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The Book of Romans, Part 23 – Continuing Down the Romans Road to Salvation

[Study Aired December 26, 2023]

Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 
Rom 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. 
Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 
Rom 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 
Rom 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:) 
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 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; 
Rom 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. 
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 
Rom 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. 
Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

As we continue our study of Romans in chapter 10, it is crucial to frame our review within the broader context of the relationship between Christ’s teachings, as articulated especially in Matthew chapter 5, and the reflections of Paul in Romans 1-9. Christ addresses the essence of the law, emphasizing its continuity and fulfillment through His arrival. This sets the stage for a shift from a mere physical adherence to the law towards a deeper, spiritual worship. Paul, in his writings in Romans 1-9, lays the groundwork by unraveling the universal predicament of mankind’s sinfulness and the insufficiency of observance of the law of Moses for justification. Both Christ and Paul converge on the theme of righteousness exceeding mere external compliance and underscore the transformative power of faith, paving the way for a spiritual understanding of worship that transcends ritualistic traditions.

Against this backdrop, Romans chapter 10 emerges as a pivotal segment in Paul’s discourse. This chapter serves as a bridge between the foundational principles established in the preceding chapters and the practical implications of faith in Christ. In Romans 10, we witness Paul delving into the significance of faith in salvation and the proclamation of the Gospel. As we review the verses of this chapter, it is essential to discern how Paul’s teachings align with Christ’s call for an inward transformation and the surpassing righteousness that comes through faith. Together, Matthew 5 and Romans 1-9 provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the profound shifts that underscore the transition from a legalistic, physical worship to a spiritual worship grounded in the redemptive work of Christ.

The following is a comparison between Christ’s teachings and Paul’s teachings.

The Purpose of the Law and Fulfillment

Matthew 5:17-18 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 

Rom 2:12-16 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Gal 3:21-25 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

How is the law fulfilled?

Rom 13:8-10 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Jas 2:8-10 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Internal Righteousness

Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.

Circumcision of the Heart

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

The Universality of Sin

Psa 53:1-3 To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Mat 9:11-13 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Transformation of the Heart

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Rom 5:8-10 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

The Call to Perfection and Holiness

Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

In Jesus’ teachings, a recurring theme emerges, emphasizing not the nullification but the fulfillment of God’s laws. This aligns with Paul’s insights in Romans, where he conveys the concept of judgment, asserting that everyone, irrespective of their familiarity with God’s laws, will face judgment. This means it’s not just about understanding God’s laws, but actually putting them into action. This idea matches with what Jesus talks about when He discusses doing what is right. Moreover, when Jesus talks about nurturing a pure heart, this goes along with Paul’s discussion on the necessity of an internal spiritual transformation, indicating a complete change within our inner man. Both narratives underscore that authentic righteousness surpasses external adherence to rules and necessitates a genuine transformation of the heart. Paul’s assertion that faith in Jesus is crucial for alignment with God parallels with Jesus’s commentary of excelling in following God’s laws. These narratives converge on a central message of living out faith, prompting a change in both heart and conduct. The call for perfection by Jesus and Paul’s encouragement to pursue righteousness and holiness through faith, collectively point toward a changing pattern — a transition from adherence to a physical law to an embrace of a spiritual law. Lastly, the all-encompassing theme of love, particularly for those who may not reciprocate it, underscores a unified lesson on faith, virtue, and compassion, implying a profound transformation from a law rooted in physical observance to one grounded in a spiritual understanding.

Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 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.
Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Paul is restating his hope for his “kinsmen in the flesh”. He knows that in the ages to come they will be saved but he desires them to repent of the old and accept the new now if the Lord wills.

Rom 9:3-5 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 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; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Rom 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 
Rom 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:) 
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 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; 
Rom 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. 
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Who shall ascend up to heaven? Who shall descend into the deep? We do not have to go anywhere to find Christ. If you are Christ’s, then He is dwelling within you.

Luk 17:20-21 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answ ered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Rom 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.

There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek according to the flesh. We are all sinners and must be changed in order to enter into the kingdom of God.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Joh 3:3-8 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

Going back to an earlier study in Romans discussing the doctrine of “The Romans’ Road”. We now have seen all the verses involved in this doctrine. Here are the verses.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

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

All we have to do is call upon the name of the Lord, and we shall be saved. Of course, I speak as a fool if you take this in the literal sense. What is “calling upon the name of the Lord?” Our way of life is how we call upon the name of the Lord. Christ in us will cause us to walk differently than the rest of mankind. We will lay down our lives for each other, which is the ultimate sacrifice. The trouble with this doctrine is they truly do not believe that everyone will call upon the Lord and be saved. The scriptures say differently.

Isa 45:23-25 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

As we know this is all done in its proper order.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Rom 2:9-11 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.

1Co 15:20-26 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.