Bullet Point Bible

Paul's Desire for Israel's Salvation

¹ Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God on behalf of my fellow Israelites is for their salvation.² For I can testify that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not in line with the truth.³ For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God's righteousness.⁴ For Christ is the end of the law, with the result that there is righteousness for everyone who believes.

Paul expresses deep personal anguish and love for his fellow Jews, desiring their salvation above all.
He acknowledges Israel's genuine zeal for God but diagnoses it as misguided ("not in line with the truth"). This highlights that sincerity alone is insufficient for salvation.
The core issue identified is Israel's attempt to establish their own righteousness based on law-keeping, rather than submitting to God's provided righteousness through faith (Romans 10:3).
This connects back to the theme of justification by faith introduced earlier in Romans (e.g., Romans 3:21-26).
"Christ is the end (Greek: *telos*) of the law" (Romans 10:4) is a crucial theological statement. *Telos* can mean termination, goal, or fulfillment.
Interpretations of *telos* here vary: Christ terminates the law as a system for earning righteousness, OR Christ is the goal/fulfillment to which the law pointed. Both aspects likely contribute to Paul's meaning.
The result is clear: righteousness is now available to *everyone* (Jew and Gentile) who *believes* in Christ, shifting the basis from works to faith.
This section sets the stage for explaining the nature of God's righteousness available through faith.

Righteousness Through Faith Contrasted with Law

⁵ For Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law: " The one who does these things will live by them ."⁶ But the righteousness that is by faith says: " Do not say in your heart , ' Who will ascend into heaven? '" (that is, to bring Christ down)⁷ or " Who will descend into the abyss? " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).⁸ But what does it say? " The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart " (that is, the word of faith that we preach),⁹ because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.¹¹ For the scripture says, " Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame ."¹² For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him.¹³ For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved .

Paul contrasts two paths: righteousness via law (quoting Lev 18:5) and righteousness via faith (creatively adapting Deut 30:11-14).
Righteousness by law requires perfect obedience ("The one who *does* these things will live"), which is humanly impossible due to sin.
Paul personifies "righteousness by faith" using Deuteronomy 30, originally about the accessibility of God's commands, to show the accessibility of Christ.
Faith does not require impossible feats (ascending to heaven, descending to the abyss) because Christ has already come down and been raised up. God has brought salvation near.
The "word is near you" (Deut 30:14) is reinterpreted by Paul as the "word of faith," the gospel message about Jesus.
The core content of this saving faith is specified in Romans 10:9: confessing "Jesus is Lord" (acknowledging his deity and authority) and believing in the resurrection (validating his identity and work).
Paul links internal belief (heart) with external confession (mouth), showing faith naturally leads to outward expression. Belief leads to righteousness (right standing with God), confession leads to salvation (deliverance).
He supports this with Isaiah 28:16 ("will not be put to shame"), emphasizing the certainty and confidence that comes with faith in Christ.
The universality of this offer is stressed: "no distinction between Jew and Greek" (Romans 10:12), reinforcing a major theme in Romans. Christ is Lord of *all*.
The section culminates with Joel 2:32 ("everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved"), applying this Old Testament promise explicitly to calling on Jesus as Lord.

The Necessity of Preaching and Hearing

¹⁴ How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them?¹⁵ And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, " How timelyis the arrivalof those who proclaim the good news ."¹⁶ But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, " Lord, who has believed our report ?"¹⁷ Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ.

Paul logically outlines the necessary steps leading to salvation: Calling -> Believing -> Hearing -> Preaching -> Sending. This emphasizes the crucial role of gospel proclamation.
Salvation requires calling on the Lord (v. 13), which requires faith, which requires hearing the message, which requires someone to preach, which requires that preacher to be sent (commissioned).
This sequence underscores the importance of missions and evangelism in God's plan.
Paul quotes Isaiah 52:7 ("How beautiful are the feet...") to highlight the positive, God-ordained nature of bringing the "good news" (gospel).
Despite the necessity and beauty of preaching, Paul acknowledges that hearing does not automatically lead to belief and obedience, citing Israel's rejection prophesied by Isaiah 53:1 ("Who has believed our report?").
Verse 17 provides a concise summary: "Faith comes from hearing the message (Greek: *akoē*), and the message (hearing) comes through the word (Greek: *rhēma*) about Christ."
*Akoē* can mean the act of hearing, the thing heard (report/message), or even obedience. *Rhēma* often refers to the spoken word. Faith originates from encountering the proclaimed gospel of Jesus.
This section firmly establishes the indispensability of the preached word for the generation of saving faith.

Israel's Opportunity and Responsibility

¹⁸ But I ask, have they not heard? Yes, they have: Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world .¹⁹ But again I ask, didn't Israel understand? First Moses says, " I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation; with a senseless nation I will provoke you to anger ."²⁰ And Isaiah is even bold enough to say, " I was found by those who did not seek me; I became well known to those who did not ask for me ."²¹ But about Israel he says, " All day long I held out my hands to this disobedient and stubborn people! "

Paul anticipates and refutes potential excuses for Israel's unbelief, shifting focus to their responsibility.
Question 1: Did they *hear* the message? Paul answers affirmatively, applying Psalm 19:4 (originally about general revelation in creation) to the widespread proclamation of the gospel. The message has been made available.
Question 2: Did Israel *understand* or *know*? Paul again answers yes, using Old Testament prophecies that foretold Gentile inclusion and Israel's reaction.
He quotes Deuteronomy 32:21, where God (through Moses) predicts using Gentiles ("not a nation," "a senseless nation") to provoke Israel to jealousy and anger because of their idolatry. This implies Israel should have understood God's plan could include Gentiles.
He then quotes Isaiah 65:1, where God states He would reveal Himself to Gentiles who were not actively seeking Him, further emphasizing the unexpected inclusion of non-Jews.
Finally, Paul quotes Isaiah 65:2, contrasting God's persistent, gracious appeal to Israel ("All day long I have held out my hands") with their response ("a disobedient and rebellious people").
These quotations demonstrate that Israel's rejection of the gospel was not due to lack of opportunity or warning; it was foreseen in their own scriptures.
God's words spoken through Moses (v. 19) and Isaiah (vv. 20-21) are marked `{{ }}` as they represent direct divine speech within the quoted prophetic texts.
This section concludes the chapter by placing the responsibility for unbelief squarely on Israel, despite God's faithfulness and clear communication.

The Bullet Point Bible

Romans 10