“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
— Romans 10:1–4 NASB
Many have zeal without understanding the Gospel
When Paul wrote these words, he wasn’t condemning Israel — he was grieving for them.
He says, “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is for their salvation.”
They had zeal — a deep, passionate desire to please God. But their zeal was misdirected.
They were running fast, but in the wrong direction.
“They have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.”
Paul wasn’t saying Israel lacked sincerity. They prayed, fasted, studied, and sacrificed.
But sincerity isn’t the same as truth. They were devoted to the system, but blind to the Savior.
And the tragedy is — many Christians today fall into the same pattern.
Many Misunderstand the Power of the Law
Romans 10:3 — “For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.”
Israel thought the Law could make them righteous if they just kept it faithfully.
They saw obedience as a ladder to climb up to God, rather than a mirror to show their need for grace.
They didn’t understand what Paul explained earlier in Romans 9:32 —
“They pursued righteousness not by faith, but as though it were by works.”
The Law was never meant to produce righteousness.
It was meant to reveal sin and lead us to Christ (Galatians 3:24).
But instead of letting the Law drive them to dependency, they turned it into a performance metric.
Their zeal was sincere — but sincerely wrong.
And how often do we do the same?
We measure spirituality by effort — how much we pray, serve, fast, or give — instead of trusting the righteousness freely given in Christ.
Many Misunderstand the Purpose of the Law
Romans 10:4 — “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
The Greek word telos (“end”) can mean goal, completion, or termination.
All three meanings apply beautifully to Christ:
- Fulfillment — Christ perfectly fulfilled the Law’s moral and prophetic demands (Matthew 5:17).
- Goal — The Law’s purpose was to lead us to Him (Galatians 3:23–26).
- End — The Mosaic covenant is no longer our rule of life (Romans 6:14; 7:4).
The Law pointed forward; Jesus is the finish line.
But like Israel, we sometimes keep running even after crossing the finish line —
still trying to earn what Christ already accomplished.
We obey to be righteous, rather than obeying because we are righteous.
We call it “discipleship,” but often it’s disguised self-righteousness.
The Law says, “Do this and live.”
Grace says, “It is finished — now believe.”
Many Misunderstand the Preaching of the Law
Romans 10:5–8 — even the Law itself pointed to faith.
Paul quotes Moses to make his point:
“The man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness.”
But no one ever could.
Then Paul adds that we don’t need to climb into heaven or descend into the grave to find righteousness.
Why? Because Christ has already done it all.
“Storming the ramparts of heaven and potholing in Hades, in search of Christ, are equally unnecessary,”
writes John Stott.
“For Christ has come and died, and been raised, and is therefore immediately accessible to faith.”
Salvation is not a heroic human climb — it’s a divine gift.
Everything needed for righteousness is already available in Christ.
How We Misunderstand the Law Today
Many believers today repeat Israel’s mistake — we turn the Christian life into a refined version of the old covenant.
- We measure holiness by consistency, not dependency.
- We treat obedience as a way to keep God pleased instead of walking in His pleasure.
- We think grace is the starting line, but law-based effort is how we finish.
But Paul is clear:
“Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness.”
We no longer live to maintain righteousness — we live out of righteousness.
The fruit of obedience grows naturally when the root is faith.
The Freedom of Knowing the Law’s True Purpose
Once you understand the Law’s purpose, you’ll stop striving to prove your devotion and start resting in Christ’s devotion to you.
- The Law said: “You shall love the Lord your God.”
- Grace says: “We love because He first loved us.”
Under the Law, righteousness was demanded.
Under grace, righteousness is delivered.
This doesn’t make us careless — it makes us grateful.
Grace doesn’t make us lazy; it makes us love deeper, forgive faster, and serve from joy, not fear.
Final Thought
Israel’s mistake wasn’t passion — it was misdirected passion.
They chased righteousness as though it could be achieved by effort, when it could only be received by faith.
And the same danger remains today.
We can serve, study, and sacrifice — yet miss the heart of the gospel if we forget that Christ Himself is the end, fulfillment, and goal of the Law.
True obedience flows not from striving, but from knowing who you already are in Him.
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