Romans 10:1-4

A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 71 Chapter 10:1 – 4

By Pastor Randy Johnson

1. Verse 1 “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”
1. This is Paul second plea for his beloved Israel . Romans 1:3 “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:”
2. However he ended chapter 9 admitting they would only be a few that was the true elect of God. Romans 9:27 “Esaias also crieth concerning Israel , Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:”
3. He also understood from his past belief and firmness in the Jewish faith, and their hatred for Jesus Christ and Christians, and that their total depravity that they would never turn to Christ on their own. This is why also in chapter 9 he ended with this; Romans 9:32 - 33 “Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; (33.) As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” Christ Jesus is their stumbling stone, just as He is with the religionist of our day because He simply in not alone able to cleanse us from out sins in totality.
4. “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is…”

a. “…my heart's desire…” means - my earnest and sincere prayer is – meaning he truly did desire the Israelites to be saved but understood unless God redeemed them they were eternally lost.

b. Wesley said in his commentary, “He would not have prayed for this, had they been absolutely reprobated.” – I agree, Paul did pray because he wanted them to be saved, if he believed there was no hope at all he would not have prayed about it.

5. “…that they might be saved.” He did not pray for worldly riches or worldly powers or etc. he prayed for their salvation. If you know someone who is lost the only thing they need from God is salvation, pray for salvation before all else because God is the only One Who can save the lost.
1. Verse 2 “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.”
1. This goes back to their living and attempting to obey the law, just because they have zeal to serve God does not mean they will be accepted as saved. Just because religious people consider themselves “good Christians” and have wonderful works does not make them Christians.
2. “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God…” The word “zeal” means – heat or fervent mind – It could mean one who serves God most faithfully, or one who lives for God, or one who has faithful works. But without Christ it is all fruitless, one cannot serve God without Christ in their heart. John 16:2 - 3 “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. (3.) And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.” – Just because one is religious does not mean they know the True God, nor do they know Jesus Christ.

a. Jesus said; Matthew 23:15 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” Justin Martyr defines it this way, “the proselytes did not only disbelieve Christ’s doctrine, but were abundantly more blasphemous against him than the Jews themselves, endeavoring to torment and cut off the Christians wherever they could; they being in this the instruments of the scribes and Pharisees.” – The converts were worse than the Jews were, all the while convinced they were doing Gods will, just as Saul (or Paul) did before he was saved.

b. Albert Barnes said “That is, twice as bad. To be a child of hell was a Hebrew phrase, signifying to be deserving of hell, to be awfully wicked.

3. “…but not according to knowledge.” – But not according to truth. Many people believe themselves to be doing Gods will but in reality know nothing about God or His true will. Their works are in vain.

a. Matthew 15:9 “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

b. Galatians 2:21 “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

c. Philippians 2:16 “Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”

d. Those that LABOR for God and for salvation know neither the grace of God nor the salvation of God, and will spend eternity in hell for all their labors no matter how wonderful man may consider them.

3. Verse 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.”
1. “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness…” – The word “ignorant” simply means – not to know or to understand – They were and are ignorant of Gods plan of salvation and the religious world today is in the same state. How can one know if God does not reveal it to them?
2. “…and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” – By living the law, this is mans creation not God, God never said a man is justified by works of any kind.

a. Philippians 3:8 “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (9.) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”

b. Every saved person believes Jesus Christ saves sinners and not works. Works is a man-made salvation it has nothing to do with God. Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

c. Verse 4 “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” – This is point blank, no doubt, Paul simply spelled it all out, Christ Jesus is salvation He is not only a part of salvation. Christ + nothing else = salvation / Christ + anything else = eternity in hell.

d. Matthew 5:17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” – Because He fulfilled the law so do we who are in Him, therefore why would our attempt to fulfill it be a part of salvation? Did He not do a good enough job? This is why “…Christ is the end of the law…” V. 4 It needs no more fulfilling.