1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 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. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
This chapter begins much like the previous one – Paul sorrowing for his kinsmen according to the flesh (Rom 9:1-3) and praying to God for their salvation. Israel was misguidedly stumbling about in deep spiritual ignorance, all the while thinking themselves to be righteous and uniquely chosen by God. Paul himself was one of these men so he certainly knew what he was talking about. Even the zealous, sincere-hearted in Judaism had generally devolved into robotic observance of rites, rules and ceremonies that had been somehow become more important than seeking the God who gave them. They thought (ignorantly) that by keeping the Law, they could establish their own righteousness.
The Jews’ ignorance was entirely self-induced. They heard with the ears and saw with their eyes; they had the very key of knowledge in their hands and knew the Truth. But they closed their eyes and refused to see Christ. And their disobedient hearts became even more darkened (Eph 4:18). They had no cloak for their sin, because as Jesus had told them, Search the Scriptures…for they are they which testify of Me (John 5:39). It was right before their eyes. This stiff-necked, deliberate ignorance continues to characterize the Jews today. The vast majority scoff openly at the idea of eternal salvation by faith in that most famous Jew of all time, Jesus Christ the Nazarene. That great stumblingstone (Rom 9:33) continues to be a major cause of spiritual falling even today.
The Jews would not submit themselves unto the righteousness of God (v3). Essentially this term refers to the living Christ, who showed Himself to be the very righteousness of God (cf 2Cor 5:21). The Jews refused to confess Jesus (v9), meaning they would not submit themselves to His doctrine and rule. Twenty-five years later (roughly the date of Romans) many of them could still not accept that Jesus Christ was the end (telos) of the Law. He was the end goal or aim of it; the fulfillment and completion of it. Adam Clarke splendidly observes:
“Where the law ends, Christ begins. The law ends with representative sacrifices; Christ begins with the real offering. The law is our schoolmaster to lead us to Christ; it cannot save, but it leaves us at His door, where alone salvation is to be found. Christ as an atoning sacrifice for sin, was the grand object of the whole sacrificial code of Moses; his passion and death were the fulfilment of its great object and design. Separate this sacrificial death of Christ from the law, and the law has no meaning, for it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins…Therefore every Jew who rejected Christ rejected salvation, and that very salvation which the law witnessed and required, and which could not be had but through Christ alone.”
It follows then, that the righteousness of the Law is actually achieved (or, fulfilled) by the people of the New Covenant; namely, who are walking after the Spirit and not after the flesh (Rom 8:4). The unbelieving Jews meanwhile, think to be righteous by doing the works of the Law instead of seeking that righteousness which is of Faith (Rom 9:30-32). As Paul said elsewhere, A man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by the Faith of Jesus Christ (Gal 2:16).
Verse three is a primary text for the Calvinist claim that all Man’s righteousness is to God as filthy rags and that the man who tries to live righteously is simply establishing his own worthless righteousness instead of trusting in Christ’s righteousness, which is supposedly imputed to the elect (see note Heb 3:18). In their theology, Man cannot do any good work, so God does it for him. The honest reader will notice immediately however, that the topic here is the unbelieving Jews, not the sincere God-seeker. The Apostle is showing that Christ has ended the Law in favor of Faith in Him. He has fulfilled the Law (see Mat 5:17), has taken away the vail of the Old Testament (2Cor 3:14), has revealed that wonderful salvation which the prophets of old enquired and searched diligently to understand (1Pet 1:10).
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6 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.) 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;
Moses brought the righteousness which is of the Law to Man, but Christ brought righteousness to every one that believeth on Him (v4). Doing the works of the Law is now meaningless to God, who has made His favor available by Faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. The Law demanded obedience to a rigid, elaborate system of worship such that it became his very life. The man who followed the Law would live; the one who disobeyed it would die (Deut 30:15-16). The mantra of the Law was: the just will live by doing it (Lev 18:5; Eze 20:13; Gal 3:12). And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord (Deut 6:25). This precept of keeping the Law in order to live was more than just a physical promise. For while the Law did not directly link salvation or eternal life to righteously keeping the Law (and correctly so), it is clear from the Psalms and Prophets that they did believe God rewarded the just in the next life. The Pharisees confessed the same and Jesus agreed with them. Nevertheless, the Law was a heavy yoke for Man to bear (Acts 15:10) which the Pharisees made even more burdensome by imposing even stricter details (Mat 23:4).
The Prophets spoke of a new day in which the just shall live by faith (Hab 2:4; Gal 3:11) instead of doing the works of the Law. This is the righteousness of Faith, or the Gospel of the Kingdom, which calls for allegiance to Christ (Rom 6:23). Moses encouraged the people of God to receive the word of the Law because it was near, accessible and understandable (Deut 30:12), but the righteousness which is of Faith is even more available and understandable. Moreover, every mouth and heart can obtain it, whether Jew or Greek, bond or free. But they will never know unless they hear the Word, and that is the work of the preacher (v14-15). Israel refused the Gospel and a nation which did not know God has gained it (v18-21). This is a summary of the chapter.
