I have found that within the election are found many callings. Israel was God’s elect, chosen by Him to be His people. Through His people He would reveal Himself. In revealing Himself, He would call Israel to respond to the Election. There is a universal calling that goes out to all mankind as an invitation to repentance and faith. There is then a more specific calling to an individual to respond to the call to salvation. There is also then vocational calling to respond to God’s work with a work from the heart. Within Israel was the real Israel, a people God called to Himself. They were to receive from Him and then reveal God to the world. Yet, even in their failure, apostasy and rebellion, God brought the Word to the gentiles. They chose to maintain a system and mindset that they would work their way to God through the law and good works. This same mindset has stumbled many who claim to be in Christ.
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Paul is the greatest example of the tension that exists between God's sovereign election and our personal responsibility. Paul was an enemy of the gospel and the church. He had found righteousness in the law and was persecuting the church. God would have been perfectly just and right to squash him and make an end of the matter. As Paul looked back on that time, he might have asked himself why God saved him. Why indeed? He came to know God had a sovereign purpose.
Along the same line of thought, you might ask why did God save you. Why? Paul was no better than a terrorist of the church in his day. Do you view yourself as better than any modern-day terrorist? Can you look at the terrorist and say, "There, but by the grace of God, go I." Would you not be any better if it were not for God's mercy bestowed on you; His provision made to you; His calling to you, "Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest." God did all the work. He didn't see any goodness in you. He didn't look at your inner self and see you were clearly better than the worst terrorist. In addition, you didn't save yourself; not by praying a prayer or doing some other deed; not by someone in your family making you go to church; not by a pastor or priest making any declaration or proclamation over you. God does all the work.
Why did He do it? It's a mystery. It's God's sovereignty. When we understand God's sovereign act, it's also time for us to learn that God won't force His will on you. God extends His mercy to us and opens our eyes; He puts the gospel truth before us, but if we choose to ignore it and put our faith in idols, He will allow us to do so. We have a personal responsibility to respond to God in faith.
There is a tension that exists between election and personal responsibly. One commentator put it like this:
When I come to a text which speaks of election, I delight myself in the doctrine of election. When the apostles exhort me to repentance and obedience, and indicate my freedom of choice and action, I give myself up to that side of the question.… As wheels in a complicated machine may move in opposite directions and yet subserve a common end, so may truths apparently opposite be perfectly reconcilable with each other, and equally subserve the purposes of God in the accomplishment of man’s salvation. (Stott, p. 278)[1]
Chapters 9-11 are Paul's explanation of anticipated questions regarding the Jews and God's faithfulness. Paul was persuaded that nothing could separate us from the love of God. So, the question that might arise was, what about Israel? If Israel was God's chosen people, then what happened to them, why didn't they believe? And in Chapter 9 we see God's sovereignty at work in the election. God's mercy fell up upon whom He saw fit, for His purpose.
Paul explained the present situation regarding Israel’s spiritual condition. This actually began the thoughts that would be carried through chapter 10.
Romans 9:30-33
Understanding Israel’s rebellious past brings the question, ‘Where do they stand today?
Israel sought righteousness by the law, by their good works. They were so zealous for the law they even added some of their own laws and interpretations of them. They had decided what the Messiah would look like and how He would act, and Jesus didn't fit that mold. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. Their laws should have led them to Jesus (righteousness of faith) but instead led them to self-righteousness drawn from the law.
Paul’s quote mashes together a couple verses and thoughts, a common practice for Rabbis.
14 He will be as a sanctuary,
But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense
To both the houses of Israel,
As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble;
They shall fall and be broken,
Be snared and taken.” (Isaiah 8:14)
Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation,
A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;
Whoever believes will not act hastily. (Isiah 28:16)
22 The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone. (Psalm 118:22)
While we saw God's election at work in chapter 9, we quickly moved to the responsibility of the Jews to believe by faith.
Romans 10:1-4
The deep sorrow Paul expressed at the beginning of chapter 9 is now expressed as a sincere hope and desire that Israel might be saved. His heart’s desire also led to his prayer to God for them. He keenly understood these people's blindness; after all he lived through it. He remembered well that eye opening experience of finally having 'something like scales' fall from his eyes (Acts 9).
