Romans 10:1-11 comments: salvation

 

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

 

Paul expresses his heartfelt wish for Israel’s salvation. This follows up on his sentiment expressed in the last chapter.

 

Romans 9:1 ¶  I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2  That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3  For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 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; 5  Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

 

Through verse 3 he pleads their ignorance much as Christ did from the Cross and as Peter and Paul admitted.

 

Luke 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

 

Acts 3:17  And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

 

1Corinthians 2:8  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

 

1Timothy 1:13  Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

 

By being ignorantly self-righteous, which requires a sort of willful ignorance as described in chapter one, the Jews did not seek after Christ.

 

Remember what Christ said before His Resurrection?

 

Matthew 5:18  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.

 

Christ has fulfilled the Law for us.

 

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

Unlike a pagan priest with their gods we do not command Christ to come down or come up. We have Christ by the word of faith which Paul preached. It is faith and belief in the resurrection of Christ that justifies and saves us. The belief is in our hearts and the confession is made to God not to a priest or necessarily to a congregation.

 

Romans 14:11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

 

To say you probably aren’t really saved if you aren’t extroverted enough to stand before a group of people, perhaps strangers, and announce it is as absurd and cruel as saying that if you didn’t identify every sin in your life, confess every sin in your life, and make amends to everyone you ever hurt you probably aren’t saved. There are many people who believe but, if they even attend a church, don’t come forward as there are many people who come forward but don’t really have any root in belief and you never see them again. Be careful of your judgments.

 

Verse 11 repeats 9:33. We can be saved by believing in the resurrection of Christ, by trusting that His death on the Cross pays our ransom to God for sin, pays the cost, the penalty, and that by His resurrection from the dead we are justified before God, and this is a promise also that we can trust in Him. The free gift is available to all men and women but it is only those who will receive it who will be saved.