I preached this message on a mission trip in the summer of 2004.
As I have had opportunities to talk to people over the years from different religious backgrounds, whether they be Catholics or Jewish or Orthodox or Buddhists, I have come to the conclusion that virtually all other religions share one thing in common: they all teach that a person is accepted by God, is saved, or gains access into heaven based on his own performance or works. If you ask any of these people how to be right with God or enter into heaven, the answer is in part or in whole, “It is dependent upon what you do.” If you do enough, live well enough, and meet up to certain standards, you will have God’s favor and enter heaven. That is the “gospel” of nearly ever religion out there.
While this message is fatally flawed, there is an element of truth to it: If you want to be saved and have the hope of heaven, you need to be righteous. This is biblical teaching. The dividing line, however, is how one seeks to be righteous and accepted before God. This is where there is a fundamental distinction between these religions and the religion of the Bible. The uniqueness of the biblical gospel is that it does not point one to his own performance but to the performance of Another. The answer is not, “It depends upon what you do,” but, “It depends upon what Christ has done for you.” It is not whether you do enough or live well enough of meet up to certain standards. The real issue is whether Jesus did enough, lived well enough, and met God’s standards as your Substitute. This biblical gospel is truly the only message of pure grace.
Illustration: I have found this simple point to be incredible news to those who are lost and in bondage to self-help religions. I shared the gospel with a Catholic lady, telling her how being accepted with God was not based upon her performance but in Christ’s performance. That what she was striving to do and could never do perfectly, Christ had already done. He had dealt with sin, and He had perfectly obeyed, and He did these things as the Substitute for everyone who puts their faith in Him, who believes that God has made every provision necessary in the person and work of His Son for our complete salvation.
It was an incredible joy to be the first one to share these things with her. She had never heard them before. Her eyes lit up and there was a noticeable change in her entire disposition as she was finally confronted with the liberating good news of the gospel! She thanked me profusely for sharing with her what she recognized was what her soul needed. She has since trusted Christ and is seeking to grow in the midst of Catholicism through the help of Becky Peterson.
The text I’d like to look at tonight deals with this very fundamental issue of how a person is righteous before God, that is, how a person can meet God’s standards and demands so that He is accepted by God and has His favor. This is just another way of asking how a person can be saved.
Normally when we talk about salvation, we talk about sin and what Jesus did to pay for that sin. Very rarely do we speak of righteousness and what Jesus did to provide for that. That is how our text, and many others, speak of salvation: being considered righteous before God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 sums up these two elements better than any other text: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Our sinfulness was transferred to Christ and He bore it and its punishment in our place. Christ’s righteousness that He earned in our place through perfect obedience to God was transferred to us. So Christ dealt with both the problem of our sin and our need for righteousness. It is the latter part that is often neglected, and it is this latter part that our text focuses on.
The text is found in Romans 9:30–10:13. Let’s read it together. As we do, look for the two key words.
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Pray: Let’s ask for the Lord’s help as we consider His word together.
What were the key words of this passage?
Righteousness 12x (30 [3], 31 [2], 3 [2], 4, 5[2], 6, 10)
Faith 9x (30, 32, 33, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11)
Both of these words play an important role in understanding the central teaching of this passage.
Before we get into the text, it is essential that we understand the meaning of the term righteousness.
What is righteousness? Conformity to a standard; fulfillment of what is required.
Deuteronomy 25:15 “You shall have a full and just [וָצֶדֶק] weight; you shall have a full and just measure, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.”
Righteousness may be used in many different ways. It may be an attribute of God, or it may be something we do. We will find in our text, however, that it used in a different way.
Our passage divides nicely into three paragraphs: 30–33, 1–4, and 5–13. Each one of the paragraphs has one main point about righteousness. If you get nothing else from the message, get these three points.
A second thing worth pointing out is the contrast in each paragraph between two kinds of righteousness. See if you can pick them out.
1.1 Righteousness does not come by working for it (30–33).
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
This could not be any more clear, yet nearly ever religion in the world still teaches that righteousness comes, in part or in whole, through working for it.
The Context: Paul’s question, “What shall we say then?” points back to the previous discussion in chapter nine. The question under discussion is why most Jews are not being saved and the Gentiles are. In 9:1–3 Paul is lamenting that most Jews are not saved.
The first answer that Paul gave to this dilemma was God’s election. The second answer is the human side: the Gentiles believed but Israel did not.
Paul begins by making two propositions.
1.2 The Gentiles did not seek it but found it (30).
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
It is clear from this that righteousness here is not righteous deeds. The verse would make no sense if that were the case. Righteousness must be something other than righteous behavior.
2.2 The Jews sought it but did not find it (31).
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
The phrase, “law of righteousness” probably means that they sought the law for righteousness. It was righteousness that they were seeking and the law was the means they used to seek it.
Paul uses the imagery of a race here. This is quite backwards. Imagine one person running very hard to win the race, and the other not even knowing that he was in the race. We’d expect the person trying so hard to win, but that was not the case.
The natural question that arises in anyone’s mind is, “Why?”