We should note that Paul prayed with expectation that his prayers might have effect toward salvation. This prayer is after explaining the call and election of God in chapter 9. Paul didn’t sit back and say it was all decided and that prayer did no good. He also didn’t attempt to explain the tension of call and election with personal decisions to repent and trust, pray or evangelize unbelievers.
You know Paul had to look back on those days when he was blind and wonder how it took him so long to see the truth. He had to wonder why he didn’t understand or see it. Even with all his understanding, I’m sure he felt regret and sadness at times for not coming to the truth earlier in life. I certainly feel that way. His memory of the stoning of Stephen had to remain a vivid reminder of the zeal not born of knowledge but from blindness. And Paul went on to have a career of dragging people out of their homes and persecuting and imprisoning them. I imagine these are things Paul would rather not think about.
Paul told these Roman Christians that he could bear witness to the fact that they had a zeal for God. This would have made them proud to be recognized for their zeal. It was important to them. Their zeal drove them to violence as an expression of it. Paul knew this, it was his explanation of harming Christians in his former life. We should note here that God is putting Paul’s past to work. The man who made a career out of zeal and used it to persecute Christians was uniquely qualified to speak to others about it.
In John 2, the disciples remember the words of Psalm 69:9 -
“Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”
These words came to mind when Jesus used a whip and drove people from the temple, poured out the changer’s money and overturned tables. Their zeal of God without knowledge met the zeal of Christ with the knowledge
In Luke, Jesus delivered a blistering set of woes to the lawyers, the last of which dealt with knowledge, the very thing lacking from their zeal.
52 “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.” (Luke 11:52)
The idea was that knowledge was the key to entering into the kingdom of God. By definition, this is what they were supposed to do, open God’s word in wisdom and deliver it to the people. Instead, they closed it, binding up knowledge and creating ignorance and legalism.
The Jews had an understanding and definition of God and it seemed as though nothing would change that. This left them pursuing righteousness without understanding of God’s righteousness. In their ignorance, they pursued their understanding of righteousness, better known as self-righteousness. Zeal without knowledge is dangerous. Luther said zeal according to knowledge is “to know that one does not know.”
They thought they were special in that they were God’s chosen people. Yet, they were so busy keeping the law and seeking after their own righteousness they forgot to look for the promised One that would come. They had total disregard for much of the Old Testament writings that pointed toward the coming messiah. They thought their own pursuit of the law made them righteous and in their perceived righteousness they saw themselves as the ones to determine others righteousness. It seems as though the lack of humility would be a dead giveaway something was wrong.
Paul’s present zeal stood in contrast. He knew a righteousness by faith in Christ. His zeal was combined with knowledge and wisdom. The same zeal he previously used against Christians was now informed to call people to Christ.
There is some debate and discussion around what is meant by verse 4. Scripture tells us that the law was never meant to make us righteous, it could only inform is of our lawbreaking. Once it identified us as lawbreakers, it was done. It could do nothing to remedy the situation. The law revealed need for relief from out plight of being lawbreakers. The law was supposed to lead them to their messiah. Jesus was the fulfillment of the law we needed. On the cross he said, “it is done.” What did he mean? What was complete? The substitutionary atonement was complete. The lamb of God was taking our sin upon Him, that we might have His righteousness. To talk about a messiah ending the law wasn’t a realistic thought or a credible statement to them. They didn’t want a messiah that would mess with their traditions or take their law away or destroy their temple. The Jews failed to see their righteousness couldn’t keep the law and the perfect righteousness of God was available to them.
In all their zeal and all their ways, they suffered from the primary problem from which we have all suffered. That is failure to submit to God and His righteousness and do things His way.
Romans 10:5-13
Paul quoted from Leviticus 18:5:
5 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.
Some argue the Jews could attain righteousness by the law. Of course, we know we all fall short of this perfection. Righteousness which is of the law is theoretical; as if one could attain it by perfect conformity to the law. If there is such a thing as righteousness by the law, it is a righteousness by faith born from one’s attempt to keep the law.
