in every sense of the word.
And he goes on to describe his brethren, saying:
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
I can tell you from first hand experience, of having been involved with this approach to God, after having seen all that it involves, that these brethren, “have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.”
We read last week that Paul had been a Jew of the strictest order, (Acts 26:6; Php 3:5,) and he knew first-hand what efforts and extraordinary exertions were put forth to obey the commands of the law.
You know, I apply these verses to the LDS, and in some ways they fit, but in comparison, devout Jews TRULY possessed a fiery zeal for God – and if their amazing zeal for Him and His law is not enough to grant them salvation, the pithy attempts at “appearing outwardly righteous” by the LDS are nothing by comparison. In any case, scripture speaks often about the “zeal” of the devout of the nation of Israel. In Acts 21 Paul visits the disciples, including James.
And this is what they said to Paul relative to his work among the Gentiles:
Acts 21:20 “And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law.”
Zeal for God here means passionate attention in the things pertaining to God or in the things of religion.
In this many of them were doubtlessly sincere. We are not talking about Pharisaical Jews or hypocrites in the sense of them being heartless wolves – we are talking about devout Jews bent on keeping the Law. Paul says that he was a personal witness of them being sincere.
But here’s the key – and it’s not an easy one to embrace even as believers –
“sincerity toward a system will not, cannot, save anyone in the ultimate sense of the word – to the Kingdom.”
That only comes by faith in Him who said things like:
“Strait is the gate, narrow is the way, and few be there that find it.”
AND
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me.”
AND
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”
Zeal misapplied, misdirected is admirable in that is shows a person’s desires to know God. But it is very easily manipulated and set off course as in many ways it is typically emotionally driven.
Remember what Jesus said in John 16:2:
“The time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he, doeth God service.”
That is a form of religious zeal isn’t it?
But religious zeal, just like religious service, religious giving . . . faith . . love . . . must meet and match, must be focused on God’s demands and insistence of them, not on Mans and not merely for zeal for zeal’s sake.
I mean look at the Jews Paul is taking about! They have a zeal of God, right, but NOT “according . . . to . . . knowledge.”
When I was young my mom would tot all of us around in the station wagon when she had to run errands and on a number of occasions she had to go to the Big Five Sporting Goods store in a nearby town to purchase things for my older siblings who were in sports.
Next to the Big Five was a large liquor store that had its windows lined with colorful and attractive bottles.
While waiting in the car I would watch a stream of people – many of them obviously struggling – flow in and out of that store.
Being young, LDS, and very interested in things relative to God, I used to wonder (and even ask myself) why somebody didn’t just blow that store up. I was serious in my contemplations as I would think:
“How could God be upset with a person who did such a beneficial thing?
It would wipe out all the availability of the evil product, and if people did it everywhere, God would have to be pleased . . . even if it was . . . . wrong.
We can laugh a bit (nervously) at these immature (and somewhat dangerous) thoughts of a ten-year-old, but only until we realize that there are adults alive and well today who think the very same way – and some of them are willing to act!
No, religious zeal, in order to remain in the realm where it is “God approved” must fall in line with knowledge” meaning they failed to acknowledge or see that Jesus was their Messiah and without Him they remained in sin.
Taking it a step father, errant zeal is typically driven by the flesh, and as such is truly aimed at “establishing our own righteousness.”
This is the bottom-line problem with zealous action and attitude which is not from knowledge or Spirit led – it is essentially operative as a means to glorify the self, the flesh, the self-will, which in the end, would be based in establishing our own righteousness.
Going back to the backseat of my Mom’s station wagon, I remember, like a daydreaming Ralphie in the Christmas story, going to God one day and getting to report that I blew up two hundred and fifty liquor stores, saving thousands from the evils of alcohol.
“Hooo-ray for Shawn” I imaged the angels singing.
But Paul explains PERFECTLY – so plainly and perfectly – what the problem is with the Nation of Israel’s zeal.
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
There it is, folks. Period. End of story.
For CHRIST is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes.
It is HIS righteousness, not ours, not our zeal, not our efforts, His.
It’s not our law keeping, not our holiness, His.
Let’s break these very important and concise passages down.
