10:1
Paul shows compassion for his countrymen. He mentioned this in 9:3. He desires to preach to
This was Paul’s problem (1 Tm. 1:13)
By trying to be righteous by good works
This is an example of a religious rebel who does not submit to God’s
righteousness
This is the topic of Isaiah 65:1-7.
Isaiah 65:2 “an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations.”
10:4
“end” can mean:
1) termination of the law
2) purpose of law is fulfilled
To describe the law as “ended” is important here because the Jew is not simply incomplete when they stand on the law.
The Jew who is depending on the law of justification is wrong.
They are not waiting for the fulfillment by trying to attain legalistic righteousness.
Men of faith like Moses, David and Daniel followed the law but trusted in the promise for their righteousness.
It could be said of these men that Christ completed or fulfilled the law, but only because they were trusting the
promises of his coming and not their own obedience. There is no way that Christ fulfilled or completed the law for the
Jew who is trusting the law and their works of the law for salvation.
In one case the Jew can trust the promise revealed in the law and see Christ fulfilled that promise.
In the other case the Jew can trust his efforts to be legalistically righteous but in that case Christ ended,
stopped, terminated and fulfilled the purpose of the law thus making the law now worthless.
In Galatians it is described even worse:
1) Galatians 4:8 – Paul tells the Galatians that as Pagans they followed “those who by nature are not gods” referring to Pagan religions.
2) Galatians 4:9 – Paul tells them that they now know God and are known by God. They have a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
3) Galatians 4:9 – The Galatians problem was that they were Gentiles being influenced by the Judaizers to follow the Law of Moses. Paul says, “how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? By saying this Paul is placing the law of Moses on the same level as Pagan worship. Why? Because the Law of Moses has served its purpose. It is no longer affective.
Verse 4 may also have a qualifying reference concerning for who the Law has ended.
Paul says, “Christ is the end of the Law . . . for everyone who believes.”
With this reference the Law may still be useful to non believers to lead them to Christ.
This would explain why the temple worship is resumed at the end of the church age.
Since at that time
At this point Paul spends the next 9 verses (10:5-13) discussing the people he described as “those who believe”
and what happens when you believe.
10:5
Paul uses Moses’ own description to describe the righteousness that comes from the Law:
“The man who does these things will live by them.” (Lev. 18:5)
In reality, righteousness could be attained through the Law of Moses, but it was obtained by obeying the Law.
This meant every thing and every time.
Life could be attained by perfectly obeying the Law of Moses.
Paul uses this same verse in Galatians 3:12,
“The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”
Galatians 3:10-14 explains that the righteousness through the Law is impossible and if you fail you are cursed instead.
Faith of Abraham Galatians 3:14 and Galatians 3:6-9
Romans 2:13 to be righteous by the Law you have to do more than hear the Law and be excited about it.
You have to do it. You have to keep it.
10:6
Deuteronomy 9:4 “Do not say in your heart. . .” where Moses warns the people that they have not
taken the land because of their own righteous acts. There are two reasons why
1) Canaanites were wicked
2) God promised it to Abraham
Paul is speaking to Jews here and is telling them they have no excuse to not understand his message.
Paul is saying in the ( ) what Moses was talking about. It was a principle of God’s activity.
If God brought them the Law surely He would also bring them the Messiah
Deuteronomy 30:11-14
The concept is there is nothing to go and attain.
We do not need to ascend to heaven to achieve salvation.
Instead God left heaven and came to men
· in the OT by theophanies, prophets, manifestations as Hebrews 1:1 says
· in the gospels as Immanuel
· in the NT by the Holy Spirit and the inspired word through apostles
We do not need to descend to the underworld to pay for sin
Instead Jesus Christ died, was buried and was resurrected for us
Paul changes “sea” of Deuteronomy to “abyss” in Romans to stress the spiritual dimensions.
From the place Christ came from to the place He went upon His death
The burden has been placed on God and accomplished:
The question is now do you understand it and believe.