Romans Chapter 10

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.

They are devoted, but they aren’t knowledgeable about the things of God.

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 don’t know God in their religious following of God…. they have created a righteousness on their own and have not yet accepted and committed themselves to the righteousness of God. They were following the Law and had not accepted the grace of God through faith in Jesus.

⁴ For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Before Jesus came to lay down his life, the Jews were following the law to reach God. There were things that the Jews had to do in order to keep their relationship with God in right standing. It was a lot, and each commandment had to be done exactly how God said to do it. When Jesus died for our sins, he fulfilled the law and completed it. Now we have Jesus to keep us in relationship with God and no longer have to keep the Law.

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;

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.

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 is telling them that they can have a close personal relationship with God by accepting Jesus and have a close personal relationship with him. Following the Law meant that each person had to do what was required to have a relationship. Now that Jesus came and paid the price, all we need to do is have faith and believe in Jesus. Salvation is for everyone.

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!

¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

Since the days of old, people have rejected the truth… they refuse to believe.

¹⁷ So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

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.

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.