Romans 10:1-21
1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
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, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
The apostle ever had in mind the Master Himself when he spoke of the righteousness of God. The idea of that righteousness, held by Israel was due to their misunderstanding of the written law, their ignorance of its true meaning, because they had not known Christ. Paul knew perfectly well that nothing so soon compels a man to cease seeking to establish his own righteousness as a vision of the righteousness of God. On the way to Damascus he was going about establishing his own righteousness; but a vision of the righteousness of God at once brought him to the position of submission to it.
The apostle then discussed the way of righteousness according to the plan of God in contrast with the attempt that Israel was making to establish its own righteousness. The great statement is made in the words, "Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth."
A series of questions reveals the importance of the work of preaching the Gospel. There can be no calling on One not believed in; there can be no belief in One not heard of; there can be no hearing without a preacher.
From among the number of those who heard the glad tidings published by the missionary messengers, only some were elect. They were such as not only heard, but hearkened and believed. The last quotation from Isaiah defines exactly the divine attitude- hands spread out continuously toward a rebellious people. The will of God is the salvation of all such, and He has elected to salvation those who believe.