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"The righteousness which is of the law..."

Text: Romans 10:5

TWO SETS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS COMPARED

Paul knew how hard it was for Jews to comprehend that there was a righteousness that came from the Lord Jesus Christ. He too personally struggled with this prior to his conversion, The only righteousness he knew was the one associated with the law of Moses.

“For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law,
‘The man who does those things shall live by them.'”
Romans 10:5

A. Jewish Theology

1. Moses writes

a) In Jewish theology there wasn’t anyone greater than Moses the Lawgiver.

b) He wrote on the subject of righteousness which is of the law.

2. The righteousness which is of the Law

Paul elaborated on this subject in his epistle to the Galatians. The text here in Romans 10 is skimpy compared to what he wrote in Galatians. Let us note what Paul wrote in Galatians.

a) The Law has a curse on all who do not keep it perfectly (Cf. Galatians 3:10).

b) No one will be able to be justified by the law in the sight of God (Cf. Galatians 3:11).

c) The man who seeks righteousness from the Law is obligated to “live by them” (Cf. Galatians 3:12; Romans 10:5).

d) The law cannot give eternal life nor perfect righteousness (Cf. Galatians 3:21).

Paul offered a startling “new” system of theological thought. He defended the concept of “righteousness by faith” (Romans 10:5). Paul also wrote significantly about faith in his epistle to the Galatians. Let us note the following things he emphasized there.

B. Pauline Theology

Three significant truths may be highlighted. (The law cannot offer any of these things).

1. Faith brings about justification (Cf. Galatians 2:16).

2. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law (Cf. Galatians 3:13)

3. We have sonship only through faith in Christ (Cf. Galatians 3:26).