Romans 10

Romans 10 continues Paul’s explanation of righteousness by faith. Paul shows that Israel had zeal for God, but they tried to establish their own righteousness through the law instead of receiving God’s righteousness through Christ. He explains that Christ is the goal and fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Salvation is now offered to both Jews and Gentiles through faith in Christ, by believing in the heart and confessing Him with the mouth. Paul also shows the importance of preaching the gospel, because faith comes by hearing the word of God.

Romans 10:1-3 (NKJV)
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.

Paul again shows his deep love and burden for Israel. His desire and prayer is that they may be saved. He admits that they have zeal for God, but their zeal is not according to true knowledge. They were sincere in their religion, but they did not understand God’s way of righteousness. Instead of receiving righteousness from God through faith in Christ, they tried to establish their own righteousness through the law. Because of this, they did not submit to the righteousness of God.

Romans 10:4 (NKJV)
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Paul does not mean that Christ abolished the law in every sense. Rather, Christ is the end, goal, and fulfillment of the law as a way of seeking righteousness. Israel tried to become righteous by keeping the law, but the law could only point to righteousness; it could not give life apart from Christ. Christ fulfilled what the law pointed to, and now righteousness is received through faith in Him. Therefore, no one is made righteous before God by works of the law, but by believing in Christ.

Romans 10:5 (NKJV)
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”

Paul quotes Leviticus 18:5 to show the principle of righteousness under the law: the person who does the law must live by it. This means that law-righteousness depends on obedience. In the Old Covenant setting, obedience brought temporal blessings such as life, protection, and blessing in the land. But as a way of obtaining full righteousness before God, the law required perfect obedience, which sinful humanity could not produce. This shows why people need Christ, who fulfilled the law and brings true life through faith.

Romans 10:6-7 (NKJV)
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.

Paul now describes the righteousness of faith. He uses language from Deuteronomy 30:12-13 to show that faith does not require impossible human efforts. No one needs to climb into heaven to bring Christ down, because Christ has already come. No one needs to descend into the abyss to bring Christ up from the dead, because God has already raised Him. Salvation is not based on doing some great and impossible work, but on receiving what God has already done in Christ—His coming, His death, and His resurrection.

Romans 10:8-9 (NKJV)
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.

Paul says the word of faith is near, not far away or impossible to reach. The gospel is simple and accessible. A person receives salvation by believing in the heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confessing with the mouth that Jesus is Lord. Believing in the heart means trusting sincerely in Christ and His resurrection, not merely agreeing with the facts. Confessing Jesus as Lord means openly acknowledging His authority and surrendering to Him. Salvation is therefore not earned by human effort, but received through faith in Christ.

Romans 10:10-11 (NKJV)
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.”

Paul explains the connection between heart-faith and confession. With the heart a person believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. True faith begins inwardly, but it also shows itself outwardly. Paul then quotes Scripture to assure believers that whoever believes on Christ will not be put to shame. Those who trust in Him will not be disappointed, because God will faithfully save those who believe.

Romans 10:12-13 (NKJV)
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.”

Paul makes clear that salvation is for everyone. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile when it comes to the gospel, because the same Lord is rich in mercy to all who call upon Him. Paul quotes Joel to show that “whoever” calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. This shows the openness and simplicity of the gospel. Salvation is not limited by race, nationality, or background, but is offered to all who believe and call on the Lord.

Romans 10:14-15 (NKJV)
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?
15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”

Paul explains why preaching the gospel is necessary. People cannot call on Christ unless they believe in Him, they cannot believe unless they hear about Him, and they cannot hear unless someone preaches. This shows the importance of those who are sent to share the gospel. Paul quotes Isaiah 52:7 to show that those who bring the good news are precious and welcome. Just as messengers once announced freedom and restoration, gospel messengers announce peace, salvation, and good things through Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:16-17 (NKJV)
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Paul acknowledges that not everyone who hears the gospel obeys it. Isaiah had already spoken of people hearing the message but not believing it. Still, Paul explains that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. This shows why the word must be preached. Hearing the word gives people the opportunity to believe, but they must receive it with an open and willing heart. As Jesus said in Matthew 11:15, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” True hearing means more than hearing sounds; it means receiving God’s word with faith.

Romans 10:18-19 (NKJV)
18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”
19 But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.”

Paul asks whether Israel had heard the message, and he answers yes. By quoting Psalm 19:4, he shows that just as creation declares God’s glory throughout the earth, the gospel had also spread widely in the known world through the apostles and messengers of Christ. Israel’s problem was not simply that they had no opportunity to hear, but that many did not respond in faith. Paul then asks whether Israel knew that God would include the Gentiles, and he quotes Deuteronomy 32:21 to show that Moses had already warned them. God would use those who were once “not a nation,” referring to the Gentiles, to provoke Israel to jealousy. This means the inclusion of the Gentiles was not a surprise, but part of God’s plan, meant to awaken Israel and lead them back to Him.

Romans 10:20-21 (NKJV)
20 But Isaiah is very bold and says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”
21 But to Israel he says: “All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

Paul quotes Isaiah to show the contrast between the Gentiles and Israel. The Gentiles, who were not originally seeking God, found Him because God revealed Himself to them through the gospel. But Israel, who had received so many privileges and warnings, remained disobedient and resistant. God had stretched out His hands to them all day long, showing His patience, mercy, and willingness to receive them, but many refused His invitation. This shows that Israel’s rejection was not because God shut them out, but because they were unwilling to submit to His righteousness in Christ.