We should note here Paul's balance to the election of God. Paul didn't take the attitude that God had made some elect and other not and all was decided already. Paul prayed for his people, preached to them and cried out to them with zeal born of the knowledge of God; the knowledge of His amazing saving grace. He wanted all to have this knowledge.
The righteousness of the law speaks about what you must do. But the righteousness of faith speaks about the word being in you and to confess and believe. We know the Jews were pursuing a righteousness of law. Paul is trying to get them to understand the righteousness of faith was the next step. One they had never taken.
The Jews respected Moses and the law so Paul went to Moses words in Deuteronomy. He went to the law to make the case for righteousness by faith. :
12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. (Deuteronomy 30:12-13)
Moses was setting the choice before the Jews; a choice of blessing or curses; life or death; God’s way or rebellion. It wasn’t too hard for them. It didn’t require a quest to heaven. It wasn’t beyond the sea where one had to embark on some trek or great adventure to attain it. It was near, they didn’t have to chase all over to find it.
This ‘word’ Paul spoke of is translated from the Greek word ‘Rhema’. Rhema represented real words spoken by a real living person. In this case it represented God’s word as spoken by Jesus Christ. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. Paul is pointing to Jesus as the Word Moses spoke of.
The Jews had stumbled. They had the law. But instead of finding themselves unrighteous lawbreakers, they patted themselves on the back for working the law and declared themselves righteous. It’s as though they did this work and reported it to God, as if He then owed them the declaration of righteousness.
Paul laid it out very clearly to them:.
- Confession. This confession is the Greek word ‘homologeo’. It means to make a public profession or confession. In the Roman culture they were supposed to profess openly that Caesar was lord. This was how you showed your allegiance to him. Anything else could get you killed. In this case it is to confess Christ.
- Confession is acknowledgment of sin, agreement with God that we deserve His wrath. It’s an acknowledgment of His authority and power to be just, but also mercy and love to deliver salvation.
- Believe. To 'believe in your heart' is to be entrusted to something. To be persuaded with conviction. It’s not just an intellectual understanding. It comes from the heart. Believing in your heart is to have faith; it’s to know Jesus was raised from the dead; it's to believe that He was who he said He was (is).
This profession was evidence of the saving faith and by that faith God would save that person.
Paul told these Roman Christians we all need to name Jesus Christ as Lord. The world has always been full or lords; both manmade gods and men who claim to be gods. To name one as Lord is to place that one in the highest regard, in the highest place in your life, pledging him your absolute obedience and reverent worship
The Jewish law of righteousness looked like this:
- It was only for the Jew
- It was based on keeping the law (good works)
- Only obtained by obedience (Perfect obedience isn't even possible)
- Self-Righteousness (Sounds like, "See how good I did in my good works?"
- This self-righteousness led to pride
- Ultimately, the law didn’t save because it couldn't save.
The Righteousness of faith looks like this:
- It was for "whoesoever". (John 3:16)
- Comes by faith in the perfect work of Christ on the cross.
- Obtained by calling on the name of the Lord.
- We obtain God's righteousness as a gift.
- There is no pride because God alone is glorified.
- Salvation is found by faith alone, in Christ alone.
- Finally and forever, we are justified.
Last week in Chapter 9 we talked about the doctrine of election. And we know from that teaching that salvation comes from God by His election. But we shouldn’t be fooled into thinking the script was written by God and we have no responsibility. This election and personal responsibility are interlocked. It’s hard to understand and Paul doesn’t attempt to do so; he takes it as a matter of fact. God’s election doesn’t violate our free will and responsibility to choose. We see we are free to choose and we will be responsible for those choices.
Paul, by quoting Isaiah again, assured the Romans that those calling on the Lord’s name would not be put to shame (Is 26:18). He makes it very clear that there is no distinction between Jew and Greek. Neither ethnic group could claim a better position. He is the same Lord over all, and is rich to all who call on Him. Jesus is rich to all in that He alone is the priceless riches of salvation.
It’s interesting that Peter made the same point in Acts 15 at the Jewish council. Some Jews wanted to require the gentiles to follow their legal customs to become Christians. Peter spoke of all the work the Lord had done through the gentiles and how they were being saved. This was witnessed by the coming of the Holy Spirit. He asked why they would put a yoke on them.
