Day 14 of 21
Israel's Story Part 2
Christ the End of the Law
Scripture Readings
Today's Reading
Read Romans 10:1-13: "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes... If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved... For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Then read Deuteronomy 30:11-14: "For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off... The word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart."
Reflection
In Romans 9, Paul argued from God's sovereign election. In Romans 10, he turns to the human side — Israel's responsibility. Paul's heart for his people has not changed: "My heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved." But he diagnoses their problem: "Being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness."
Israel's failure was not a lack of zeal. "I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge." They pursued righteousness through Torah-observance rather than receiving it as God's gift through faith in Christ.
"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." The Greek word telos means both "end" (termination) and "goal" (fulfillment). Christ is what the law was always driving toward. Now that He has come, the path to righteousness is open to everyone — Jew and Gentile alike — through faith.
N.T. Wright explains:
"Christ is the 'telos' of the law — both its goal and its fulfillment. The law was always pointing to him, and now that he has come, the way of salvation is open to everyone who calls on his name."
Paul then quotes Deuteronomy 30, brilliantly reapplying Moses's words. Moses said the commandment was "not too hard" and "not far off." Paul says the same about the gospel: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'... or 'Who will descend into the abyss?'... The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart."
And then the clearest, simplest summary of the gospel in all of Paul's writings: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Calvin marvels at the accessibility:
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. This is the simplicity of the gospel — no climbing to heaven, no descending to the abyss. The word is near you."
Going Deeper
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." The universality is staggering. Not "everyone who keeps the law." Not "everyone who belongs to the right ethnic group." Everyone who calls. The word is near. The promise is open. "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him."
Key Quotes
“Christ is the 'telos' of the law — both its goal and its fulfillment. The law was always pointing to him, and now that he has come, the way of salvation is open to everyone who calls on his name.”
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. This is the simplicity of the gospel — no climbing to heaven, no descending to the abyss. The word is near you.”
Prayer Focus
Confessing with your mouth and believing in your heart that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead
Meditation
Paul says 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' How does this promise shape your confidence in sharing the gospel with others?
Question for Discussion
How might the simplicity of 'confess with your mouth and believe in your heart' challenge churches that add layers of requirements to the gospel — and where is the line between faithful obedience and legalistic gatekeeping?