In Romans 10, Paul is discussing the two specific beliefs that had brought Israel to the rejection of the Messiah.
That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’ righteousness.
Romans 9:30-32, 10:2-3
Paul is arguing that Israel did not have an epignosis, or full and detailed knowledge of the Law, and this caused them to reject Yeshua as their Messiah. But how could a people who had studied the Law for so many centuries, and had attempted to live within its strict measures, fail to have a full knowledge of it? It’s like saying someone who owns a car, and drives it every day, doesn’t fully understand the purpose of the car.
Suppose you learned this person who owned this car, and drove it every day, drove it down his driveway every day, and then got out to walk beside a road for ten miles to reach work? Would you then be able to see how they owned a car, and drove it every day, and yet, somehow, still missed the point? Paul argues this is the case with Israel. The Law was never meant to be used as a path to God, but rather as a guide to the righteous life, and as a path to blessings. After quoting a couple of points made by Moses to show this, Paul then moves on to an interesting argument we often miss.
But the righteousness based on faith says, Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down) or Who will descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).Romans 10:6-8 (ESV)
We often get the surface point here. Paul is saying that the person who lives by faith does not try to bring Christ down to the Earth, nor raise Christ from the Dead. The person of faith does not do these things because God has done them. It isn’t through human will or works that Christ was incarnated, nor is it through human will or works that Christ was resurrected. It was through God’s will and works.
There is a deeper point here, though. You see, Israel was trying to bring about the Kingdom of God on the Earth. If Israel could call the Messiah to the Earth through their actions, by living righteously, or gaining political power, then it would be man’s will and works that bring the Messiah. They misunderstood the Law in thinking that if they lived by the Law, they would bring the Messiah to Israel. They misunderstood their place in thinking that if they could just “get with the world system,” and eventually control it, they could position the world for the Messiah.
Paul argues the only way for the Messiah to come is for God to send Him. The only thing we can do is to have faith in that sending. Hence, Paul reasons, if our only part in the Messiah’s coming is faith, then our only part in salvation is faith.
The reason I bring this out so strongly is to bring out, as well, the obvious connection with the current mindset of many Christians that they can build the Kingdom of God on the Earth. That when they are done building this Kingdom, the Messiah will return. This is a misunderstanding of the commission God has given us, and it often requires a misunderstanding of the Law God has given the Church, to love one another. Just as Israel tries to use the Law incorrectly, the Church tries to use the Law incorrectly.
Faith doesn’t try to bring the Messiah down. Faith doesn’t try to ressurrect the Messiah. Faith simply believes God will do this, in His time, and in His way. Christians are not here to build a Kingdom. We are here to make disciples. These are completely different things.