But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
He had not doubt that they had been saved and clearly stated the Jews could be saved without the legalisms.
Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. This ‘Calling on the name of the Lord’ is an Old Testament expression found in several places. It links Jesus Christ with the God of the Old Testament. Paul is telling us we can “Call on the name of the Lord” just like David did in the Psalms. Jesus is the same God David Called on when he called on the name of the Lord. This fact was lost on most Jews.
Romans 10:14-15
The series of questions are interesting and create some debate among scholars. To ‘call up on Him’ is linked to the word that is preached.
- Can’t call on Him without belief
- Can’t believe without hearing
- Can’t hear without a preacher
- Can’t preach unless sent.
Paul’s quote is from Isaiah 52:7 and Nahum 1:15. The quote is the evidence to Israel that one had been sent, the word was preached, the opportunity to hear was their and the fact they did not is proof of their apostasy and rebellious heart.
Feet weren’t looked at as beautiful in any way. But Beautiful were the feet who brought the gospel of peace. The gospel of peace wasn’t the message of works of the Law as the Jews believed. The gospel of peace was a message of salvation by grace.
If this salvation message is so simple and all you have to do is respond to it. Then why haven’t the Jews all obeyed? The Jews didn’t hear what Isaiah and the other prophets said. The example Paul gave us was Isaiah looking to the lord and saying, “Lord, who has believed our report?” This quote comes from Isaiah 53:1. It was like asking why are we talking, no one is responding?
Romans 10:16-21
It’s fascinating that Paul used a quote from the first line of the most detailed description of the messiah in the Old Testament. I don’t know how you could read Isaiah 53 and not see Jesus Christ. When Paul asked Isaiah’s question,” Lord, who has believed our report?” He points to the report that Isaiah made that’s been rejected by the Jews for many years.
Paul answered the question, “Who has believed our report?” by saying that Faith comes by hearing. The prophets and others were speaking the word but the Jews weren’t hearing it. They were responsible for speaking, each individual is responsible for hearing. Hearing comes by the word of God. Hearing comes from the message about Christ, the revealed word of God.
Then in verse 18 he quotes from Psalm 19:4 to show that even David understood that God’s revelation had gone to the whole earth and to the ends of the world. He then quoted from Deuteronomy 32:21 in verse 19 to show that Moses told Israel that God would use other nations; the gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy. These other nations will be brought closer to God than Israel.
Then in verse 20 he went to Isaiah 65 to show God had done what He said in verse 19. God was found by those that didn’t seek Him; the Gentiles. And those who sought him, the Jews, continued to be lost. What was Israel’s response? It was continued unbelief and disobedience.
21 But to Israel he says:
“All day long I have stretched out My hands
To a disobedient and contrary people.”
God had gone to great lengths to show Himself through His people. He has stretched out His hands in many ways to this people, but they were contrary and disobedient. They were proud and stiff necked and, in their arrogance, they rejected their long awaited One.
As a Christian we must recognize the great lengths God has gone to bring this message to us. Sometimes we can be so flippant about our salvation. But the gospel message is eternal, life giving, and a soul saving message of forgiveness of sins. It is a message of grace that none of us should ever forget about. Because of that we should respond with great appreciation and reverence. We should offer that same message to all. We should be those beautiful feet that carry it to the ends of the earth.
We read the stories of the Old Testament and see the ‘stiff necked’ Jews. And we are amazed at them. How could they act the way they did? They were delivered out of bondage of Egypt and then they longed to go back at the first sign of hardship. “Moses……did you bring us out here to see us die in the desert?”
Yet, how much different are we? We hold the whole story in our hands. We have all the promises of God. Yet, most professing Christians don’t bother to open the book. And at the first sign of trouble we become devout followers crying out to God, ”Oh God, How could you let this happen to me?” And suddenly this verse speaks to us, “All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” And we realize we are no different than the Jews.
Amen.
©2008, 2014, 2021 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater
[1] Boa, K., & Kruidenier, W. (2000). Romans (Vol. 6, p. 302). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
mas Nelson.
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