1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” 6 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) 7 or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 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): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Commentary
Vs. 1 In previously stating that Israel has not obtained to the law of righteousness because they have stumbled at the stumbling stone the Apostle Paul was not condemning his fellow countrymen. For as He states here his desire is that they may be saved.
Vs. 2 And so it is that Israel though having a zeal for God (by their fervently seeking to keep all the religious ordinances and ritual sacrifices and commanded Sabbath's and such that the law required of them) they did not have this zeal according to knowledge. For they made keeping all the ordinances and sacrifices and Sabbath's etc. the primary goal. Yet God gave them all of these to point them to Christ (Gal 3:24-25). Thus though their zeal is in one sense commendable, yet if it does not lead them or anyone else to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ then it is only leading them and those who follow them astray. For religious zeal without true knowledge of God is always perilous.
Vs. 3-4 And so it is "...they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."
Now it's not just Israel that is guilty of this, of seeking to establish their own righteousness, and thus not submitting to the righteousness of God by trying to do so. For within the very broad umbrella that is Christianity, there have also been doctrines and commandments and traditions of man that have been handed down to us, yet are not required of any of us. Even within the local church or parachurch ministries we can be guilty of this when we in our zeal for God, seek to establish our own righteousness, by making observing this non-Scriptural ordinance or not observing that apart of being in a right standing with God. All of which is only undermining the truth that being declared righteous by God is only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, not by observing the doctrines, commandments and or preferences of man. As the Scripture says: "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." Therefore where faith in the Lord Jesus Christ begins there the law ends as the means for being declared righteous by God (Rom 5:1, 6:14, 10:3-4).
Vs. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”
Therefore the righteousness of the law is not something that someone should place any hope on. For the law states: “The man who does those things shall live by them.” Lev. 18:5 That is the person who seeks to be justified by God through the Law of God must keep all of it; without fail and without offense; otherwise that person will be charged with violating all of it (see James 2:13). Anyone then who thinks by keeping or having kept parts of it, whether this is the moral, ceremonial, or priestly aspects of it, that they will somehow have the "righteousness of the law" justify them, and thus have a right standing with God through it, are only deceiving themselves. For if you fail in one point, you have failed in all of it, and thus are under the curse of it, if you seek to be justified by it (see Gal 3:10-14). For God gave the Law through Moses as tutor (or guardian) which was in the fulfillment of time to bring us to Christ (Gal 3:19-25). He did not give it so that we would become self justifying through it. Rather through the law we should see our own fallen and sinful condition and thus seek God by faith, not works of the law, so that He might not only justify us, but ultimately change us (consider Luke 18:9-14).
Vs. 6-8 6 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) 7 or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 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):
Therefore in striking contrast to the righteousness which is of the law, which commands perfect and ongoing flawless obedience to it to maintain it, there is the righteousness of faith, which does not need us to do something to attain to it. (In regards to this see Rom 4:13-24, where Abraham attained to the righteousness of faith by believing God, and thus so do we when we do so as well. And Romans 9:30-33 where we believing Gentiles are commended because of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, while Israel holding to the law have only stumbled at the stumbling stone, because they have not yet come to Christ which they must do if they hope to be justified by God). Now in regards to this the Apostle Paul will now quote from Law, where Moses is telling the Israelites that the Word of God is not far off from them, rather it is very near to us all. And so he says to us all through it, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). vs. 6-7
His point being that God having already seen our need for salvation, sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ into this world to suffer crucifixion death in our place (John 3:16). Thus with the Living Word of God having become Incarnate amongst us in mortal flesh (John 1:14), there is now no one who believes in Him who cannot now come to God through Him (1 John 2:1-2; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 7:25). The Apostle Paul continues his exposition from the law, now looking at our other greatest need, the first being the atonement or expiation of all our sins, the second our being brought to Spiritual life with Christ, saying, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). And so this too is not something we need to strive and try to do for ourselves. Spiritual life (or being born again) is not something anyone need to strive for by trying to do various spiritual works and such. For God has already done this for us when He raised the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead to bring us to everlasting life with Himself, which happens the moment we believe in Him, the Holy Spirit being the Person of God who does that in us and for us (John 3:3-5) and thus seals us for eternity with Christ (2 Cor 1:21-22; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30 etc.). Therefore the righteousness of faith speaks this way, “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
Vs. 9-13 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Therefore the word of faith is not asking us to do something, it is asking us to believe in Someone, the Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done to save us, and then confess Him as Lord, for He transforms our persons and lives when we do. For those too things are the essential elements of salvation, believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Scripture declares Him to be, and just what He has done for us all, and then confessing Him as Lord. For when one believes in the Lord Jesus Christ in one's heart one is declared righteous by God, and thus will never be put to shame for having believed God and His Living Word (vs. 10-11). For God is the Just and the Justifier of everyone who has faith in Jesus (Rom. 3:26). Similarly having seen ones need for Christ and believing in Him always leads to calling on His Name, that is what is meant by confessing Jesus as Lord. It's not a "formula" for salvation, it's an essential part of receiving Him, asking Him to save one from one's sins and transgressions. For as the Apostle Paul declares here, in the eyes of God there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” vs. 12-13
Therefore if you believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord, and that after His crucifixion death God raised Him from the dead, then call upon and receive life everlasting for yourself through Him. For God is rich to all who call upon Him, for whoever calls upon Him shall be saved.
