Verses 1-2 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.
The Apostle Paul was called to be the apostle to the Gentiles, but he was Jewish of the tribe of Benjamin and he had a sincere and deep love for his countrymen. So he states here that his desire is for the people of Israel to be saved. Many of them were religious, following the dietary and holy day and feast day rituals, but in so doing they believed they were better than the Gentiles and they took it for granted that they were saved from sin, death, and Hell. They did not have a faith that included the coming of their Messiah who was/is Jesus Christ. They were blinded to the reality that God Almighty had come to Earth and inhabited a body of flesh and taught them truth, keeping the Law perfectly and fulfilling prophecy as recorded in the Old Testament.
Application: Why did the people of Israel not recognize Jesus as LORD? Probably because their religious leaders, the Pharisees and Sadducee, were preaching Judaism from the Babylonian Talmud and not teaching them the Word of God in the Old Testament as recorded by the prophets. The people did not have the written word of God available to them and had to rely on the religious leaders to teach them. Satan had a foothold and the people were not able to see the truth of the Gospel. Today, man church leaders are preaching another gospel, one that is a mixture of Catholicism, Judaism, witchcraft, and a little bit of Biblical truth to temper the wrong doctrine. This is why the Apostle Paul commanded Timothy to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 The Christian needs to know their Bible so well that they can spot counterfeit doctrine immediately and avoid it.
Verses 3-4 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.
The Apostle Paul explains to the Roman Christians that because of the Jews’ lack of knowledge and scriptural ignorance they worked out their own system of righteousness and/or salvation. They did not submit to the LORD God and accept and follow the Gospel message. They did not understand that because Jesus Christ kept the Law perfectly, He was/is the only way to have righteousness and to be saved. They needed to accept the Gospel message, sincerely repent of their sin, and be baptized for the remission of sins and for the indwelling of the Holy Ghost/Spirit. Then the Holy Ghost/Spirit would show them how to live in this sinful world so that they could be righteous and be pleasing to the LORD.
Verse 5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
The Law provided righteousness if it was kept in its entirely, for to fail in one part of the Law was to fail in all of it. If people could keep the law as written by the Prophet Moses, then they would be able to be saved and to live righteously in their physical life and have eternal life after physical death.
Verses 6-7 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.)
But since people could not keep the Law, God provided through His Son Jesus Christ a new Law, the Law of faith. Faith in Jesus Christ results in righteousness.
Verses 8-9 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.
The apostle Paul explains that the word of faith that he and the other apostles preach is the statement made in verse nine. He is not telling the Roman church member to confess Jesus and believe in the resurrection of Jesus so that they can be saved because they have already done that and are indeed saved.
Application: Most people, including pastors, who attend mainstream organized evangelical establishment churches take verse nine above and use it as a plan of salvation. They believe that a person can be saved just by saying he/she is a believer in Jesus and by accepting the resurrection of Jesus as truth. This leads to easy believe-ism where pastors invite people to raise their hands during a church service if they want to be saved, and then simply praying over them and then sending them on their way. The “new convert” may never get baptized or may go years before getting baptized, thereby not partaking of the Holy Ghost/Spirit of Jesus Christ. Without that indwelling of the Spirit, the convert is not a child of the LORD.
Verses 10-11 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.
Verses 12-13 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.
Verses 14-15 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!
Verse 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Verse 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Verse 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.
Verse 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.
Verse 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.
Verse 21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. (Romans 10)