I. Paul's Expression of Concern For Israel (1-4)
A. Paul's prayer is that Israel might be saved, for they have
zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. (1,2)
Even though the Jews as a nation were beyond salvation, each individual
Jew had the same opportunity to be saved that all people have.
Indeed the Jews were zealous, buy it was misplaced zeal. Their
own scripture and prophets pointed to Jesus as the Messiah. They
chose to remain willfully ignorant of the crucified Son of God.
B. His concern is based on their failure to submit themselves
to the righteousness of God, which is by faith in Christ. (3,4)
The Jews were well aware of God, but they were ignorant of His
plan of salvation. By repudiating the gospel, they were not in
submission to God, and therefore lost. What is this gospel or
"good news?" That righteousness is attained by having
one's sins blotted out. Remission of sins comes only through the
shed blood of Jesus Christ.
II. Righteousness of the Law Versus the Righteousness by Faith (5-15)
A. The righteousness which is of the Law described by Moses.
(5)
Paul quotes Lev. 18:5. No man except Christ could ever comply
with this demand. The purpose of the Law is then realized in Christ.
B. The righteousness which is of faith defined by Paul. (6-13)
1. It involves the mouth and the heart. Paul quotes Deut. 30:11-14. God's commandments can be understood, the Law had been within the Jews grasp since the time of Moses. Righteousness on the other hand is only attainable through Christ. Additional signs are unnecessary, there is no need for Christ to either come down from heaven or rise up from Hades. The apostles had presented the Word of faith which is all anybody needs. Remember, this faith must be an active faith, perfected by obedience to God's commands.
2. Through believing with the heart and confession by the mouth shall one come unto salvation. The inspired teachers present the evidence of Jesus as the Messiah. We hear it. We then put our full trust in Christ (believe) and publicly pledge allegiance to Him (confess). Not just lip service but full acknowledgement by word and deed of Jesus as our Lord, Prophet, Priest, King and Savior.
3. This righteousness confirmed by scripture. Isa. 28:16 - The key ingredient is faith and the benefits of this faith will accrue to anyone (Jew or Gentile) who has it. If we put our confidence in a mere man, his failure can bring shame on us as his believers. Not so with Jesus Christ.
4. It is offered without preference to all who call upon the name. Paul spends much of his time arguing against the Judaizing teachers. They believed that under Christianity, as under Moses the Jew had the advantage. Paul taking the gospel to the Gentiles also worked to make these Jews bitter towards him. Joel 2:32 is quoted to reemphasize verses 10 and 11.
C. The righteousness which is by faith is accomplished through the preaching of the gospel. (14,15)
1. Before one can call, he must believe.
2. Before one can believe, he must hear.
3. Before one can hear, one must preach.
4. Before one can preach he must be sent (Isa. 52:7). The original proclamation of the gospel required qualified men to be sent by the Lord. We are as equally dependent on these same men today as the first century Christians were then.
III. Not All Of Israel Received The Gospel (16-21)
A. They had plenty of opportunity to hear. (16-18)
Paul emphasizes our personal responsibility to obey the gospel
(Isa. 53;1). Preaching the word allowed people to hear the word.
Hearing the word allowed people to believe. The apostles spread
the gospel throughout the whole world leaving ignorance as no
excuse (Ps. 19:4; Col. 1:6,23).
B. As foretold by Moses and Isaiah, God was going to make them
jealous by calling another people to him. (Deut. 32:21) (19,20)
Israel knew in advance of the salvation of all men. They rejected
this prophecy. Isa. 65: 1,2 implies that the gospel would go out
into all the earth.
C. And God is still long suffering toward His people of Israel
though they are disobedient. (21)
The Jews, in general, rejected the plan of salvation, disobeyed
God and spoke against God's message to the whole world. Acts 13:45;
18:5,6.