Romans 10:1. Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
The same thing over again his deep concern for his countrymen.
Romans 10:2. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Zeal is a good thing, but, like the horse without a bit, it becomes useless and even dangerous. Knowledge is the bridle in the mouth of zeal. Zeal is like fire, which may burn the house which it was intended to warm unless it be carefully governed. There must be knowledge in zeal.
Romans 10:3. 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.
This is a great evil in the present day. There are many persons who are evidently zealous for God, but they make a mistake in supposing that they are to be saved by their own doings, their prayers their church-goings, their chapel-goings, or something of the sort, instead of accepting the finished righteousness of Christ, which is the righteousness of God. They are insulting Christ. They are insulting God by thinking that he would have given his Son to be our righteousness if we could have made a righteousness of our own, or given him up to die, if we could save ourselves.
Romans 10:4. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
There is the point to believe: to have faith. It is that which gives us the righteousness of which Christ is the sum total.
Romans 10:5. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
And if any man did, or could keep the law, he would live by it, but no man has ever done so, or ever will. There is no hope of life by the law.
Romans 10:6-9. 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:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 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; 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.
What a wondrous way of salvation so near so close to us! What an expression that is «in thy mouth.» We must absolutely put it out of our mouths. God has put the bread of life so near us that it is in our mouth. We must reject it as a man would reject food, if we perish. But, oh! for grace to receive it, to live upon it, to believe Christ, to trust him and so to be saved!
Romans 10:10-11. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
If, then, I base my eternal salvation upon Christ, and am trusting in him, not in my works, or prayers, or tears, or alms, or feelings, or even in my own repentance or faith, but wholly in him, I shall never be ashamed.
Romans 10:12-13. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
What a comforting text for some of you. You want salvation, but you are afraid you cannot find it. «Whosoever» what a grand word «whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord» that is to say in prayer, but that prayer the prayer of faith he «shall be saved.»
Romans 10:14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
That is the point: the believing is the vital matter.
Romans 10:14-15. And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
You see all the machinery of salvation here. God provides a gospel sends a preacher to proclaim it, men hear it; by the Holy Spirit they believe it, and they are saved. It is all in a nutshell, but oh! how blessedly suited to poor unworthy sinners like ourselves.
Romans 10:16-17. But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
It does not ever come by seeing. Faith does not come by looking upon ceremonies by gazing upon processions and pompous rituals. It come by the simple hearing of the Word. It is a matter of the understanding, and the work of the Holy Ghost upon that understanding. «Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.»
Romans 10:18-19. But I say, have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. But I say, Did not Israel know?
Were they not taught that God would reject them if they were disbelievers, and that he would call in heathen? Yes, they knew it, for:
Romans 10:19. First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
And the heathen thus, like ourselves, were accounted dogs by the Jews, but the Lord has brought us in and made us to believe in Christ, because they rejected him. What a wonderful passage that is about the great supper which the king made, when we read, because the invited guests did not come, the king, being angry, said unto his servants, «Go ye out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in.» Even the anger of God, you see, works good to some. He was angry with the guests that did not come, but then he called us in. His anger against the Jewish people has turned to the salvation of the Gentiles, for which may God be praised. But may Israel be gathered, too.
Romans 10:20-21 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
This exposition consisted of readings from Romans 9:1-5; and Romans 10:1.