Verse By Verse Through Romans

Chapter Ten

Romans 10:1 “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”

• Remember that as Paul writes He either is permitted by the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 7:6 and I Corinthians 7:39-40) or is moved by the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 2:9-13 and I Peter 1:12) to write what he wrote.
• Think about the phrase “heart’s desire.” He is emotionally and intellectually invested as all preachers must be! Paul had already expressed in this letter his heaviness and sorrow over the spiritual state of physical Israel (Romans 9:1-5; cf. I Samuel 15:35, Psalms 119:53, Psalms 119:136, Psalms 119:158, Jeremiah 13:17, Lamentations 3:48-49, Luke 19:41-42, and Philippians 3:18-19).
• It is God’s desire that all be saved (Isaiah 45:22, Ezekiel 33:11, I Timothy 2:4, and II Peter 3:9) and we should be like Him (Ephesians 5:1).

• Zeal can be misplaced (John 16:1-3, Acts 21:20-31, Galatians 1:13-14, Galatians 4:16-17, and Philippians 3:4-6).
• Zeal has to be according to knowledge (Proverbs 19:2), with caution (I Corinthians 8:1).
• Though their zeal was not good, being zealous for good is what we should be (Galatians 4:18, Titus 2:11-14, and Jude 1:3-4).

• God has a righteousness (Psalms 36:5-6, Psalms 71:19, and Jeremiah 23:5-6) that is revealed through His word (Romans 1:16-17).
• Just remember, those who did not realize His plan were essentially questioning the righteousness of God (Romans 9:14).
• The righteousness which is by faith, not by the works of the Law of Moses (Romans 3:21-22 and Galatians 3:16-21). What were some of the Jewish Christians in Rome guilty of (Romans 9:31-33).
• Self-righteousness (Proverbs 12:15, Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 16:2, Proverbs 20:6, Proverbs 21:2, Proverbs 28:26, Proverbs 30:12-13, Isaiah 5:20-21, Luke 18:9-14, II Corinthians 10:17-18, Galatians 6:3, and Revelation 3:14-19).
• God expects us to submit to Him (Psalms 119:2, Proverbs 19:16, Luke 6:46, Luke 11:28, John 15:10, Hebrews 5:8-9, James 4:7, I John 2:3-6, and II John 1:9).

• Christ is the end of the Law of Moses (Matthew 5:17-18, John 1:17, Romans 7:1-6, Romans 8:1-4, Ephesians 2:11-17, Galatians 3:11-29, Colossians 2:4-15, and Hebrews 9:11-17).
• The benefits to the end of the Law of Moses do NOT extend to those who had/have chosen not to believe it (Romans 3:15-31 and Galatians 5:4).

• Leviticus 18:5; cf. Nehemiah 9:29 and Ezekiel 20:11
• It was not of faith (Galatians 3:11-12).
• Think about the point made over and over again in this letter (Romans 3:27-31, Romans 4:13-16, and Romans 9:32).
• The Law of Moses was just about doing (Deuteronomy 27:26). If they continued with this mindset, those works of the Law could not save then at all (Galatians 2:16). Now, the Law of Moses is not even in effect (again: Romans 7:1-6).

• The righteousness which is of faith (Romans 3:22, Romans 9:30, Galatians 5:5, and Hebrews 11:7).
• The righteous which is of faith speaketh (cf. Romans 10:8) “on the wise” or rather “in this manner” or “in this way” (Strong’s # 3779).
• Righteousness by faith says not to allow one to say in their heart who shall ascend into heaven to bring Christ down. You cannot go to Jesus and see Him (John 13:33 and John 13:36), therefore you must believe in Him (John 14:1-3).
• You cannot go high or low to get to Jesus. Any person cannot go to the deep, the bottomless pit (don’t read too much into the meaning of the word “deep” [ἄβυσσος] here) to resurrect Jesus. He is not there anyway (I Peter 3:22). The point in verse eight will establish what is close. The word is close. That word is the “word of faith.” This is where a person needs to go to find Jesus, don’t look high and low to no avail.
• It is by faith not by sight (II Corinthians 5:7).

• You could search high and low and you will not find Jesus in the flesh (Romans 10:6-7). “But what saith it?” The “it” is in reference to Deuteronomy 30:11-14
• However, the word is nigh. You want to find Jesus. That is where you look (John 5:39). He is the word (John 1:1-14).
• The word was in their mouths (Romans 2:17-21) and hearts (Romans 6:17).
• The word of faith (Romans 1:16-17 and Romans 10:17).
• Confessing with the mouth UNTO salvation (Matthew 10:32-33, Acts 8:36-38, Philippians 2:5-11, I Peter 3:14-15, I John 2:22-23, I John 4:14-15, and II John 1:7).

• The Scripture saith… (Romans 9:33 and Isaiah 28:16). See also: Isaiah 49:23
• Contextually, saints must not be ashamed to confess our Lord (Romans 10:9-10).
• In another way of thought, faithful saints won’t be put to shame before the Lord (Revelation 3:4-5).
• WHOSOEVER, in the context of this letter, is all about another of evidence of such applying to Jews and Gentiles (Romans 3:22). See the next verse (Romans 10:12).

• Acts 10:34-35, Acts 15:1-11, Romans 2:28-29, Romans 3:9-30, Romans 9:24, Galatians 3:26-29, etc.
• Those that call upon Him : See next verse (Romans 10:13).

• “Whosoever” is the point of this verse (Joel 2:32 and Acts 2:21).
• It goes back to what we saw and considered in the previous verse (Romans 10:12).
• Calling upon the name of the Lord is not literally a sole act of just calling out His name (Acts 22:16).
• Just calling out Jesus’ name will do nothing for anyone (Matthew 8:28-29; cf. James 2:19). They might say, “Lord, Lord…” (Matthew 7:21-23 and Luke 6:46-49).

• At the time Paul is writing this, the New Testament is not nearly completely written yet. What is written is certainly not widely distributed. Thus, the only way that someone can call on the the Lord (Romans 10:13) is if they hear the word preached and believe it. Thus, the command for the Apostles to preach the Gospel to the whole world was in effect (Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-20).
• God’s will was made know through preaching (Romans 1:14-17, Romans 16:25-26, I Corinthians 1:17-18, and Titus 1:1-3).
• Obviously, preaching cannot occur without a preacher [κηρύσσω]. Preacher: “to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel): - preach (-er), proclaim, publish” (Strong’s # 2784). Most often translated “preach” (Matthew 4:17, Matthew 10:7, Matthew 10:27, Matthew 11:1, Mark 1:4, Mark 1:38, etc.).
• Even today when the word of God is readily available to all, there is a need for assistance with what is written and help in obeying the Gospel (Acts 8:30-39). Which is why evangelist trained other evangelist to teach even beyond the scope of the work of the Apostles (II Timothy 2:1-4).

• They had to be sent out to preach (Matthew 10:1-6, Acts 13:1-4, Acts 10:36-43, Acts 15:22-27, I Corinthians 16:7-10, and I Timothy 1:3-7).
• As it is written… (Isaiah 52:7 and Nahum 1:15).
• Preaching peace (Acts 10:34-36).
• Consider this direct application: Who sent them? Jesus sent the Apostles (Luke 24:47). This includes Paul (Acts 9:1-15). So, if one were to reject the messenger they are also rejecting the one who sent the messenger (Luke 10:16).
• The words “gospel”, “truth”, “word” are essentially synonymous (Colossians 1:5).