The Responsibility for National Israel’s Failure to Obtain God’s Salvation (9:30–10:21)
Paul has just addressed the question of why Israel has failed to obtain God’s salvation and Gentiles have obtained it. God’s chooses those to whom he will show mercy and those whom he will harden. The Old Testament supports the fact that God has the right to offer his salvation to the Gentiles (9:24–26) and also that the majority of ethnic Israel will reject Jesus Christ (9:27–29). What is the conclusion? On the one hand, contrary to expectation, Gentiles, who previously did not enjoy God’s revelation or spiritual privilege, have now been justified by faith (9:30). On the other hand, contrary to expectation, the nation of Israel, pursuing the Law as a way to be right with God, failed to obtain salvation (9:31).
Why did this happen? Based on Paul’s discussion in chapter nine, we might expect him to say that the responsibility for Israel’s failure to obtain salvation should be laid at the feet of the Sovereign God, who chooses people according to his purpose. However, Paul’s answer is that the responsibility for the nation of Israel’s rejection of God falls squarely on her own shoulders. The reason Israel did not obtain God’s salvation was because of her unbelief (9:32). Instead of putting their faith in God, they tried to earn God’s salvation and stumbled in unbelief (9:33).
Paul desired to see the salvation of ethnic Jews (10:1). They desired to please God, but they pursued this in an ignorant zeal that refused to submit to God (10:2). Instead of being justified by faith, they tried to establish their own righteousness before God by keeping the Law (10:3). However, Jesus Christ was the termination and fulfillment of the Law for the believer (10:4). Trying to be right with God by keeping the Law is impossible. Moses himself said that would require life-long, perfect obedience (10:5; cf. Lev 18:5). On the other hand, the righteousness that comes by faith is accessible (10:6–10). Whoever believes (has faith) in Jesus Christ will not fail to obtain God’s salvation (10:11, 13), no matter whether he is a Jew or a Gentile (10:12).
Israel’s rejection of the Messiah and unbelief is inexcusable because of her spiritual privilege. In order for a person to call on the Lord, Paul gives four conditions: there must be a commission (10:15), preaching, hearing, and believing (10:14, 17). In Israel’s case, the first two conditions were met: Isaiah says that God sent people to give the good news of peace (10:15; cf. Isa 52:7). Yet Israel failed to call on the Lord (10:16)!
There was a commission, there was preaching, but did they hear? Not only did they hear the preaching, they rejected the incessant testimony of general revelation through nature (10:18; cf. Ps 19:4). Maybe they heard, but did they know what was being communicated to them? No, Moses made it very clear that if Israel disobeyed God’s Word that God would show his favor to other nations to make them jealous and provoke them to repent (10:19; cf. Deut 32:21). Paul also quotes from Isaiah to show that God will bless other nations instead of Israel if they remain disobedient (10:20–21; cf. Isa 65;1–2).
Romans chapter ten teaches us that those who reject Jesus Christ bear the responsibility for their unbelief.
Paul has just addressed the question of why Israel has failed to obtain God’s salvation and Gentiles have obtained it. God’s chooses those to whom he will show mercy and those whom he will harden. The Old Testament supports the fact that God has the right to offer his salvation to the Gentiles (9:24–26) and also that the majority of ethnic Israel will reject Jesus Christ (9:27–29). What is the conclusion? On the one hand, contrary to expectation, Gentiles, who previously did not enjoy God’s revelation or spiritual privilege, have now been justified by faith (9:30). On the other hand, contrary to expectation, the nation of Israel, pursuing the Law as a way to be right with God, failed to obtain salvation (9:31).
Why did this happen? Based on Paul’s discussion in chapter nine, we might expect him to say that the responsibility for Israel’s failure to obtain salvation should be laid at the feet of the Sovereign God, who chooses people according to his purpose. However, Paul’s answer is that the responsibility for the nation of Israel’s rejection of God falls squarely on her own shoulders. The reason Israel did not obtain God’s salvation was because of her unbelief (9:32). Instead of putting their faith in God, they tried to earn God’s salvation and stumbled in unbelief (9:33).
Paul desired to see the salvation of ethnic Jews (10:1). They desired to please God, but they pursued this in an ignorant zeal that refused to submit to God (10:2). Instead of being justified by faith, they tried to establish their own righteousness before God by keeping the Law (10:3). However, Jesus Christ was the termination and fulfillment of the Law for the believer (10:4). Trying to be right with God by keeping the Law is impossible. Moses himself said that would require life-long, perfect obedience (10:5; cf. Lev 18:5). On the other hand, the righteousness that comes by faith is accessible (10:6–10). Whoever believes (has faith) in Jesus Christ will not fail to obtain God’s salvation (10:11, 13), no matter whether he is a Jew or a Gentile (10:12).
Israel’s rejection of the Messiah and unbelief is inexcusable because of her spiritual privilege. In order for a person to call on the Lord, Paul gives four conditions: there must be a commission (10:15), preaching, hearing, and believing (10:14, 17). In Israel’s case, the first two conditions were met: Isaiah says that God sent people to give the good news of peace (10:15; cf. Isa 52:7). Yet Israel failed to call on the Lord (10:16)!
There was a commission, there was preaching, but did they hear? Not only did they hear the preaching, they rejected the incessant testimony of general revelation through nature (10:18; cf. Ps 19:4). Maybe they heard, but did they know what was being communicated to them? No, Moses made it very clear that if Israel disobeyed God’s Word that God would show his favor to other nations to make them jealous and provoke them to repent (10:19; cf. Deut 32:21). Paul also quotes from Isaiah to show that God will bless other nations instead of Israel if they remain disobedient (10:20–21; cf. Isa 65;1–2).
Romans chapter ten teaches us that those who reject Jesus Christ bear the responsibility for their unbelief.
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