In a remarkable passage, Moses appealed to the children of Israel just before his death, imploring them to keep His commandments and statutes which are written in this Book of the Law…See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil…therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live…for this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us…neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us…but the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it (Deut 30:10-20).
Here Paul appeals to his fellow Jews by using Moses’ own words to show that they apply even more perfectly in the new Age of Grace. For to ascend into heaven or descend into the deep in search of God and truth would be to ignore Christ and His Word; that is, it would be asking Him to come back down from heaven and teach us again. Or, as the unbelieving Jews did when Jesus walked the earth, ask Him to show them a sign from heaven when He had already performed many signs and wonders in their sight (Mark 8:11-12).
Those who have found Christ have found the righteousness which is of faith. And His Word is very nigh – in our hands and hearts. We do not need to go search for it across the sea or wait, as the orthodox Jews are doing, for the Messiah to come again and teach us. The Apostle Paul, one of the most famous Jews of all time, preaches Christ and His Word of Faith as the fulfillment of Moses and his works of the Law. The Word is nigh thee. Man, however, is tempted to think the Truth must be found in some far-off land. See similar language in Psalms 139:7-8 and Proverbs 30:4.
9 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. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Moses told the children of Israel that God had brought the Word nigh and put it even in thy heart and in thy mouth. But the Apostle finds Moses’ words are more true in regards to the Word of Faith (v8), in which Man is saved by confessing with the mouth and believing with the heart. So the same two human elements are key in both Covenants.
This is the beginning of the salvation process – confessing with the mouth (repentance) and believing in the heart that Jesus Christ died and rose again to deliver us from Satan and sin. This step can be seen acted out in Acts 16:30-33. The Apostle’s hope is that Israel would understand this near Word of Faith which many had so viciously rejected. Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men (1Thes 2:14-15).
Today, to confess usually means to verbally acknowledge a sin, but in the Scriptures it often means to personally accept a particular truth or belief. The same Greek word (homologeo) carries both meanings (study 1John 1:9; James 5:16; John 1:20; Luke 12:8). Confession is made with the mouth (v10), but it is much more than a simple verbal expression. Confession begins with a decision of the mind to accept the Truth and it must be active and ongoing. The heroes of Faith, for example, confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth – they lived upon that confession to their dying day (Heb 11:13). Paul encouraged Timothy to maintain the fight of faith and what he professed (homologeo) unto the end (1Tim 6:12). Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him (1John 4:15). To confess Christ is to submit to Christ (Rom 10:3).
Man believeth unto righteousness. As with confession so with believing – it is not a one-time event in the past, but an ongoing action. A person who has believed and confessed Christ cannot live in sin and unrighteousness. They profess (homologeo)to know God; but in works they deny Him (Titus 1:16). Belief and confession must be accompanied by living demonstration or else they are worthless words. The devils also believe, and tremble (James 2:19). Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous even as He is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil (1John 3:7-8).
Believe and confess. These are necessary actions for a person to be saved. Unfortunately, many evangelical groups run off with these two words in their simplest sense and leave the rest of the Bible behind. They organize evangelistic crusades and flash tent meetings in far-off cities to get people to “believe and confess,” and then return home with their counting ledgers filled with names of the newly saved. The Apostles never left the cities they went to evangelize without organizing churches to disciple those who believed and confessed. That’s because a single profession of belief in Christ is not enough to sustain the soul on that day when the secrets of men are revealed (Rom 2:16).
In all practicality, the term believe (pisteuo) unto righteousness (dikaiosune) is equal to the righteousness (dikaiosune) which is of faith (pistis). The latter term accents the full-grown fruit the Gospel produces in the person, while the former is focused on the beginning, the germination of the Word in the heart. This is beautifully illustrated in Jesus’ parable of the Sower (Mat 13:1-23). The verb pisteuo and its nominal root pistis are visibly similar and loosely related, much like some English verb/noun pairs (“I walk when I take a walk”). However, the relation of faith with believe is not seen in the English translation (see note for Gal 2:15).
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 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.13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Paul boldly cites the Prophets speaking about believing and confessing, but applies those operations in the New Covenant. The scribes and doctors of the Law, as well as Jews today, espouse different understandings of those prophecies. For instance, taking verses like Isaiah 60:5, they believed the Gentiles would be converted to Judaism, instead of God changing Judaism to accept the Gentiles. The truth was there to be seen in verses like Isaiah 42:6, which speaks of a Messiah for the Gentiles, but even the disciples of Christ did not originally understand those Old Testament prophecies.
Verse 11 quotes Isaiah 28:16, which the Apostle cited earlier (Rom 9:33), while verse 13 quotes Joel 2:32. In both examples, salvation is offered to whosoever will, with no mention of lineage or genealogies. Such promises are especially beautiful to Gentile ears because for long years they were not a people of God (1Pet 2:10). Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely (Rev 22:17). Of course, do not think that you can call upon God to save you without sincere repentance and submitting to His rule. God will not be mocked. He told Israel, make many prayers, but I will not hear because your hands are full of blood (Is 1:15).
