Lesson 11—It Is Israel’s Fault If Not Saved (Chapter 10)
for November 19, 2000

Introduction

This chapter reemphasizes that justification comes by faith. Even though God chose Israel for a special relationship of service to him, their salvation still must come through faith in Jesus. Of course, Israel rejected God in many ways before Christ, and now they are rejecting Jesus.

The way of salvation

Paul reiterates his great concern for his own people, the Israelites. He wants them to be saved. However, he knows that is not happening for the most part. Among the Jews there is a desire for God (zeal), but it is improperly placed. We may not establish our own righteousness. Perhaps this may best be understood to mean that we should not come to God on our own terms, but on his. In my experience, many people are guilty of this. The Jews wanted a righteousness based on law, which is not possible because of man’s sin. Christ is now the fulfillment (or end) of the law, so that anyone may attain righteousness through faith. In order to live (have salvation) by the law, one must do it (keep it perfectly) [10:5].

The righteousness that is by faith does not come by some mighty act of bringing Christ down from heaven or bringing him up from the dead, but from the faith that Paul has been proclaiming. Here (10:8-11), that faith is in your heart, it is confessed, and is synonymous with trust. Will you say that Jesus is Lord? Do you believe (and trust) in the resurrection of Jesus? In chapter 6, our resurrection is tied to our trust in the resurrection of Jesus (6:5,8).

Jews would tend to believe that Gentiles really have no hope of salvation. Paul’s message throughout this book, and emphasized again here, is that salvation is for everyone and is accomplished through the sacrifice of Jesus. The Jews would tend to be incredulous—“You mean that Gentiles can be saved?” Paul is saying that Gentiles can and are being saved, by the same God who chose the Jews. A sub-message is that Jews, who should be saved, are not being saved because they will not trust God for that salvation. But God will save Jews, if they will only come to him (call on him) as the Gentiles are doing.

Israel is lost

Have Jews had the opportunity to know God? That is, have they had the opportunity to hear the way of salvation? Paul would say yes. A preacher must be sent who will preach to them. The people will hear the message and choose whether to believe (and trust in) that message.

For the rest of the chapter, quotations from the Old Testament are applied by Paul to show that Israel has heard and understood and rejected God. The quotations are taken from various contexts, but used by Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to apply in this situation which is being addressed. The key quote is probably the last one (v. 21), in which the Jews are shown to be rebellious to their God who has been very patient with them.

Questions

1. What righteousness did the Jews establish?
2. In verse 9, what kind of confession is meant?
3. What does it mean to “call on the Lord” (v. 13)?
4. What are the four conditions of calling on the Lord?
5. What made Israel a disobedient people (v. 21)? Give examples.

Application

How great is your desire for others’ salvation? How does it show? What will you do about it? For whom do you pray for salvation?

Is it possible that you have a misplaced zeal for God that is not what he wants?

Are you submitting to God’s righteousness or are you trying to establish your own righteousness?

Why is it that we would often prefer to do (or try to do) some mighty work to accomplish our own salvation rather than simply put our faith (and live out that faith) in Jesus?

Is there any group that you think is unable to be saved, as the Jews wrongly thought?