1.3 They sought it by works rather than faith (32).
32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.
This first answer is found in verse 32. Israel thought that they could obtain the righteousness necessary for salvation through their works, that is, through their obedience to the law that God had given them. If they just obeyed well enough, they could be righteous enough to receive God’s saving favor. This, of course, was faulty thinking. God never intended obedience to the law to be the means of Israel’s salvation.
This misunderstanding, that righteousness came by their own performance, let to the second reason that the Jew’s did not attain righteousness.
2.3 They rejected their Messiah (33).
For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Because they thought they could be righteous by their own performance, they totally missed their own Messiah who came to provide the very righteousness that they were seeking. But thinking that they could do it themselves, they did not recognize their need and thus did not recognize the one who came to meet that need.
The picture Paul paints is quite sad. Instead of finding in Christ a rock of stability and salvation, He was to them a rock of offense leading to their own destruction.
So the first point that Paul makes unmistakably clear is that righteousness does not come by working for it. Israel, and every false religion, is a sober example of what will happen to those who seek to earn a righteous standing with God by good works, even obedience to God’s regulations.
What were the two phrases Paul used to contrast two kinds of righteousness?
the righteousness which is of faith (30) / the law of righteousness (31)
2.1 Righteousness comes from God (1–4).
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Verse 1 reiterates the problem under discussion: most Jews are not being saved.
1.2 Being religiously zealous does not bring righteousness (2).
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Verse 2 explains the reason for that from a different angle than 9:32–33.
The Jews were a very zealous people, concerned about keeping His laws. This was a commendation, not a criticism. It is good to be zealous about God. Paul himself was a good example of this. But religious zeal never saved anyone. Zeal must be governed by knowledge or right doctrine.
Unsaved people often struggle with the religious zeal and dedication of false religions. How can you say they are wrong? Look how committed they are to their religion? The point Paul makes here though is that no level of commitment or zeal will result in salvation if it is not based on truth.
So the Jews’ problem, and every false religion’s problem for that matter, is a lack of knowledge. They do not know or accept the truth about how a person can have a righteous standing before God.
2.2 God’s righteousness is a gift (3).
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Verse 3 explains what the Jews lacked in knowledge. The statement Paul makes is that they did not submit to God’s righteousness. He gives two reasons for this failure.
1.3 They did not know about God’s righteousness.
What does that mean? Does it mean that they didn’t know that God was a righteous God. Certainly they did. What, then, is the righteousness of God? It is the saving righteousness that God gives to his people. The Jews did not know that righteousness was a gracious gift of God, not something to be earned by working for it.
2.3 They sought to establish there own righteousness.
As a result of not knowing about God’s righteousness, they sought to establish their own righteousness. By their own deeds thought they could attain a righteous standing before God.
3.3 They did not submit to the righteousness of God.
The consequence was that they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Righteousness is not something to be earned but something to be submitted to and received as a gift. In other words, they did not align themselves with God’s way of becoming righteous.
Application: We all have the tendency to establish our own righteousness.
Let us not be guilty of pointing the finger at the Jews and failing to learn the lesson that God intends for us to learn about ourselves. The same self-righteous heart that existed in the Jews still exists in you today, whether you are saved or not. The remnants of the old man still exist.
You may not be thinking that you are going to heaven based on your performance. Most of us know better than that. But you man be guilty of the kind of thinking that seeks to add to the righteousness of Christ that God has already given to us. If I read my Bible through every year and witness to so many people a week and never miss church, then God will accept me more and I’ll have more of His favor than the guy down the row who wasn’t at prayer meeting last week.
Now, don’t miss my point here. Those are all great things, and we should be striving to do them. The key issue is motive. Why do we do them? To earn God’s favor and to bolster our righteous standing with Him, or because we already have all of God’s favor in His Son and a perfect standing of righteousness before Him? Let us beware of the attitude of self-righteousness. It can creep in to our lives in so many ways if we are not careful.
Clarification: This is not to say that concern for righteous living is wrong. Concern for righteous living is vital. We must be pursuing to live righteous lives. The issue is why? The Roman Catholic church along with all the other false religions teach that we must live righteously so that we can earn God’s favor and acceptance. The Bible teaching is that we must live righteously out of love and gratitude to God and to reflect the glory of our Savior because we have already freely received God’s favor and acceptance through the substitutionary work of His Son.
3.2 Christ is the key to righteousness (4).
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Verse 4 further explains their lack of knowledge. They did not know that righteous was a gift of God to be submitted by faith rather than something to attain by works. They also did not understand the role that Christ played in this pursuit of righteousness. Christ was God’s agent for providing righteousness for His people.
Verse 4 has been variously interpreted. Commentators spend pages arguing which way is the best way to understand it. The two main interpretations are:
1.3 Christ puts an end to the faulty use of the law to establish one’s own righteousness.
2.3 The goal of the law was that Christ would provide righteousness to everyone who believes in Him.
Both statements are true. And in the end, the meaning is practically the same. The law is not the way for a person to work and achieve his own righteousness; Christ is God’s way of righteousness.
