Connect360: All Who Call

• Lesson Eight in the Connect360 unit “And Then We Came to Romans: A Study of Paul’s ‘Weighty and Strong’ Letter” focuses on Romans 10:5-13.

Paul reiterated his concerns from Chapter 9 about his Jewish brothers and sisters’ unbelief.

He was deeply distressed over their struggle to accept this new doctrine of grace instead of relying on works for righteousness.

They aimed to “establish their own” righteousness and refused to submit to God’s righteousness (10:3).

Paul fervently prayed for their salvation, yet he understood the pointlessness of their strict law observance.

In Leviticus 18:5, the Lord said through Moses, “Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them.”

Paul cited the passage in Romans 10 to show that those who live by the law must seek their righteousness from the law.

The law-based approach to righteousness is a clear path: do this and live. It’s a system of merit that demands flawless obedience (James 2:10).

Paul explained earlier in his letter all have sinned, and none can achieve righteousness on their own.

The law revealed the holiness of God and the sinfulness of humanity, but it offered no way to bridge the gap. Standing on its own, the law would never be a viable path to salvation.

Fortunately, there is an alternative route. Righteousness through faith makes possible the impossible. Since Christ came to earth in his incarnation and was resurrected from the dead, righteousness is easily accessible.

We do not have to ascend to heaven or scour the depths of the sea to find it, because Christ has already completed the work.

All we have to do is respond in faith. Paul’s point is the gospel is not far off.

It is not hidden behind intellectualism or kept behind ethnic boundaries. The gospel is near, in our mouths and in our hearts (10:8). It’s accessible because God chose to act.

Picture yourself at the foot of a towering mountain, knowing your rescue awaits at the peak. As you begin to climb, your legs grow heavier, and breathing becomes more difficult.

Soon, you realize reaching the top is impossible—it’s too far. Then someone tells you that you no longer need to climb; salvation has come down to you.

This is the kind of transformation Paul talked about. Righteousness, once something to be achieved, has now become a gift to be received.

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