Paul's letter to the Romans
Romans 10 - ASV
1. Brethren, my heart's desire and my supplication to God is for them, that they may be saved.
Christians are not followers, inferiors, club members. They are in the family as brethren. They have blood relation with one another.
Salvation has priority. Salvation of the saints is our work. Nothing selfish. All for the Lord as He had commanded. And He for our good. We all work together in love. We obey, and through obedience we bear good fruits.
2. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
Paul did not witness for himself. he worked for others.
Not all zeal spring from knowledge.
3. For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
There is, in reality, no need to establish another righteousness, power centre, reference to life.
Any other righteousness is in direct competition with God in seeking glory and attention.
4. For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth.
Christ fulfils all righteousness. He is the author and executor. He knows how to satisfy the requirement.
Human works do not count. He requires belief in His fulfilment. He tells us this is part of His righteousness. Any other effort is in direct competition with His righteousness and glory.
Any other effort is idolatry. In Sin.
5. For Moses writeth that the man that doeth the righteousness which is of the law shall live thereby.
You live according to what you side with.
If you side with Christ, you will live with Christ.
6. But the righteousness which is of faith saith thus, Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down:)
There is a righteousness of faith. There is a righteousness of works.
Do not think of scenaria wrongly.
7. or, Who shall descend into the abyss? (That is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)
Christ did it all.
No need to plan for any other provision. The Lord will provide.
8. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach:
The revelation and power of God is not far off.
We do not preach the word of works.
Read also 2Jn v9-11.
9. because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:
Confession is the expression of ones faith/belief/pistis.
You shall be saved if you both express and believe the right plan/thing, that God the Father raised Him the Son from the dead for the remission of sins, for you.
God's salvation will not be of help to you if you do not rely on His provision.
God will not keep chasing after you always, if you keep on actively running away from Him. He will grant you the time to be away from Him always, which is the second death. You get what you want; what you long for.
10. for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Not with works, not with the mouth, not with the hands and tools.
The words from the mouths are for confession, supporting the initiation of the hearts. The principle element is still the hearts, faith, belief.
11. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be put to shame.
The scripture that you may turn to/read is the reference point.
He will help you staying away from trouble. There is glory with Him; not shame.
12. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him:
God is generous.
13. for, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
It is decreed to be so easy, but do you do that?
Still too hard for you?
14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Step by step for contemplation.
Would you call upon Him? Would you made known the deeds of Christ? Would you preach His gospel, His commandments, His love, His longsuffering, His revelation?
So much to do.
15. and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!
They were sent. By that you find it scriptures.
Scriptures have confer glory onto those who would obey and bring glad tidings of good things to those who did not have. There is glory in giving.
16. But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
The reality has another picture. Some keep rebelling.
Difficulties is expressed as beacon.
17. So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
In the bible/scriptures are the word of Christ. Yet how much do you read?
How many excuses do you make? How long still do you intend to run away?
How just do you expect God to be?
18. But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world.
With the internet, radio, printing, missionaries, we can say for sure that the gospel went out into all the earth.
19. But I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, With a nation void of understanding will I anger you.
Paul explains to the Israelites.
The picture painted is the nation of Israelites, and the nation of the Greek/civilised non-believers.
20. And Isaiah is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I became manifest unto them that asked not of me.
True for Isaiah, and true for Christ; that the message was sent out.
21. But as to Israel he saith, All the day long did I spread out my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
The picture of a longsuffering, caring,patient God, looking for reconciliation.
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