Romans 10:1-13 From principles of the Law to the Lordship of Christ

Romans 10:1-13

A

1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. 3 For not knowing about 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 for righteousness to everyone who believes.

B

5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. 6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “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 which we are preaching,

C

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

D

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Background

It is possible to be fixated on the right things yet miss the point entirely. The Jews, for example, had a zeal for God, but it was not grounded in truth and love; instead, it expressed itself in self-righteousness and pride. True spirituality is not measured by religious practices, but by the freedom of the heart, a posture of gratitude toward God, humility, and openness to the guidance of others. Such a person is at peace, untroubled by the anxieties of life.

Knowledge and religious practices serve a purpose: they are meant to connect us with God’s Spirit and to free our hearts to live fully, not to bind us to rigid observances. God is not impressed by mere church attendance or outward ritual; He sees and judges according to the condition of the heart, regardless of one’s religion. This passage, therefore, teaches that we are to understand the wisdom of God’s word through the lens of the Lordship of Christ, allowing His authority and Spirit to transform our hearts and guide our lives.

Observation

A

Paul raises a critical issue that explains why many Jews forfeited salvation despite their intense religious zeal. Their devotion, though sincere, was not aligned with true knowledge—that is, with the instructions God had given through His prophets. Consequently, they failed to understand the nature of God’s righteousness and instead sought to establish a righteousness of their own: “For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own…”.

In truth, they desired God’s salvation and blessings, yet they were unwilling to submit to the radical transformation of the heart that God requires—one marked by humility, mercy, and justice. They refused to relinquish their attachment to pride, love of money, the lust of the flesh, and hostility toward others. In this sense, “they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.”

The righteousness of God refers not merely to external obedience but to an inwardly transformed heart, shaped by mercy, justice, and humility. Thus, while they appeared religious and demonstrated great zeal for God and His rituals (“they have a zeal for God”), their belief system was distorted and not truly in accordance with the Law of Moses (“not according to knowledge”). Their false framework emphasized conformity to their own standards of works rather than the genuine inward renewal that the Law and the prophets ultimately demanded.

The purpose of the Mosaic Law, as given through Moses, was to impart moral knowledge and guidance so that people might live in harmony, and peace with one another. It was never an end in itself, but was intended to lead humanity toward a higher law—the law of love for God and for others. This higher law finds its fullest and final expression in Christ, who comes from heaven and reveals the very nature of God. Accordingly, when Paul states that “Christ is the end of the Law,” he means that Christ’s way of life is the ultimate purpose and fulfillment toward which the Mosaic Law was always pointing. The Law of Christ, therefore, is the goal to which the Mosaic Law directed humanity all along.

For this reason, the higher law embodied in Christ necessarily supersedes the Mosaic Law in practice. John 8 illustrates this clearly: when a woman caught in adultery was brought before Jesus, her accusers demanded punishment according to the Mosaic Law. Jesus, however, operated according to the higher law of the new covenant—the law of mercy and restoration—and forgave her, thereby revealing the true intent and ultimate fulfillment of the Law.

B

Here, Paul draws from Deuteronomy 30:10–14, where Moses speaks of two dimensions of the Law. The first is the written Mosaic Law, which those who pursue righteousness are expected to observe (Deuteronomy 30:10). The second is a deeper and ultimate law to which the written Law points—the law of the Spirit. Moses explains that this law is neither distant nor inaccessible —“Who will ascend into heaven?” or “Who will descend into the abyss?”— but near and internal: “the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart.”

Paul identifies this “word” as the word of Christ, or the way of Christ. This is the law that brings true salvation, not through external conformity to written commands, but through an inward turning of the heart toward God in faith and obedience. The written Mosaic Law therefore functions as a guide and a witness, while the law of the Spirit, embodied and fulfilled in Christ, accomplishes what the written Law could only anticipate.

C

The “word”—Christ’s way of life, overflowing with abundance and freedom—is immediately available to us: “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” This word is so imminent that it can be realized through the act of believing and confessing.

What does it mean to believe? It is to wholly commit our hearts to making Jesus the Lord and Master of our lives. This involves embracing His value system and aligning ourselves with His purposes for our future. It means no longer relying on our own understanding when making decisions, but listening to and yielding to His guidance. The focus here is the state of the heart: “For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness” (Romans 10:10). Salvation is not measured by knowledge alone, but by the depth of surrender to Christ. As the heart believes, the mouth confesses—acting in accordance with that belief. By believing and consistently living out that belief, we attain salvation.

Salvation in the present manifests as a life overflowing with abundance, love, and freedom from the bondages of the flesh. Its ultimate fulfillment is entrance into the kingdom of God, where the fullness of Christ’s life is realized. Indeed, those who continue to believe and act according to that belief will not be disappointed, even in the face of inconvenience or trials.

D

To call on the name of the Lord in essence is to come to Him. Therefore, regardless of one’s religious heritage, moral condition, social status, capabilities, appearance, gender, or age, God will save and richly bless all who come to Him without reservation. The Jews were learned in the things of God: they could recite Scripture, explain the Law in detail, and were familiar with religious rituals, worship traditions, and prayers. In contrast, a Greek (a non-Jew) might appear raw in spiritual matters and struggle with habits or addictions considered unspiritual or unclean. Naturally, people might assume that the Jew, being more “advanced” in the things of God, is more blessed.

Yet in the eyes of God, the Jew has no inherent advantage over a Greek. God sees each person stripped of knowledge, heritage, and outward status, and He recognizes only the measure of a person’s faith: a heart that loves God as Lord and loves others sincerely. Faith, not heritage or outward performance, is what determines acceptance and blessing before God.

Truth

1.    Religious practices and knowledge do not lead us to salvation, but only a transformation of the heart under the Lordship of Christ can save us. Hence, we must understand that all spiritual disciplines or religious practices and knowledge can only benefit us when we sincerely turn back from self-centered living, not selectively opening up sections of our life to the scrutiny of His truth. Man’s righteousness focuses on the appearance, whereas God’s righteousness looks at the heart. In our daily reading of the word and worship, do you ask the hard questions: Have I surrendered my work life and family life to God? Or do I allow others to influence my focus and actions? Do I hide behind a false facet of spirituality in my participation in church activities and bible knowledge? When Christ is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all.

2.   Our allegiance is not just to the Law to obey it, but more so towards Christ the Lord in love and repentance. One who lives according to the Law and not to God is one who draws fixed boundaries as to how much he is prepared to give to God. For example, one may be faithful in his monthly tithes and offerings, but he is not generous towards those who need help. He may participate in the outreach ministry of the church, but would not actively reach out to others at his work place. Therefore, it is the substance of our heart, no just the form of it. One could appear to worship God passionately on a weekly basis, but rarely communes with Him on a daily basis. Allegiance to Christ as Lord is about the transformation of heart, it frees us to live life overflowing with love and breaks the bondages of sin.

Application

1.    When reading the word, we must not only to understand godly principles therein, we must endeavor to feel the Spirit’s presence and communicate with Him. The word comes alive and His grace will flow when we commune with His Spirit.

2.    We must talk to God concerning the specific tasks that we need to do for the day. Knowing the principles is one thing, but divine direction and wisdom is another. How do we deal with certain people in our work place? How do we go about in a difficult and changing business environment? What is the strategy and direction for our organization in next few year?

Dear Lord, as I read your word, help me understand your mindset and your passion for the world. Help me hear your voice so that I could do your will. Give me specific directions as to what I should do in my particular situation. As I acknowledge you as Lord of my life, lead me towards breakthrough in my work and ministry. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.