ADDRESSES ON ROMANS
\ THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW versus THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF FAITH 10:4~13 The reference to the Jews' "going about to establish their own righteousness" leads Paul to discuss once more the differ~ ence between "the righteousness which is of the law" and "the righteousness which is of faith." This has been brought out all through the epistle. Let us read verses 4~13 carefully. noting how Paul enlarges further upon this topic, already presented in preceding chapters. How did Israel try to establish their own righteousness? By keeping the law. Consequently they rejected Christ, who is "the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (verse 4). That is the condition of Israel today. and that is the tragic condition of thousands of Gentile church members who are trying to establish their own righteousness by the works of the law. There are only two religions: One may be spelled, "Do"; the other, "Done." The Jews had taken up the religion of works, rejecting Him who on the cross proclaimed that His redemptive work was "finished." Since Paul is thinking here of Jews, he loves to go back to their own Scriptures. -And this he does in a very striking way in the passage before us, proving that the Old Testament. which the Jews accepted, explains the difference between "the righteousness which is of the law" and "the righteousness which is of faith." In verse 5 he quotes Lev. 18:5, in which Moses plainly states that "the man which doeth those things (written in the './ law) shall live by them." But the fact is that no one except the sinless Son of God could do all those things. Then in verses 6~8 Paul quotes Moses again, showing by way of contrast that "the righteousness which is of faith" is not obtained by the works of the law, but by grace through faith in Christ, who is "the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Page 196]
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