The Gospel of Jesus Christ, or the Word of Faith, which we preach (v8), is offered to all men. There is now no difference between the Jew and the Greek (Rom 1:16; Gal 3:28; Col 3:11), for there is no respect of persons with God (Rom 2:10-11). The Kingdom of New Covenant Israel is made up nations and kindreds from all peoples of the earth – all them that believe (Rom 3:22), all that call upon Him (v12).
14 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!
God has designed the foolishness of preaching as the primary method of evangelism (1Cor 1:21). He has entrusted to His people the Word of Faith in order to demonstrate the truth and power of the Gospel (1Cor 2:4). The earnest, honest preachers of righteousness must go forth rightly dividing the Word of Truth, for if man is to believe with the heart (Rom 10:10), then that is where the Word must be planted. Faith in Christ is based upon certain truths that cannot be visibly seen (His resurrection, the forgiveness of sins, eternal life after death, etc). The preacher’s commission is to inform men of these things in such fashion that they will believe and accept the Name of Christ.
How beautiful to hear those glad tidings of the Gospel! The quote is from Isaiah 52:7, where the beautiful feet imply that these messengers came from afar, leaving home and loved ones for the sake of Christ and His Gospel. And how true that has been – no sea too formidable, no mountain range too high, no threat of death too fearsome to stop the flood of missionaries that have obeyed from the heart Jesus’ words to His disciples: Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15; Mat 28:19). Many of these dedicated men and women have been forgotten on earth, but how beautiful they will be remembered in heaven. Not just by Christ, but by the souls that are there on account of their effort and sacrifice (Mark 10:28-31). Can there be any greater heavenly reward than to meet a soul there that you helped to find Christ’s salvation?
The Gospel of peace. In its deepest meaning, the message of the Gospel is how to find peace with God. See John 14:27.
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Many will hear the Gospel message but not obey it. The Jews refused to believe and confess Christ in spite of His amazing miracles and signs. And many today also will not obey. The acts of God are so strong, but Self has taken their hearts captive and blinded their eyes (see John 12:37-40). Jesus sternly warned this wicked generation (Mat 12:45) that their state would be even worse.
Hearing the Word carries a person’s mind to the horns of an important decision: believe or not believe. Believing leads to another decision: refuse the Truth, or by sincere confession, accept it. These are the first steps of faith that result in the beginning of the salvation process. From then on, we must daily walk in the Truth and persevere in it unto the end (3John 1:4; Mat 10:22). The true Faith that saves is hearing unto believing unto accepting unto doing and persevering (see note for Mat 14:31).
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. 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.
What about Israel after the flesh? Well, nobody had more opportunities to hear the Gospel than the Jews! Jesus dedicated His life to preaching to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Mat 15:24). But they refused to hear Him. So He sent out seventy disciples throughout all the land with miraculous powers to heal and cast out demons, but neither would they listen to them. And even after He had risen from the dead they would not believe the report. It is appropriate then, that Paul quotes the Psalmist as if saying, “Of course they heard! The sound of the Gospel went out into all Israel, and the Word was sent into the far corners of the land.”
Why then, did they not obey? Did they not understand (know) the message? The Apostle doesn’t directly answer that question here, but will do so in the next chapter (see Rom 11:7-10; Acts 13:46). The Gospels say quite simply that Israel refused to believe because their hearts and minds were blinded to the truth, which Paul also shows in Romans 9:18 (see notes for Mat 13:10-16).
At the beginning of the Jewish religion, Moses foretold that Israel would fall into terrible apostasy, saying they would provoke God to jealousy by worshiping idols and committing wicked abominations (Deut 32:16), until finally He would abhor them and hide His face from them and see what their end would be (Deut 32:19-20). And the fact is that they provoked Him so much that He created a new people, which in turn provoked them to jealousy and anger (Deut 32:21-24). That is an amazing prophecy on several levels.
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. 21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
Israel had every reason to trust in the Lord of Hosts. Through the Prophets, God kept stretched out His hands in mercy to her, as a mother calls her child to come unto her. But like so many children, they were naughty, refused His call and even talked back, which is the meaning of the word gainsaying (see John 19:12; Acts 13:45; Titus 2:9). The Jews remain a remarkably disobedient and gainsaying people. The majority not only refuse Christ, they do not even believe that God exists. Driven mainly by egotism and arrogance, they continue to be contrary to all men (1Thes 2:15) and universally disliked. Remarkably, they are both the smartest race and the most morally depraved race, always at the forefront of wickedness and corruption.
The Gentiles meanwhile, found a place in the Kingdom without having the Holy Scriptures, without works and without asking. This was not universally true, but generally so. Cornelius was a God-fearing man, as was the Roman centurion. The Gentile wisemen from the East came searching for Truth. However, the general reputation of the Gentiles was to live wickedly and worship many gods, idols and superstitions.
The 65th chapter of Isaiah, which the Apostle quotes here, is a long, shocking recrimination of the rebellious Jewish nation. They provoked God by their idolatrous ways and angered Him by their iniquities to the point that He finally had enough. He will destroy them, but not all, and create a new, holy mountain with a new Jerusalem where righteousness and peace will dwell forever.