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Romans Chapter Ten

Paul prays for physical Israel to come to Christ (v1) because they have a form of godliness, a zeal after the work of God (v2) but not according to its purpose. Being ignorant of the blessings of grace through the righteousness that is in Christ, and attempting to reach instantaneous standing with God (apart from His grace by faith in His Son Jesus) only, they are subject to a status of rebellion against God. (v3)

Only through Christ is the law fulfilled and true repentance is possible (by the righteousness due faith that permits the extension of grace) over former sins to all that do believe.(v4) The righteousness of the law is that the man who is justified by them and will live, performs the works of the law and fulfils its conditions. (v5) But the righteousness of the new covenant under grace due faith exalts Christ. By not saying it is possible for us to be perfect as if we were God, thus saying we lower Christ's example and Godhead; (v6) or that it is possible for us to be cut off from grace (as if it were negligible) when we stand in truth, (To require Christ again be crucified) (v7) We rather say by our faith that Christ's faith is upon our lips ready to be preached amongst one another freely as His people - our brethren of faith. (v8)

Paul here makes this allusion as towards all, and not just to those who do not believe in physical Israel. That by openly standing in the true gospel and believing on the Christ of the true gospel, we may be saved. (v9) Doing so by loving our creator more than our created selves (v10) and not so in a hidden fashion, but displaying His righteousness by our good works showing that we are corrected. For in so doing we have not stumbled where physical Christ rejecting Israel stumbled (v11) and have obtained the good works of the law that Israel had not obtained in good standing. For faith without these due works of repentance is dead.

For the same gospel is open to all, as the gentiles are not cut off from the capacity to have faith and be justified - unlike as they were to the singular nature of the example of the tabernacle in the wilderness - which was a shadow of the unity and sanctity of the body of Christ.(v12) For all men can come into the knowledge of God without distinction by race or creed if they call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. (v13) In choosing for His children to come to the Father through Christ, the temple is open through faith upon a fact revealed openly to all in His nature, and not as through descendence from a patriarch, when openly Christ preached is better than a patriarch whose bloodline is closed.

But then if our faith amongst Christ's body requires that we openly confess it, how shall any people join that body and believe unless the gospel is spread? How do the gentiles hear if not from the witnesses of His coming within the translated of Israel? (v14) And likewise, if the gospel be open to the gentiles and jew alike, how will the gospel be spread to unbelieving physical Israel if a preacher is not sent them? (v15) For they will not hear it of a gentile. Likewise, they have not all believed who have heard it of their own brethren (v16). So faith is transferred by the hearing of the gospel, and the truth of the gospel from the word of scripture and the mouth of Christ. (Not of lineage or nation.) (v17) So Paul makes the allusion that Israel is better suited to preaching, so a preacher after their own kind should be sent them - even as he desires to go himself. For they are grounded in the scriptures and the prophets - the whole world has heard through them (v18). Likewise converted, they would be very profitable for the gentiles - for all to believe on Christ.

Moses foretold how they would know the coming of God's Christ Jesus, and how by the faith of the gentiles and as seemingly by the foolish of their own nation He (Christ) would provoke them to stumble. (v19) Esias was speaking of the gentiles that had found faith in Christ and to whom His hands were extended also (v19) and also alludes to the rock of offence in regards to the jews. The rock of offence is to the jews which not only dishonour the law not recognising its judge Christ - (making them party to the whole fault of the law broken), but refuse to leave that situation because they are not, as in Paul's opinion, persuaded as yet. (v20). Rather as it turns out, those that will not recognise Paul in Jerusalem will not be persuaded by any, even such a one once as themselves. For all day long, the Lord said, he has stretched out His hands to them.

Paul seems quite taken by His own desire to preach to Israel here - for "all day long" includes the end of the day too. Yet if the gentiles come in because the gospel is preached, who will preach to Israel? In truth, it is on the example of the gentiles faith that provokes the jews to jealousy that is the outcome predicted by scripture (v19) Each time, the potters marred vessel is discarded, and given over to reprobate minds. The term vessel is perhaps a poor choice, because it is marred clay, rather than the work of the potter which was marred. The law of God has not been done away with, but perfected in Christ's example of its keeping - it is open to all who call on His name.


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