Israel's Failure

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Romans 10:1-4

Lest we think Paul is dismissive of his people Israel, he states again his desire for their salvation, as he has already done in chapter 9. He knew these people. He was one of these people. He completely understood their zeal for God. He also understood their ignorance, which was also his own ignorance, before Jesus “clobbered” him on the road to Damascus. They thought they had to prove their own righteousness to God, rather than to accept the grace gift of God’s perfect righteousness, received through faith in Jesus Christ.

The commands in the Mosaic Law were given to a people (Israel) who already belonged to God, having been redeemed out of slavery in Egypt (Deuteronomy 30:10-20). That law is a code of conduct for God’s people, not for people trying to become God’s. They had received God’s righteousness in the Passover and had been led by His glory through the sea and the desert, and then Moses was given the Table of the Law, to show them God’s expectations of His people. “Since you, my people, have been given this law, you’ll do well to live by it.” The law was not to bring salvation, but because they were saved. Heathen people weren’t expected to have these standards, God’s people were.

As time went by, the Jews put the effect before the cause. They ignored the grace gift and went straight for the points system. This made them imposters. Without the imputation of God’s righteousness through faith, they had no basis for good works; no spiritual fountain from which the good works could flow. It all became a sham, but they convinced themselves that it was what they had to do for eternal life. And since it was frustrating and unfulfilling, they even added rules of their own.

But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13

Salvation is the same for everyone. It is by God’s grace, through personal faith in the Lordship and resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ. “Heart” in v 10 and throughout this passage is the Greek word kardia; the thinking part of the soul. God has always made His truth available to all who wanted to know Him. This is not a points system or an emotional experience, it is knowledge of God’s provision in Jesus Christ, believing and receiving that provision, and openly declaring that belief. Anyone. God honors those who believe and love His Word. God saves those who believe and profess His Son. The same salvation applies to all who call on His Name (identify with Him). Jew or Gentile….no difference.

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10: 14-16

There must be communication of the gospel. Someone has to take it to them. Someone did, actually. Jesus, Himself did. The Old Testament prophets did.

But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:

“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.”

What about those (religious or heathen) who have never heard? They’ve heard. They ignored or rejected the truth, if they are not saved. Every generation has opportunity to hear and believe.

Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,
“I will make you envious by those (Gentiles) who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”
And Isaiah boldly says,
“I was found by those (Gentiles) who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”
But concerning Israel he says,

“All day long I have held out my hands
to a disobedient and obstinate people.” Romans 10:16-21

Self-righteous and arrogant people are much too proud to submit to the Authority of God, and humbly receive His free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.