The man who does those things shall live by them: The Law of Moses makes the path to righteousness through the law plain. Our Lord gives the law all it requires, not a part, for that would be an admission that it might justly have been content with less at first.” (Spurgeon)ī. The law is not compelled to lower its terms, as though it had originally asked too much it is holy and just and good, and ought not to be altered in one jot or tittle, nor can it be. “Christ did not come to make the law milder, or to render it possible for our cracked and battered obedience to be accepted as a sort of compromise. The law has not come to an end in the sense of no longer reflecting God’s standard or no longer showing us our need for a Savior. The law ends for the believer in the sense that our obedience to the law is no longer the basis for our relationship with God. Christ is the end of the law: Jesus is the end of the law for those who believe. But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):Ī. For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ( Romans 10:4-8) The contrast between God’s righteousness and our attempts at righteousness.įor Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. All of Paul’s teaching of God’s election and right to choose does not diminish man’s responsibility.Ģ. Again, we cannot neglect the emphasis on personal responsibility. There must be a radical submission to the righteousness of God, putting away our own righteousness. People cannot come to Jesus without the right information about the gospel, but information alone is not enough to save anyone. They also had a moral problem: they have not submitted to the righteousness of God. Seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God: Israel had a lack of knowledge. Plainly put, by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified ( Romans 3:20).ĭ. Paul ably demonstrated in the first several chapters of Romans how futile this is. Establish their own righteousness: This effort shows Israel’s lack of knowledge and that they are ignorant of God’s righteousness. “At least they have a zeal for God,” Paul says.Ĭ. It’s remarkable that Paul found something good to say about these Jewish people who persecuted him so mercilessly. Saul of Tarsus was a notorious persecutor of Christians before Jesus confronted him on the road to Damascus ( Acts 9:1-20). Zeal for God, but not according to knowledge: This is a perfect description of Paul himself before his conversion. They have plenty of zeal but little knowledge. This is where so many religious people - even sincere Christians - go astray. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God: Paul will readily recognize that Israel has a zeal for God but he also sees that it is zeal not according to knowledge. Paul’s heart’s desire also translated into concrete action: prayer to God for Israel. Paul does not rejoice that they have stumbled at that stumbling stone ( Romans 9:32). Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel: Paul again feels compelled to relate his heart regarding his fellow Jews. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.Ī. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. ( Romans 10:1-3) Israel’s refusal to submit to the righteousness of God.īrethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. Israel’s rejection of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ.ġ.
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