Romans 10:1. Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Desire is the mother and the soul of prayer «my heart's desire and prayer.» These Israelites had hunted Paul about, and sought to kill him. They were his deadly enemies; but the only return he made them was to pray that they might be saved. I hope you will never have a worse wish for your worst foe.
Romans 10:2. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Always see all the good that is to be seen; and, when you have to reprove and rebuke begin by admitting what is good: «They have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.»
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.
They were very zealous; but it was blind zeal. They were very energetic; but they used their energy in going the wrong way. God has a righteousness, and our wisest course is to submit to it. Our righteousness, if we set it up in opposition to God's way of salvation, will only increase our sin. You can be ruined by your righteousness, as surely as by your unrighteousness, if you set it in the place of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. «They being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.»
Romans 10:4. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
If we get Christ by believing, we have the righteousness of the law. All that ever could come to us by the highest and most perfect obedience to the law, we get by faith in Christ Jesus.
Romans 10:5. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law,
And being the one through whom the law was given, he knew how to describe it; and we may be sure that he made no mistake. This is his description of legal righteousness:
Romans 10:5. That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
That is it: «Do and live.» That is the law, and a very just law, too. Leave anything undone, or break the command in any respect and you die; that is the law.
Romans 10:6. But the righteousness which is of faith
This is quite another thing; it
Romans 10:6. Speaketh, on this wise,
And it is Moses who speaks here, as in the previous verse. This is what the righteousness of faith says:
Romans 10:6-9. 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.
God's way of salvation, then, is «Believe and live.» Believe in Christ; Christ dying, Christ raised from the dead. If thou so believest, thou art saved. Thou needest not mount to heaven in rapture, nor dive to hell in remorse. As thou art, believe and live. This is the way of the righteousness of God.
Romans 10:10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
True faith must be accompanied by an open confession. Come forward, and outwardly own what you inwardly believe. Remember those words of the Lord Jesus, «He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.» Here, as there, the confession is put after the faith, as indeed it must be. First, the reality, the thing signified, faith; afterwards, the outward and visible sign in the confession of that faith.
Romans 10:11. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
He need never be ashamed of his faith. It will bear him up; it will bear him through; it will bear him up to heaven.
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.
That is it wonderful sentence; catch at it. Doubting, troubled spirits, catch at it, believe it, practice it; and you shall find it true.
Romans 10:14-15. How then shall they call on him in whom. they have not believed? 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!
See here the whole machinery of salvation. God provides salvation in Christ Jesus, he sends the preacher to tell of it, men hear, they believe, and salvation is theirs. You have not to make it righteousness, you have to accept the one that is made for you. It is not what you shall do that shall save you; it is what Christ has done. You are to get out of self-confidence into confidence in him; and as soon as you do so, you are saved.
Romans 10:16. But they have not all obeyed the gospel.
Oh, no; all who have beard it, have not obeyed it! There are many here who have beard it from their childhood, and yet they have not obeyed it. Notice the word «obeyed», for the gospel comes to you with the force of a command. If you reject it, you sin against it, for it is your duty to accept it: «but they have not all obeyed the gospel.»
Romans 10:16. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
So few were the obedient, that he asked where they were.
Romans 10:17-18. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard?
Oh, may they hear, indeed!
Romans 10:18-19. 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? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
Has he not done it? Israel is rejected, and remains without Christ, while many out of «a foolish nation» of Anglo-Saxons, who were idolaters, have accepted Christ. People who were regarded as dogs by God's chosen nation Israel have come into the house of the Lord, and still Israel refuses to come.
Romans 10:20. But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not;
Hear, then, you who have never had any religion; you who seldom go to the house of God. Even you may be saved, for it is written, «I was found of them that sought me not.»
Romans 10:20. I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
Here is the manifestation of sovereign grace, God choosing and saving whom he wills, irrespective of their condition; exercising the sovereignty of his mercy in saving the most undeserving.
Romans 10:21. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands
In the attitude of invitation and entreaty, and readiness to receive,
Romans 10:21. Unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
And that is what he has done to thee, O then careless child of pious parents, then unregenerate hearer of the Word! All day long has he stood and stretched forth his hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. The Lord forgive all such, for Jesus' sake! Amen.