Rom 10 | MHCC | e4.org | 1-4 The Jews built on a false foundation, and refused to come to Christ for free salvation by faith, and numbers in every age do the same in various ways. The strictness of the law showed men their need of salvation by grace, through faith. And the ceremonies shadowed forth Christ as fulfilling the righteousness, and bearing the curse of the law. So that even under the law, all who were justified before God, obtained that blessing by faith, whereby they were made partakers of the perfect righteousness of the promised Redeemer. The law is not destroyed, nor the intention of the Lawgiver disappointed; but full satisfaction being made by the death of Christ for our breach of the law, the end is gained. That is, Christ has fulfilled the whole law, therefore whoever believeth in him, is counted just before God, as much as though he had fulfilled the whole law himself. Sinners never could go on in vain fancies of their own righteousness, if they knew the justice of God as a Governor, or his righteousness as a Saviour.

‏ Romans 10

* The apostle's earnest desire for the salvation of the Jews.

(1-4) The difference between the righteousness of the law, and

the righteousness of faith. (5-11) The Gentiles stand on a level

with the Jews, in justification and salvation. (12-17) The Jews

might know this from Old Testament prophecies. (18-21)

1-4 The Jews built on a false foundation, and refused to come

to Christ for free salvation by faith, and numbers in every age

do the same in various ways. The strictness of the law showed

men their need of salvation by grace, through faith. And the

ceremonies shadowed forth Christ as fulfilling the

righteousness, and bearing the curse of the law. So that even

under the law, all who were justified before God, obtained that

blessing by faith, whereby they were made partakers of the

perfect righteousness of the promised Redeemer. The law is not

destroyed, nor the intention of the Lawgiver disappointed; but

full satisfaction being made by the death of Christ for our

breach of the law, the end is gained. That is, Christ has

fulfilled the whole law, therefore whoever believeth in him, is

counted just before God, as much as though he had fulfilled the

whole law himself. Sinners never could go on in vain fancies of

their own righteousness, if they knew the justice of God as a

Governor, or his righteousness as a Saviour. 5-11 The self-condemned sinner need not perplex himself how

this righteousness may be found. When we speak of looking upon

Christ, and receiving, and feeding upon him, it is not Christ in

heaven, nor Christ in the deep, that we mean; but Christ in the

promise, Christ offered in the word. Justification by faith in

Christ is a plain doctrine. It is brought before the mind and

heart of every one, thus leaving him without excuse for

unbelief. If a man confessed faith in Jesus, as the Lord and

Saviour of lost sinners, and really believed in his heart that

God had raised him from the dead, thus showing that he had

accepted the atonement, he should be saved by the righteousness

of Christ, imputed to him through faith. But no faith is

justifying which is not powerful in sanctifying the heart, and

regulating all its affections by the love of Christ. We must

devote and give up to God our souls and our bodies: our souls in

believing with the heart, and our bodies in confessing with the

mouth. The believer shall never have cause to repent his

confident trust in the Lord Jesus. Of such faith no sinner shall

be ashamed before God; and he ought to glory in it before men. 12-17 There is not one God to the Jews, more kind, and another

to the Gentiles, who is less kind; the Lord is a Father to all

men. The promise is the same to all, who call on the name of the

Lord Jesus as the Son of God, as God manifest in the flesh. All

believers thus call upon the Lord Jesus, and none else will do

so humbly or sincerely. But how should any call on the Lord

Jesus, the Divine Saviour, who had not heard of him? And what is

the life of a Christian but a life of prayer? It shows that we

feel our dependence on him, and are ready to give up ourselves

to him, and have a believing expectation of our all from him. It

was necessary that the gospel should be preached to the

Gentiles. Somebody must show them what they are to believe. How

welcome the gospel ought to be to those to whom it was preached!

The gospel is given, not only to be known and believed, but to

be obeyed. It is not a system of notions, but a rule of

practice. The beginning, progress, and strength of faith is by

hearing. But it is only hearing the word, as the word of God

that will strengthen faith. 18-21 Did not the Jews know that the Gentiles were to be called

in? They might have known it from Moses and Isaiah. Isaiah

speaks plainly of the grace and favour of God, as going before

in the receiving of the Gentiles. Was not this our own case? Did

not God begin in love, and make himself known to us when we did

not ask after him? The patience of God towards provoking sinners

is wonderful. The time of God's patience is called a day, light

as day, and fit for work and business; but limited as a day, and

there is a night at the end of it. God's patience makes man's

disobedience worse, and renders that the more sinful. We may

wonder at the mercy of God, that his goodness is not overcome by

man's badness; we may wonder at the wickedness of man, that his

badness is not overcome by God's goodness. And it is a matter of

joy to think that God has sent the message of grace to so many

millions, by the wide spread of his gospel.