Installment 12
Romans 10:1-21
In the last issue we discussed Israel's past and saw the principles upon which God has always acted in dealing with His people. He has never changed, but acts upon the same principles today as when He selected Isaac and Jacob rather than their older brothers. No one has a right to object to the principles according to which God has dealt with His people.
In chapter 10 we shall study Israel's present situation and the principles upon which God is dealing with her today.
"Brethren, my heart's desire and my supplication to God is for them, that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth. 5 For Moses writeth that the man that doeth the righteousness which is of the law shall live thereby" (Romans 10:1-5).
Paul loved his brethren with an inextinguishable passion and constantly prayed that they might be saved. Everyone who realizes the value of a soul and what it is to be lost, instinctively prays for the unsaved--especially for those related to him. Paul prayed for the Jews because he was one of them.
God had chosen the nation of Israel and revealed to her the knowledge of His will, so there would be no excuse for not knowing it. After Moses' day, God had raised up prophets who made further disclosures of His will, pointing Israel to the way she should go. Why then did Israel, despite her zeal, not have the knowledge of God?
Writing was not general then as today. Books had to be written by hand on scrolls and later possibly on papyrus material. The cost of owning a copy was prohibitive to the majority of Israelites. They had to depend upon what they could learn when they went to the central sanctuary to worship God, or upon what some priest, prophet or teacher told them of the Word. Then again we know that many of the prophets and teachers would not tell anyone what God had said unless they were given a special donation (Micah 3:11). Many of the teachers and religious sects in Israel had warped and twisted the Word of God, making it mean something entirely different from what God intended. The nation was plagued by tradition. Being naturally religious and not having the true knowledge of God, the people went about to establish their own form of righteousness. In doing so, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
The Law was a schoolmaster to bring the Jew to Christ. When Christ came in the fulness of time, there was no longer a need for the Law. When He was crucified He nailed the ordinance and the Law itself to His Cross and abolished it. Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone that believes. Moses, in writing that "the man who doeth the righteousness which is of the law shall live thereby" was speaking of the blessing in this life to be received by the one who strictly observed the law. He was not, of course, talking about spiritual and eternal life.
"But the righteousness which is of faith saith thus, Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down:) 7 or, Who shall descend into the abyss? (That is, to bring Christ up from the dead.) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach: 9 because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God 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. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be put to shame" (Romans 10:6-11).
In contrast to the righteousness which was of the Law is that which is of faith. Certain regulations of the Law carried the death penalty for disobedience. Those who observed the Law were allowed to continue living, whereas violators were tried, condemned and executed. In contrast with this legalistic system of life is what the prophet calls the "righteousness which is of faith." Obviously, this is a paronomasia, a play on words similar to that of Jesus in John 6:28,29, where He answered those asking, "What must we do, that we may work the works of God?" by saying, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." Clearly, faith is not a work at all.
One who has faith accepts the testimony of God's Word. Those having doubts concerning the second person of the Trinity, His incarnation and resurrection, might raise such questions as: "Who shall ascend into heaven to bring Christ down?"; "Who shall descend into Sheol to bring Christ up from the dead?" The miracles of the virgin birth and the entrance of Messiah into the human realm had already occurred. Witnesses, competent and faithful, had established the facts and their testimony was corroborated by miraculous manifestations of God's Spirit (Heb. 2:3,4).
The Jews had been evangelized and were talking about the message. The whole nation had heard the testimony of the Gospel: that Messiah had come, had been crucified, buried and raised from the dead, then ascended back to the glory of heaven. This message did not require, like the law of Moses, the observance of ceremonies and ritualism. It simply required that they believe the facts which had been presented to them and take a public stand for Jesus Christ. Salvation is contingent upon faith and it is impossible to please God without it. Abraham believed the promise of God and his faith was reckoned to him for righteousness. Men and women are counted righteous in the same way today (Rom. 4:20-25).