For they (the Jews, who were no long under the Law) being ignorant of God’s righteousness, (lacking knowledge of His means for true righteousness) “and are going about to establish their own righteousness,(by and through empty works and rituals WHICH Christ fulfilled by and through His life and righteousness) have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God (simply put, have not realized what God did in and through His perfectly holy and righteous Son)
And then Paul expressed the fact:
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Here’s the gig (of which I realize most of you are aware) WHENEVER there is ANY system in place where human beings believe THEY are in a position for righteousness, or that it is up to them to save themselves, they will, in the end,
become IGNORANT of God’s righteousness,
endeavor to establish their own righteousness,
and will less and less submit themselves unto the righteousness of God . . .
FORGETTING that Christ is the END OF THE LAW for RIGHTEOUSNESS to everyone who truly believes.
It happens whether you are a Jew or a Christian who somehow has convinced themselves that, having begun “in the Spirit, they must continue on as a means to perfect their flesh.”
It’s a lie.
Now, are Christians by and through their faith in Him able to live more and more by the Spirit, and therefore less and less by the flesh? I certainly hope so.
But this is achieved by dying to the flesh, being buried WITH Christ, and rising to new Life in Him – NOT in perfecting our flesh through the application of Law, systems, or rigorous processes of fleshly mortifications.
Such things are ALWAYS – ALWAYS –
the result of men and women who have either NEVER known the goodness of Christ or who have FORGOTTEN that “Christ is the END OF THE LAW for RIGHTEOUSNESS to everyone who truly . . . . truly . . . believes.”
Here’s the thing we have to remember from all we have read here in Romans and in other places – the ignorance of the Jews was voluntary (and therefore punishable).
Paul doesn’t say that they could not have known what the plan of God was. In fact, at the end of this chapter he will say the opposite, actually, that that they had full opportunity of knowing.
How can we say this?
First, because many did know. The humble of heart who sought God in and through His Word long awaited the Messiah – and received Him before and after His death by faith. The fact that some knew suggests all could have known.
Secondly, a careful study of the Old Testament proves they all could have known (as some did) but because of the “traditions of men,” and “loving darkness more than light,” and “personal pride” created by nationality and pretended obedience to the law, and even “the easiness of the way” which made Jesus “a stumbling block to them” all contributed to their ignorance. As did their envy of Him.
Where the religious leaders, I believe, were not ignorant of Christ and His deity, it seems the Nation of Israel was.
And there is some precedence for ignorance being a far less egregious reason for rejecting the Messiah than hatred, envy, and spite.
Remember what Paul said in 1st Timothy 1:13 regarding his persecution of the Christians? He said:
“But I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly, in unbelief.”
And I think there is something to Jesus saying (in Luke 23:34)
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Remember the stoning of Stephan in Acts (Acts 7:59-60)?
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
So where religious zeal certainly cannot save a person (or nation) the weight for the crimes committed in zealous ignorance is certainly a lot less than those committed through outright malice.
So, here in verse five, Paul begins to articulate some of the MAJOR differences between those who believed salvation comes by and through the law, and those who are actually saved by grace through faith.
And he refers to Moses, and the righteousness which (supposedly) came by living the law, and says:
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, “That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.”
This passage is found in Leviticus 18:5 and it is essentially saying that when a Law is present, happiness (“life/living”) comes by and through doing or obeying it.
Now, we know that it was impossible for anyone to keep the entire law, and I am sure Moses knew this too. For this reason there was animal sacrifice.
But the premise Paul is using remains true – if people are going to try and obtain righteousness by and through the Law, it would be by them doing it. Obeying it. Living it.
Of course, the Apostolic Record points out the futility of this, saying in James 2:10:
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
Galatians 3:10-11 adds its witness to James when it says:
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”
Because the Jews sought to go about to establish their own righteousness, Paul is pointing out that in order for that to be effective unto salvation, it had better be kept.
But then in verse six, he begins to describe “the better way,” “the New Covenant,” or “righteousness that is obtained by faith.”
Now here’s the thing. He is speaking to the Jew here, so he quotes the Old Testament to help them understand. And this is what he says:
6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, “Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
These words (not including the parenthetical reference about Christ) come from Deuteronomy 30:11-14.
