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Summary

Romans 10:1–4 – Zeal without knowledge

What happens: Paul desires Israel’s salvation and testifies to their zeal for God. Their zeal lacks knowledge because they ignore God’s righteousness and try to establish their own. Christ is the goal and fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

What it means: Religious passion cannot save; only Christ can. God is just and provides righteousness in Jesus. Faith honors God’s plan and ends self-reliance.

Romans 10:5–13 – The word of faith

What happens: Paul contrasts righteousness by law with righteousness by faith. The message is near, in mouth and heart. If you confess Jesus as Lord and believe God raised him from the dead, you are saved. There is no distinction between Jew and Greek; everyone who calls on the Lord is saved.

What it means: Salvation is simple and profound: trust and confess Christ. God welcomes all who call on him, showing mercy and covenant grace. The resurrection is the foundation of our hope.

Romans 10:14–17 – Preaching and hearing

What happens: Paul asks how people will call on the Lord unless they believe, and how they will believe without hearing, and how they will hear without a preacher. Beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

What it means: God uses preaching to spread saving faith. The church is sent to proclaim Christ. God’s mission flows from his love and faithfulness to his promises.

Romans 10:18–21 – Israel’s refusal foretold

What happens: Paul shows that the message has gone out, but Israel largely refuses to believe. Scripture foretells God making Israel jealous by a nation not understanding and God holding out his hands to a disobedient people.

What it means: Unbelief does not mean God failed. It exposes the human heart and confirms Scripture. God remains patient and open-handed, showing both justice and mercy.

Application

  • Confess Jesus as Lord and believe in his resurrection with fresh trust today.
  • Share the gospel so others can hear and believe.
  • Pray for Israel and all who are zealous without knowledge to see Christ.
  • Keep your confidence in God’s promise, not your performance.

Bible

1Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

5For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

6But 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:)

7Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

8But 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;

9That 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.

10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14How 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?

15And 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!

16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

19But 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.

20But 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.

21But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

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