Is Paul being inconsistent in requiring "mouth confession"? The harmony between this and Rom. 4 becomes apparent when we realize that in the fourth chapter the apostle was talking about salvation by faith in a general way, whereas in the tenth chapter he speaks of the Jewish nation that had heard the message (Heb. 4:1,2). Many of them were under conviction but were afraid to declare their faith. Speaking on this point, Jesus declared, "Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 10:32,33). One who believes in his heart that Jesus is the Christ, the Saviour of the world, and has trusted himself to the Saviour, will never deny it. If he denies his faith, it is not a genuine one. May we always be bold to confess the Lord Jesus Christ before men! "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him: 13 for, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!" (Romans 10:12-15).
During the Law Dispensation, it seemed to the world that God was especially partial to the Jews; that the Gentiles were but dogs. This was a misinterpretation of the facts. The Law was a "schoolmaster" to prepare the Jews for Christ's advent. Now, having laid down His life for all humanity, the Law of Moses has been nailed to His Cross. There is now no distinction and all who come to God must come by way of the Cross. His mercy is extended toward Jew and Gentile alike. Whoever turns to God, calling upon Him for deliverance, shall be saved. God has put salvation on the basis of grace through faith, apart from ceremonialism and obedience to commands and regulations so the promise might be made sure to all. Whosoever thirsts may look to the Lord Jesus Christ and live!
People must learn of the Saviour to call upon Him. Messengers of the Cross cannot go to the people unless they are sent of God and supported by believers as they proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ. Supporters of those who preach the Gospel to all nations will receive a reward along with the missionaries and ministers of the Word, commensurate with the effort and offerings made.
"How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings" is a quotation from Isa. 52:7. Isaiah saw in vision the very end of this age when there will be those who proclaim to the Jewish people the unsearchable riches of Christ and His coming to reign over them. The called and equipped missionary of the Cross is indeed beautiful to those to whom he brings the Word of life.
"But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 18 But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world. 19 But I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, With a nation void of understanding will I anger you. 20 And Isaiah is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I became manifest unto them that asked not of me. 21 But as to Israel he saith, All the day long did I spread out my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people" (Romans 10:16-21).
Though the entire Jewish nation had heard the message of the Gospel, all had not believed. This was no surprise, for the prophet Isaiah had asked, "Lord, who hath believed our report?" (see Isa. 53:1), implying that comparatively few of his brethren would believe the message when it was delivered to them.
Saving faith comes only by hearing the message of redeeming love as manifested by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is of utmost importance that the missionary and minister preach Christ and Him crucified as the Apostle Paul did, so that people might have the faith necessary for salvation.
Paul answers this question, Did they not hear?", "Yea, verily." The message of redemption was preached first in Jerusalem, then in Judea and Samaria and then had gone to the uttermost parts of the earth. This thought is clothed in the phraseology of Ps. 19:4 (see also Col. 1:6,23). Jews were scattered over the Greco-Roman world. There were those in Sinim (China), India--and practically everywhere. The Gospel was first given to the Jews in each local community according to the custom of the Apostle Paul (Rom. 1:16) and then given to the Gentiles.
Paul asks again, "Did Israel not know?" He answers with a quotation showing that Moses prophesied God would provoke the Israelites to jealousy by accepting those who were not considered as His people--the believers among the Gentiles (Deut. 32:21). While the Church of Jesus Christ was foretold in this statement, the details are very meager. Isaiah foresaw the body of believers from all nations who, during the time that Israel is in rejection, accept Christ and constitute His Church (65:1-7).
Since the Apostle Paul interpreted Deut. 32:21 and Isa. 65:1-7 as predictions concerning the Church, we see that it was foreknown in the Old Testament. The Church Age was also revealed in the Old Testament (Ps. 110:1, etc.); however, details concerning it were not as fully given to the prophets as to the New Testament writers (Eph. 3:1-6).