Contextually, Moses was near the end of his life, and he gave commandments to the Israelites, exhorting them to obey them.
And he says that in order to be obedient, everything is right there in front of them.
That the commands are reasonable, plain, intelligible, and accessible.
They did not require men to go and do deep research, take long journeys, or endure painful toil or self-flaggalation.
There was no need of crossing seas, and going to other lands, or looking high into the heavens to discover the profound mysteries.
They were plainly laid out by God for them. Therefore, Paul is saying, “But the righteousness that comes by faith speaketh this way, “Don’t say in your heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) OR “who can probe the heavenly mysteries?” (so much so that there is a need to bring Christ back down from His throne again to teach us)
“Or,” he adds in verse seven
7 Or, (to ask) Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Here again, these words are taken from Deuteronomy 30:13 and Paul does not take them and their meaning and apply them here.
Remember, Moses had been telling the COI that their ability to understand the Law and His commands for them was right before them, and in the Hebrew, he says, to emphasize this point:
“Neither is it (the instructions on how to keep the Law) beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us.”
Paul simply takes a passage the Jews would recognize and applies it to the premise that says, “to understand righteousness by faith, a person does NOT need to pull Christ down from heaven, or, as this passage points out, “have Him rise up from the depths of the earth or from the dead.” (And then at verse 8 he adds)
8 But what saith it? (in other words, what does “righteousness by faith” say or command?)
And he answers his own question in the rest of the verse, saying:
“The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
In other words, we know the language of living by the law to establish righteousness, but what is the language of the doctrine of justification by faith?
And he says:
“The word is nigh thee.” The answer is right in front of you!
What does he mean?
If answers that are “far away” are difficult to locate, discover, and obtain, then answers that are “nigh unto us,” (which Paul’s says is the Word) that means that they are not only close by but they are easily applied! Easily obtained.
Where is nigh? Paul says:
“even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Again, Paul cites the Septuagint, Deuteronomy 30:14, where Moses says these things about the COI and the Law.
And he likens the premise to the Good News! The meaning is that the doctrines of salvation by faith alone were so familiar, and so well understood, that it was actually in their mouths! How?
Paul seems to suggest that the Good News was so well known (through the preaching of the apostles) and that it was so present with them, that it was even in their very mouths. And, he adds, “in their hearts.”
(beat)
Have you ever loved someone so much, and have shared with them the truth about Jesus for so long, that you get to the point where you look at them and say something like:
“You know the facts. They are right there with you!”
This is sort of what Paul is doing, in my opinion, with his brethren. There are far more exciting and theatrical ways to teach what is being said and done here, but bottom line, Paul is speaking to his “brethren,” who he wishes could be saved, and he is quoting from the Old Covenant, and trying to tell them that they know these things . . . that they are so much a part of them they are in their mouths and hearts.
That they possessed ALL that was necessary. All the info. No mysteries to discover. And what is it that they possessed? Paul calls it, “The Word of Faith which we preach.”
Which I believe is the Good News.
Listen, because in the next verse, he tells us what this word of faith (which the apostles preached) is and how it works. Ready?
9 “That . . . if . . . thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that . . . God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Now listen, the Good News, the Gospel, is NOT this confession or profession nor this “believing in the heart.” That is the believer receiving the Good News by faith!
As a quick refresher, what is the Good News again?
Turn with me to 1st Corinthians 15:1-8 where Paul lays the Good News out perfectly for us, saying
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
Here in Romans 10:9 Paul describes how a person receives salvation by grace through faith and he delivers two points (which are all one point in Christ).
It is not a rote action or performance. Its not a chronological order or demand. But he does say:
First, to confess with the mouth the LORD Jesus, and secondly, to believe in the heart that He did the things described in 1st Corinthians 15:1-8 and then to top it all off Paul adds at verse 10
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Far too much to cover in the time remaining, and so we will leave off on this truth, praying the Lord will magnify it in our hearts and minds over the course of the week, and bring us to greater understanding of His marvelous means of redeeming fallen man.
If you are one of the hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty souls who tune into these verse by verse teachings you are going to want to send us an email.
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