Scripture Quotation
The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson
Vs. 2 And so it is that Israel though having a zeal for God (by their fervently seeking to keep all the religious ordinances and ritual sacrifices and commanded Sabbath's and such that the law required of them) they did not have this zeal according to knowledge. For they made keeping all the ordinances and sacrifices and Sabbath's etc. the primary goal. Yet God gave them all of these to point them to Christ (Gal 3:24-25). Thus though their zeal is in one sense commendable, yet if it does not lead them or anyone else to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ then it is only leading them and those who follow them astray. For religious zeal without true knowledge of God is always perilous.
Vs. 3-4 And so it is "...they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."
Now it's not just Israel that is guilty of this, of seeking to establish their own righteousness, and thus not submitting to the righteousness of God by trying to do so. For within the very broad umbrella that is Christianity, there have also been doctrines and commandments and traditions of man that have been handed down to us, yet are not required of any of us. Even within the local church or parachurch ministries we can be guilty of this when we in our zeal for God, seek to establish our own righteousness, by making observing this non-Scriptural ordinance or not observing that apart of being in a right standing with God. All of which is only undermining the truth that being declared righteous by God is only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, not by observing the doctrines, commandments and or preferences of man. As the Scripture says: "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." Therefore where faith in the Lord Jesus Christ begins there the law ends as the means for being declared righteous by God (Rom 5:1, 6:14, 10:3-4).
Vs. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”
Therefore the righteousness of the law is not something that someone should place any hope on. For the law states: “The man who does those things shall live by them.” Lev. 18:5 That is the person who seeks to be justified by God through the Law of God must keep all of it; without fail and without offense; otherwise that person will be charged with violating all of it (see James 2:13). Anyone then who thinks by keeping or having kept parts of it, whether this is the moral, ceremonial, or priestly aspects of it, that they will somehow have the "righteousness of the law" justify them, and thus have a right standing with God through it, are only deceiving themselves. For if you fail in one point, you have failed in all of it, and thus are under the curse of it, if you seek to be justified by it (see Gal 3:10-14). For God gave the Law through Moses as tutor (or guardian) which was in the fulfillment of time to bring us to Christ (Gal 3:19-25). He did not give it so that we would become self justifying through it. Rather through the law we should see our own fallen and sinful condition and thus seek God by faith, not works of the law, so that He might not only justify us, but ultimately change us (consider Luke 18:9-14).
Vs. 6-8 6 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) 7 or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 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):
Therefore in striking contrast to the righteousness which is of the law, which commands perfect and ongoing flawless obedience to it to maintain it, there is the righteousness of faith, which does not need us to do something to attain to it. (In regards to this see Rom 4:13-24, where Abraham attained to the righteousness of faith by believing God, and thus so do we when we do so as well. And Romans 9:30-33 where we believing Gentiles are commended because of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, while Israel holding to the law have only stumbled at the stumbling stone, because they have not yet come to Christ which they must do if they hope to be justified by God). Now in regards to this the Apostle Paul will now quote from Law, where Moses is telling the Israelites that the Word of God is not far off from them, rather it is very near to us all. And so he says to us all through it, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). vs. 6-7
His point being that God having already seen our need for salvation, sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ into this world to suffer crucifixion death in our place (John 3:16). Thus with the Living Word of God having become Incarnate amongst us in mortal flesh (John 1:14), there is now no one who believes in Him who cannot now come to God through Him (1 John 2:1-2; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 7:25). The Apostle Paul continues his exposition from the law, now looking at our other greatest need, the first being the atonement or expiation of all our sins, the second our being brought to Spiritual life with Christ, saying, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). And so this too is not something we need to strive and try to do for ourselves. Spiritual life (or being born again) is not something anyone need to strive for by trying to do various spiritual works and such. For God has already done this for us when He raised the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead to bring us to everlasting life with Himself, which happens the moment we believe in Him, the Holy Spirit being the Person of God who does that in us and for us (John 3:3-5) and thus seals us for eternity with Christ (2 Cor 1:21-22; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30 etc.). Therefore the righteousness of faith speaks this way, “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
Vs. 9-13 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Therefore the word of faith is not asking us to do something, it is asking us to believe in Someone, the Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done to save us, and then confess Him as Lord, for He transforms our persons and lives when we do. For those too things are the essential elements of salvation, believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Scripture declares Him to be, and just what He has done for us all, and then confessing Him as Lord. For when one believes in the Lord Jesus Christ in one's heart one is declared righteous by God, and thus will never be put to shame for having believed God and His Living Word (vs. 10-11). For God is the Just and the Justifier of everyone who has faith in Jesus (Rom. 3:26). Similarly having seen ones need for Christ and believing in Him always leads to calling on His Name, that is what is meant by confessing Jesus as Lord. It's not a "formula" for salvation, it's an essential part of receiving Him, asking Him to save one from one's sins and transgressions. For as the Apostle Paul declares here, in the eyes of God there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” vs. 12-13
Therefore if you believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord, and that after His crucifixion death God raised Him from the dead, then call upon and receive life everlasting for yourself through Him. For God is rich to all who call upon Him, for whoever calls upon Him shall be saved.
Scripture Quotation
The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson
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