Romans 10:2: “a zeal for God but not according to knowledge.” This speaks of Judaism. But it could also fit Jehovah’s Witnesses and Latter Day Saints and many more. Ultimately, what do they miss? They miss the fact that Christ, and no other or nothing else, is the end of the law for righteousness! The law never could make a person righteous, but these people, and many fine Christians in their early stages of the Christian life, thought that was the essence of righteousness. But Christ, in His sinless life, His redemptive death and powerful resurrection put the end to any reason to think that way.
In 10:6-8, a passage that comes from Deut.
30:12-13, there is no specific reference to “Christ” or “Messiah.” But what Moses was talking about was how to “attain”
righteousness. So Paul is saying that
Christ is the final word on that subject.
He is how you attain righteousness.
Rom. 10:9, a favorite “gospel” verse for many,
also comes from that same passage in Deuteronomy (30:14): But the word is
very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. How could an Israelite in Moses’ day know to
confess Christ? Because the definition
of a true Israelite is one who is hoping for the Savior (from Gen. 3:15 in Eden
and on), the “Kinsman Redeemer” (Ruth).
That “Savior,” provided by God, is the answer to being righteous before
God. They could know that in Moses’
time. That’s what Moses is saying: the
word that saves you is very near you, he says!
Then look at Rom. 10:11: Whoever believes
on Him shall not be put to shame.
This quote (from Isa. 28:16) comes from a later time, 100 years before
the Babylonian Captivity. Then Rom.
10:13 is from another time, from the prophet Joel (Joel 2:32): Whoever calls
on the name of the LORD shall be saved.
Paul is saying that this truth, that Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness, should not be a surprising truth for anyone, especially the people
of Israel. The heart must believe (Rom.
10:11 from Isaiah), the mouth must confess (Rom. 10:13 from Joel). His case is built on the Old Testament. I love this passage so much.
This is such a magnificent message, the gospel
of Jesus Christ. And, as we know, this “righteousness
of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnesses by the Law and the
Prophets” (Rom. 3:21).
With all this in mind, then let us not forget
Rom. 10:14-21. People need to hear (v14-17). You may say, “haven’t they heard?” Paul says they have, from creation (v18), and
from the Song of Moses that they were supposed to have memorized (v19; Deut.
32:21). The right and the wrong of it
could be clearly seen in Isa. 65:1-2 (Rom. 10:20-21).
We have said often that the people of the OT,
the righteous, those who were hoping for the Savior, they knew so much more
than we give them credit for. The fact
that so many claimed ignorance is not because God didn’t put it in front of
them through the Law and the Prophets.
What about me?
Us? “I didn’t know” will not work when you stand before God. There is no excuse! God has made it known. You will stand condemned before Him if you
have not come to be righteous through the One and Only Jesus Christ, Savior of
the world.
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