I. The Word: Romans 10:1-4

1Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. 3For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

II. Reflection Questions:

1. Are you trusting in your own goodness to get right with God?

2. Have you struggled with the concepts of free will and predestination?

To begin Chapter 10, Paul continues to lament the fate of the Jews who have rejected Jesus. (vv. 1-2). Paul then explains their error, that “not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.” (v. 3) Paul’s statement is interesting in at least two respects.

First, in the previous chapter Paul mentioned the hardening of Israel as an explanation for their rejection of Jesus. He then doubled down by defending predestination in the context of the sovereignty of God (“The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it?”) (Rom. 9:20). Now in Romans 10:3-4 Paul puts the responsibility for the Jews’ rejection of Jesus squarely on the shoulders of the Jews. So, which is it: predestination or free will?

I am not a theologian, and such questions are probably best left to theologians. But I can tell you how I have dealt with these Scriptures: I take them at face value. I start with the assumption they are true and they mean what they say. That leads me to the conclusion that predestination and free will are not mutually exclusive. In other words, predestination and free will can exist in the same act. Or, at least to our perception, and to the extent that it matters relative to our accountability to God, and for all practical purposes, they can exist in the same act. This conclusion may not seem logical, but logic requires a full and accurate understanding of the facts compelling the conclusion. It is almost certain that we do not fully understand all the nuances of what free will and predestination mean. The bottom line: even if you are predestined, you are still fully responsible.

Second, Paul’s explanation for why the Jews rejected Jesus effectively separates all other religions from Christianity. The Jews rejected Jesus because they were seeking to establish their own righteousness. All other religions—meaning all man-made religions—suffer from the same error: they teach man can do something to earn his salvation. This assumption is so universal it is even common among many cultural Christian churchgoers who mistakenly believe their own goodness will earn them eternal life. The universal nature of this assumption proves its error. The fact that man believes he can save himself only proves his need for a savior.

Fortunately, though, Jesus is the end of the law and misguided salvation-by-works efforts for all those who put their trust in Him. (v. 4).