Legal And Gospel Righteousness Compared

The whole of Deuteronomy 30, from which Paul quotes in this passage is a sermon on gospel repentance. Thus vv. 1-2 and v. 6. There are two basic ideas in Romans 10:5-9...the character of the legal covenant and the character of the righteousness of faith.

The character of the legal covenant is in verse 5. The Jew used the law thinking that observance of it would commend them to God. Out of impatience that their law was abolished and they made level with the Gentiles caused them to stumble. The viewed the law not so much as a rule of life for the redeemed as a means of currying favor. The Jew had a faith of sorts...it is impossible to believe nothing at all. The stumbling came at the object of faith.

The character of the righteousness of faith is set forth in what it advises against saying and then in what it claims -- that the word is written in the heart and is in the mouth of the believer.
[Click on the "Outside Web Link" to see the Order of Worship and other audio from the service in which this sermon was preached]