Romans 10: Salvation for Everyone Who Believes
Israel's zeal lacked knowledge of God's righteousness; salvation comes by confessing Jesus as Lord, and faith comes by hearing the word.
Romans 10 (WEB)
1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved.
2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.”
6 But the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t 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, which we preach:
9 that if you will 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 unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him.
13 For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher?
15 And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”
16 But they didn’t all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”
17 So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, didn’t they hear? Yes, most certainly, “Their sound went out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
19 But I ask, didn’t Israel know? First Moses says, “I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, with a nation void of understanding I will make you angry.”
20 Isaiah is very bold, and says, “I was found by those who didn’t seek me. I was revealed to those who didn’t ask for me.”
21 But as to Israel he says, “All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
Romans 10 (KJV)
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.
Romans 10 (ASV)
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and my supplication to God is for them, that they may be saved.
2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to 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.
4 For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth.
5 For Moses writeth that the man that doeth the righteousness which is of the law shall live thereby.
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:)
7 or, Who shall descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)
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:
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:
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 put to 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:
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 whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
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!
16 But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
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.
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.
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.
21 But as to Israel he saith, All the day long did I spread out my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
Summary
Paul's heart's desire and prayer is that Israel may be saved. He testifies that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge, for being ignorant of God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. Christ is the end and goal of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Whereas the law's righteousness demanded doing, the righteousness of faith brings the word near: it is in your mouth and in your heart. 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, for with the heart one believes and with the mouth one confesses. There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is rich to all who call on him, and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on one they have not believed, or believe in one they have not heard, or hear without a preacher, or preach unless they are sent? So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Israel has indeed heard, for the message has gone out to all the earth, yet they remain a disobedient and contrary people, while God says he was found even by those who did not seek him.
Key Figures
- Paul — The apostle who prays for Israel's salvation and proclaims that righteousness and salvation come by faith in Christ, freely available to all who call on him.
- Israel — Paul's people, zealous for God but ignorant of his righteousness, seeking to establish their own and not submitting to God's.
- Christ the Lord — The end and goal of the law for righteousness, whom all must confess as Lord and believe God raised from the dead to be saved.
- The preacher / messenger — The sent one through whose proclamation faith comes, for faith comes by hearing the word of Christ.
Key Verse
Romans 10:9 (WEB)
that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Lessons Learned
- Zeal for God without true knowledge of his righteousness leads people astray.
- Christ is the goal of the law, bringing righteousness to all who believe.
- Salvation comes by confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in his resurrection.
- Everyone who calls on the Lord is saved, so the gospel must be preached and sent.
- Zeal needs knowledge. Israel has "a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge" (Romans 10:2, WEB). Sincere passion misdirected cannot replace submitting to God's righteousness.
- Christ is the goal of the law. "Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Romans 10:4, WEB). The law always pointed toward him.
- Salvation is by confession and faith. "If you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9, WEB). The way of salvation is near and open to all.
- Faith comes through the word. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17, WEB). People must hear the gospel proclaimed in order to believe.
- What does Paul mean that Israel has zeal "but not according to knowledge" (10:2)?
- How is the "righteousness which is of faith" different from the righteousness of the law (10:5-8)?
- What is involved in confessing "Jesus is Lord" and believing in his resurrection (10:9-10)?
- Why does Paul emphasize the chain of sending, preaching, hearing, and believing (10:14-17)?
- Who in your life might "call on the Lord" if they heard the gospel, and how might God use you?
- Israel pursued God earnestly but sought to establish their own righteousness rather than submitting to God's, so their zeal worked against them (10:2-3). Passion without truth can lead away from God. This warns us that sincerity alone is not enough; we must receive God's way of righteousness.
- The law's righteousness demands doing what it commands, but the righteousness of faith receives a word already near, in mouth and heart (10:5-8). One is a ladder we cannot climb; the other is a gift we receive. Faith rests on what God has done and brought near in Christ.
- Confessing Jesus as Lord acknowledges his authority, and believing in his resurrection trusts that God vindicated him and accomplished salvation (10:9-10). Heart belief and mouth confession belong together. This is the simple, accessible way of salvation open to anyone.
- Paul shows that faith depends on hearing, hearing on preaching, and preaching on being sent, so the spread of the gospel is essential (10:14-17). God ordinarily saves through proclaimed truth. This grounds the church's mission and our part in carrying the word to others.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to name, even silently, one person who needs to hear the gospel. Encourage them to pray for an opportunity and consider one small, natural step toward sharing, trusting God to work through their witness.