The source and availability of God’s righteousness: (10:5-9):
In order to be saved by the law, a person has to perfectly fulfil the law which is impossible for any human being. James says: “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (Jam.2:10). The law only shows the way and points to Christ’s gracious offer of salvation. In supporting this theme, the apostle Paul quotes what Moses described: “Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them, I am the Lord” (Lev.18:5). Since Christ has fulfilled the law and He is the end of the law, Christ is the source of righteousness and is available to every person who believes in Him. We must also realize that righteousness through Christ is not a new concept, but had been proclaimed by prophets right from the beginning of OT.
- No need for superhuman effort: (10:6-9): Again Paul clears the doubts of many Jewish myths that, we need not do a superhuman effort to make the righteousness available. “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down) or ‘Who will descend into deep? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)” (10:6-8). This was a farewell prophetic challenge from Moses in (Deu.30:12-14). The Lord Jesus came down to earth in flesh, He lived among us, died for our sins and was resurrected on the third day. Now He is sitting at the right side of the Father interceding for us. The Jews have ignored Him, rejected Him, tortured Him and killed Him. Now there is no need for anyone to ask to bring Christ down from Heaven (again in His incarnation) or to bring Christ up from the dead. For He had already come and had been resurrected.
Further Moses’ prophetic description regarding Israel was that blessing was promised for faith and obedience and punishment would result from rejection and disobedience. Since Israel forsook God and lived in utter disobedience, they faced worldwide dispersion and slavery. The promise still stands, that if them come to Him in faith and in obedience, they will be restored back full blessings and prosperity and a prominence among the nations. Further Moses was speaking to the generation who have the message of God. They could respond to God in faith. “The word is near; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is the word we are proclaiming” (10:8). They had the message, because Moses was speaking on behalf of God. People of that day need not go anywhere or cross the sea to get it (Deu.30:11,14).
Similarly Paul taking the very quote as a support, says that, we don’t need a superhuman effort to become a Christian. We do not have to go to heaven to find Christ, or into the world of the dead. He is near to us. In other words, the Gospel of Christ, the Word of faith is available and accessible. The message is right in front of us. All that it needs is just respond and believe in your heart that Christ Jesus came into this world to save me.
How to receive God’s righteousness and salvation: (10:9-10):
“That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
The apostle is giving a very easy access to God’s righteousness. He is not giving a new formula for receiving the salvation. Salvation requires both the actions of mouth and heart. It is not the law but Christ should be in the heart and mind. The apostle puts faith and confession as parallel ideas and righteousness and salvation on equivalent parallel terms. The law required obedience but Gospel requires acceptance. A few points to note here are:
- We gain God’s righteousness and salvation by confessing and believing in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
- Confession is nothing but agreeing what God said about Jesus and with what Jesus said about Himself. It is the recognition of Jesus Christ as God, the Messiah and the work on the Cross for the salvation of entire mankind.
- No Jew would confess that Jesus Christ is Lord unless he trusted in Christ and nor the Gentile unless he ceases to idolatry. For both of them it requires an implicit obedience.
- Just intellectual agreement with the facts of the cross and resurrection is not enough. One must believe in his heart accompanying with confession by his mouth.
- ” Believe that he can save you; believe that he will save you; at any rate leave the whole matter of your salvation with him in unquestioning confidence. Depend upon him without fear as to your present and eternal salvation. This is the faith which saves the soul.” (Spurgeon)