BIBLE STUDY on the book of Romans

Chapter 10

We have seen the present state of Israel; they are lost. And that is their condition today. They are lost just as the Gentiles are lost. The reason is that Christ is the end of the law of righteousness.

Now Paul turns from the sovereignty of God to the responsibility of man. He began this thought in the concluding verses of chapter 9.

Present State Of Israel (10:1-4)

Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. (KJV)

What will happen to the Jews who believe in God but not in Christ? Since they believe in the same God, won’t they be saved?

If that were true, Paul would not have worked so hard to teach them about Christ. Because Christ is our most complete revelation of God, no one can fully know God apart from Him; and because God appointed Jesus to bring God and man together, we cannot come to God by any other path. The Jews, and anyone else, can find salvation only through Jesus (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

Romans 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. (KJV)

Many people have zeal for God and their religion, but unless we have zeal for Christ Jesus, we are doomed to the pits of Hell.

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. (KJV)

Rather than living by faith in God, the Jews had customs and traditions, in addition to God’s law, to try to make themselves acceptable in God’s sight. Human effort, no matter how sincere, can never substitute for the righteousness God offers us by faith in His Son. The only way we could earn salvation is to be perfect . . . and that is impossible.

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (KJV)

Christ fulfills the purpose and goal of the Law in that He perfectly represented God’s desires on Earth, and He is also the termination of the law because in comparison to Christ, the law is powerless to save. Mat. 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (KJV) . . .The Law was not given to save, but to show us we needed to be saved. Christ is the Goal of the Law and He should be our Goal as well. The Law stood UNTIL John the Baptist came on the scene! Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. (KJV)

Romans 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. (KJV)

To be saved by the Law, a person would have to live a perfect life, never ever sinning, not even once (like Jesus). Why did God give the Law when He knew we couldn’t keep it? One reason was to show us how guilty we are (Gal.3:19). The law was a shadow of Christ . . . the sacrificial system educated people so that when the True Sacrifice came, they would be able to understand His work (Heb.10:1-4). Since Jesus was the only One to ever obey all the Law, we must get our righteousness from Him (Is.64:6; 1 Cor.1:30). We have NONE of our own in God’s eyes!

Romans 10:6-7 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:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) (KJV)

People receive a right relationship with God by faith in Christ Jesus. It is NOT difficult to find God. Paul must have thought about about Moses’ words. Deut. 30:12-14 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. (KJV)

What God teaches is NOT difficult to find. People do not have to search for it in Heaven or in the depths of the sea. Paul says the same thing about the Gospel as Moses said about God’s law. There is NO need to search for Christ. He had already come down from heaven as a man. And he had risen from death, so there was no need to look for him in the grave.

Christ is in the Promise, Christ is offered in the Word. Justification by faith in Christ is a plain doctrine, thus leaving anyone without excuse for unbelief. If we really believe in our heart that God has raised Him from the dead (the deep), we show that we accept the atonement. We are saved by the righteousness of Christ, which is imputed to us through our faith in Him.

Romans 10:8 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; (KJV)

Salvation is available to you, no matter where you are. You do not have to be in church to be saved. Christ is waiting, now! Rev. 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (KJV)

Romans 10:9-10 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. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (KJV)

Salvation is as close to you as your own heart and mouth. Some people think it must be a complicated process, and some preachers and teachers try to make it seem so, but it is NOT. Salvation was made easy to attain by our awesome God, so easy that a child or retarded person can have it. IF we believe in our hearts that Christ is the risen Lord, and IF we say it with our mouths, we will be saved.

Romans 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (KJV)

The Passages referred to are: Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. (KJV) Isaiah 49:23 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me. (KJV) Romans 9:33
As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (KJV)
There is a certain connection between faith and righteousness, and confession and salvation; . . . in other words . . . those who sincerely believe in Christ, and make a sincere profession of their faith in Him, shall be saved.

Whosoever . . . or "everyone" that believeth in Him, Christ, Jew or Gentile, shall surely be saved. In him, and may easily be understood as the stone laid in Zion for a foundation, which is Christ; for other foundation can no man lay (1 Cor.3:11), and whoever by faith builds on this foundation is safe.

Don’t take this verse out of context. Paul is not saying believers will never be put to shame or be disappointed. We will have some bad times. What Paul is saying is that God will keep His Word . . . those who call on Him will be saved. God will never fail to provide righteousness to those who believe.

Romans 10:12 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. (KJV)

There is no distinction between Jews and Gentiles for we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Jews and Gentiles have one and the same God, and there is just one Way to reach Him, and that is through Jesus (John 1:12-13; 3:3,15-18,36; 8:24;14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 John 5:10-12).

Salvation For Both Jews and Gentiles
Romans 10:13 to 11:10

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (KJV)

“Whosoever” means anyone who calls on the Lord, will receive salvation. Whosoever means anyone who realizes they are sinners and doomed to Hell because of their sin. These humble ones shall be saved when the call upon the Name of the Lord!

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? 15 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! (KJV)

In Paul’s time, it was necessary that the Gospel be preached to the Gentiles. Someone had to show them what they were to believe. How can people call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? How can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?

So, WHO will go and tell them? It is the duty of ALL born again believers to tell of Jesus. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News (Is.52:7).

Romans 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? (KJV)

Who will believe the Gospel? Very few! (Is.53:1). It is NOT our job to make them believe . . . it is our job only to tell them of Jesus.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (KJV)

Until you hear or read the Word of God, you will not have faith to be saved.

Romans 10:18 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. (KJV)

The sound of God’s messengers has gone out into all the world, proclaiming the Good News of Christ. Again, the messenger is responsible ONLY to bring God’s Message to people. God will take it from there.

Romans 10:19 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. (KJV)

A quote from Deut.32:21. Did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for God had warned them through Moses, saying: “I will arouse your jealousy by blessing other nations. I will make you angry by blessing the foolish Gentiles.”

Romans 10:20 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. (KJV)

Quoting Is.65:1. Isaiah predicted Gentile salvation. What excuse could Israel give? They had the Old Testament.

Romans 10:21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. (KJV)

It is great joy to know that God has sent the Message of grace to so many millions, yet terrible sadness that the majority refuse it (Mat.7:13-14)

The Book of Romans

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