Righteousness for everyone who believes in Jesus Christ

 Romans.10:1-4

Jewish pursued righteousness but failed to achieve it because they seeking it by personal value rather than by faith. But, the Gentiles find it without seeking it. The deep longing of Paul’s heart was that his countrymen experience salvation. The reality of his love is seen in the fact that he prayed for them. He, like they, belonged to that special race through whom God had revealed himself in history. Reflecting on his pre-conversion days, he told the Galatians of his extreme zeal for the traditions of the fathers (Gal 1:14; cf. Acts 22:3). But God met him on the Damascus road, and his eyes were opened to God’s way of righteousness. The experience did not turn him bitter against his former associates but rather kindled within his heart a burning desire that they too might experience the forgiving grace of God through Jesus Christ.

There was a time when Paul would have agreed with his people, for he himself opposed the Gospel and considered Jesus Christ a fraud. Paul himself had been zealous for the Law and the traditions (Acts 26:1–11; Gal. 1:13–14). Israel considered the Gentiles in need of salvation, but certainly not the Jews. In several of His parables, Jesus pointed out this wrong attitude: the elder brother (Luke 15:11–32) and the Pharisee (Luke 18:9–14) are two examples. Israel would have been happy for political salvation from Rome, but it did not feel it needed spiritual salvation from its own sin.

Everything about the Jewish religion pointed to the coming Messiah (their sacrifices, priesthood, temple services, religious festivals, and covenants). Their Law told them they were sinners in need of a Savior. But instead of hire the Law bring them to Christ (Gal. 3:24), they worshiped their Law and rejected their Savior. The Law was a signboard, pointing the way. But it could never take them to their destination. The Law cannot give righteousness; it only leads the sinner to the Savior who can give righteousness.

Paul’s comment in last verse of passage is mysterious: Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes (10:4). “Law” means the Law of Moses. But in what sense is Christ the end of the law? The word “end” in English and the Greek word for “end” - TELOS - can have three meanings that make sense here: it can mean “fulfillment” or “purpose” (as in “the chief end of man is to glorify God”), it can mean “termination” (“come to an end”), or it can mean “goal” (“means and ends”). It is hard to decide what Paul means here, because all three applications of the word make sense in context and are consistent with other biblical teaching. Christ “fulfills” the righteousness which the Law can only describe; he “terminates” the Law as a means of salvation; and he is the “goal” toward which the whole Mosaic legislation pointed--the Law is our “schoolmaster” to bring us to Christ.

Christ is “the end of the Law” in the sense that through His death and resurrection, He has terminated the ministry of the Law for those who believe. The Law is ended as far as Christians are concerned. The righteousness of the Law is being fulfilled in the life of the believer through the power of the Spirit (Rom. 8:4); but the reign of the Law has ended ( Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14). Jesus himself said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish but to fulfill” (Matt 5:17). “Therefore we are not under the Law, but under grace” (Rom. 6:14). (John 1:17 says, “the law was given through Moses; but, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”)

Paul further testifies that Israel did not understand how God was keeping his promised covenant. They did not understand God’s plan through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God’s righteousness was not just for Israel, but was through them. God was not just giving right standing to Israel. Israel was the vehicle through which the Messiah would come so that the whole world could receive right standing before God. The promises were not exclusive to Israel.

Since the Jews did not know the righteousness that comes from God - that is, the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ, they did not submit to it. They didn’t understand that Christ himself was the embodiment of God’s righteousness.

When Paul says that Christ is the end of the Law – that is, the Jewish law. The law has now been replaced by Christ Himself. No longer is the law necessary as a means of obtaining righteousness or salvation. Now Christ stands in place of the law. He is the new way for men and women to obtain righteousness; He is the new way to the heavenly Father for everyone who believes in Him (John 14:6). Christ is not only the end of the law; He is also fulfillment of the law.

It is sad to say, many religious people today are making the same mistake. They think that their good works and religious deeds will save them, when actually these practices are keeping them from being saved. Certainly many of us are sincere and religious, but sincerity and devotion will never save the soul. “Therefore by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight” (Rom. 3:20).

Today, many churches want the status of right standing with God to be based on belief without obedience or external works and not on faith. But Paul has taught that those who are children of God are those who walk in the footsteps of faith of Abraham, who put sin to death by being united to Christ through baptism, conforming themselves to the image of his Son. Zeal alone does not put one in God’s body of saved people.