Coachlight Bible Study – Romans Chapter 10
God’s Righteousness Demonstrated By His Handling Of A Disobedient And Gainsaying People
It’s all about God’s Righteousness. The book of Romans is about God’s Righteousness. All of history is about God’s Righteousness. Israel took possession of the promised land, not because of Israel’s righteousness, but to demonstrate God’s Righteousness.
Paul continues this theme by pointing out that in this age, Israel has a zeal for God, but really doesn’t know Who He is or His Righteousness.
Most of Israel is depending on their lineage, circumcision, or themselves adhering to the Law, for their salvation. This kind of self-righteousness leads to defeat and usually to blaming God.
Paul pulls no punches, and places the blame squarely back on Israel, and demonstrates His Righteousness by His treatment of a disobedient Israel: “All day long I have stretched forth My Hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.”
I. Paul’s Desire Again For The Jew
Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
A. In chapter 9 – Paul expresses the same burden
Romans 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
Romans 9:2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
Romans 9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: {accursed: or, separated}
Romans 9:4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; {covenants: or, testaments}
Romans 9:5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
B. Paul sees his people, Israel, not realizing the Truth – As Moses saw his people
Exodus 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
C. Paul’s desire for the Jew is that they come to the Truth, and be saved
II. Jews Have Zeal – Lack Knowledge Of God’s Righteousness
A. They have set their minds on establishing their own righteousness
1. Self righteousness is from placing trust in something other than Christ
2. For the Jew it is usually their fulfilling the Law
B. What is needed is to submit to God’s Righteousness
Romans 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
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.
C. Christ is the end of the Law - (end = telios)
Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end <5056> of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5056 telov telos tel’-os - from a primary tello (to set out for a definite point or goal); TDNT-8:49,1161; n n
AV-end 35, custom 3, uttermost 1, finally 1, ending 1, by (one’s) continual + 1519 1; 42
1) end
1a) termination, the limit at which a thing ceases to be ( always of the end of some act or state, but not of the end of a period of time)
1b) the end
1b1) the last in any succession or series
1b2) eternal
1c) that by which a thing is finished, its close, issue
1d) the end to which all things relate, the aim, purpose
2) toll, custom (i.e. indirect tax on goods)
1. Notice the two meanings?
a. The limit or process from beginning until ceased – II Corinthians 3
II Corinthians 3:11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
II Corinthians 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: {plainness: or, boldness}
II Corinthians 3:13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
II Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
II Corinthians 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
II Corinthians 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
II Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
b. The Final issue or result – Galatians Chapter 3
Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Galatians 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
2. If Paul meant the end of a phase – He could have used Sunteleia 4930
III. Contrast Between Faith In God’s Righteousness And Self-Righteousness – Deuteronomy Chapter 30; 9:4-6
A. God’s elect put their trust their heritage
B. God’s elect put their trust in obeying their traditions
C. God’s elect put their trust in circumcision
D. All is self-righteousness
Romans 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Romans 10:6 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:)
Romans 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
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;
Romans 10:9 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.
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
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.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
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Contrasting Faith In God’s Righteousness And Self Righteousness |
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The Faith In God’s Righteousness |
The Excuse Of Self Righteousness |
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Romans 10:9 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. Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. |
Deuteronomy 30:2 And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day… Deuteronomy 30:5 And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; … Deuteronomy 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. Deuteronomy 30:7 And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, … |
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His Righteousness Is Here |
Who Will Get His Righteousness from Heaven? I’ll rely on myself. |
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His Righteousness Is In My Mouth |
Who will Get His Righteousness From Hell? I’ll rely on myself. |
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His Righteousness Is In My Heart |
Who Will Get His Righteousness From Over The Sea? I’ll rely on myself. |
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His Righteousness Is My Faith |
It Must Be Brought To Us Before I Can Know It. I’ll rely on myself. |
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His Righteousness Is What I Speak |
It Must Be Brought To Us Before I Can Do It. I’ll rely on myself. |
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Deuteronomy 9:4 Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee. Deuteronomy 9:5 Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Deuteronomy 9:6 Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people. |
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IV. How Does Isreal Call On & Believe In Christ
Romans 10:14 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?
Romans 10:15 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!
Romans 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? <189>
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing<189>, and hearing<189> by the word of God.
A. Through the teaching of the Word – Isaiah taught it – Isaiah 53:1
B. The sent preach the Word – John 20:21
C. The hearing does not bring the salvation – notice same word used for report
D. Faith in the hearing does bring salvation
E. What is heard must be the Word of God
1. The heathen is not saved by seeing a god-form in an object of creation
2. The moralist is not saved by leading a moral lifestyle
3. The Law does not save – It points out sin – pointed forward to Christ
V. God’s Righteousness Demonstrated - His Handling Of Israel
A. Places the responsibility back on the Jews – They have heard
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.
B. They heard it from Moses -
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.
Deuteronomy 32:15 But Jeshurun [poetical name for Israel] waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
Deuteronomy 32:16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.
Deuteronomy 32:17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. {not to…: or, which were not God}
Deuteronomy 32:18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
Deuteronomy 32:19 And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters. {abhorred: or, despised}
Deuteronomy 32:20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
Deuteronomy 32:21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
Deuteronomy 32:22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains. {shall burn: or, hath burned} {shall consume: or, hath consumed}
C. They heard it from Isaiah
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.
Romans 10:21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
Isaiah 65:I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
Isaiah 65:2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
Isaiah 65:3 A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; {upon…: Heb. upon bricks}
Isaiah 65:4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; {broth: or, pieces}
Isaiah 65:5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. {nose: or, anger}