ROMANS 10

 Paul said that his "heart's desire and prayer" was for Israel to be saved. They were conformed to the Law but they were "ignorant of God's righteousness." They had established "their own righteousness." But Christ was and is the goal of the Law, if they would just believe it.

Moses wrote about the Law, that it would be a burden to those who lived by it. Rather the "word of faith" is the way to God, which is salvation: "confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead..." This is for both Jew and Greek because God is the same God over all men who call on His name. 

But Israel has rejected the gospel. He, Paul, was sent by God to preach the gospel to them, but they had not obeyed. Isaiah said: "...who has believed our report?" 

...Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

And God said through Moses that He would "provoke [Israel] to jealousy by those who are not a nation..," meaning the Gentiles. 

In addition, Paul quoted Isaiah again, that God was found by the Gentiles when they were not even seeking Him. But to Israel, Isaiah said, God was stretching out His hands to a "disobedient and contrary people." 

COMMENTARY

The present state of Israel is that they are lost. It was so in Paul's day, too. This is why they are unable to have peace today. Even being established by God Himself, the most they had was religion, not His righteousness. But the Law was meant to point them to Christ, not to save men, but to show them that they needed saving. That is what Paul meant when he said that Christ is the end of the law. He was the goal. 

Man's righteousness will never measure up to God's righteousness. That was what the Jews of Paul's day were trying to do. That is what man, Jew and Gentile, does today. It will never save him. 

Paul explained that man must bring his heart (his being) and his mouth (confession) in alinement with each other. What you say with your mouth needs to be supported by your actions. When you confess Christ, it should be apparent by your heart attitude and the way you live your life. That was why James said: "...faith without works is dead (James 2:20)." 

Furthermore, Paul argued that salvation is of faith. But the Law had become a religion in itself: Pharisaism, of which he knew all about. Paul explained that God called out men, like himself, to be messengers of the gospel. Preachers were sent out by God that people may hear the truth and believe. In order for people to know that they must call on the name of God, they must first hear the word. 

Finally, Paul explained that the gospel would be preached to all. Even Isaiah predicted Gentile conversions. And God has been so patient with Israel, "...holding out [His] hands to a disobedient people."

Even still, God has been patient with the whole world, waiting for them to call on His name and believe His righteousness offered through Christ. We cannot earn our way to heaven. We would have to be perfect, but no one is good. Jesus went in our place to pay for our sins, and He was raised for our justification. He is our righteousness. 

Is Jesus your Savior? Do not die without Him. 

St Paul the Apostle Writing his Epistles