To say it another way, the law does not teach a way of establishing one’s own righteousness but it shows him his sinfulness and inability to keep its requirements, and it ultimately points them to the One Who would keep those requirements perfectly.
Although Paul doesn’t develop this point in more detail, I think it would do us good to stop and ponder the mechanics behind this. Righteousness is a gift, and Christ plays a vital role in that gift, but how precisely does Christ fit in? And how is it that God can give a righteous standing to people who are not righteous?
The answer, developed more fully elsewhere in Scripture is that what the sinner could not do for himself—earn his own perfect righteousness—Christ did in his place as his substitute. The sinner, recognizing His inability to meet God’s demands and recognizing that God has made provision for those demands to be met through the substitutionary work of His Son, believes and is forgiven and counted perfectly righteous.
This really is a glorious truth—possibly the greatest truth of the gospel. This is the uniqueness of the Christian gospel. Righteousness is not something that you must strive your whole life to attain and hope that it will be enough for God to save you. Righteousness is the gracious gift of God given through faith on the basis of the substitutionary work of Christ who did earn righteousness by His perfect obedience.
So the main point of this section was what? Righteousness, or a righteous standing with God, is a gracious gift of God.
What were the two phrases Paul used to contrast two kinds of righteousness?
God’s righteousness or the righteousness of God (3) / their own righteousness (3)
3.1 Righteousness comes through faith (5–13).
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
This section begins the final transition with a marked emphasis on faith. In the first paragraph, it occurred 3 times, in the second, 1 time, but in this paragraph we find it 5 times (6, 8, 9, 10, 11).
1.2 Righteousness based on works is unattainable (5).
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Verse 5 is transitional from the previous section. He continues the contrast between the two types of righteousness. What are they?
the righteousness which is of the law (5) / the righteousness which is of faith (6)
Although attaining righteousness by works is impossible from the standpoint of reality, it was possible theoretically. So in once sense, there was a righteousness that could be earned by works. Because of man’s sinfulness, however, such a righteousness was utterly impossible. Christ, the sinless One, was the only One who could perfectly meet the requirements of the law and earn life. And as we saw in verse 4, that is what He did as our substitute.
Paul’s point here was to reiterate the impossibility of righteousness coming by works.
2.2 Righteousness based on faith is accessible (6–8).
6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Paul now turns his attention to the issue of faith. This passage is difficult to interpret, but the point is clear: righteousness comes by faith. Let’s try to work through it briefly without getting bogged done.
1.3 God’s righteousness does not require you to do anything (6–7).
1.4 God made provision through the incarnation.
2.4 God made provision through the resurrection.
These were both works of God, already accomplished.
2.3 God’s righteousness requires simple faith in what He has done in Christ (8).
1.4 The gospel is in a sense very simple.
2.4 Men want something to do for their salvation (e.g., Naman), but God’s salvation requires that you let God be the one who does so that He is the one who receives the glory.
3.2 The content of the message of righteousness by faith (9–10).
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Verses 9 and 10 give the content of this message of righteousness by faith.
1.3 Confess Jesus as Lord (9a).
2.3 Believe that God raised Jesus (9b).
3.3 Belief results in righteousness (10a).
4.3 Confession results in salvation (10b).
Belief that God has accomplished salvation in Christ results in being counted righteous. This belief will manifest itself in outward confession, submitting to the Lordship of Jesus. Righteousness and salvation are essentially the same thing and should not be distinguished.
The heart of this message of righteousness by faith is that salvation is something God has done in His Son, that righteousness is a gift to be received through faith in that work, and that this belief should manifest itself in outward confession of and submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
4.2 This righteousness is for anyone (11–13).
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
In these last three verses, Paul is supporting this message of righteousness by faith through the teaching of the OT. In addition, he stresses the universal availability of this salvation.
Paul gives four reasons why this message of faith is for all, both Jew and Gentile.
1.3 The Scripture says, “Whoever believes.”
2.3 Jew and Gentile are on equal footing.
3.3 Christ is Lord of all people.
4.3 God’s riches are inexhaustible.
Summary: So to summarize the teaching of this passage on righteousness, we saw, first, that righteousness, that is, a righteous standing before God is not based upon one’s one works or performance. The Jews tried this and came short. So has every other religious group and individual who has sought to establish his own righteousness. The standard, absolute perfection, is too high.
We saw, secondly, that righteousness, or a righteous standing with God is a gracious gift of God provided on the basis of the substitutionary work of Christ. His righteousness is the only righteousness that meet God’s demands, and God will graciously allow that righteousness to count for us.
Finally, we saw that righteousness, or a righteous standing with God is based on faith. It is by believing that one cannot establish his own righteousness and that God has already done everything necessary to be right with Him in the person and work of His Son that a person is count perfectly righteous with God.
Application: What can we draw from this today?
Well, the application for anyone here tonight who has never entered into a right relationship with God is clear. Quit your attempts at establishing your own righteousness and receive by faith the righteousness of Christ. He has made every provision for your salvation, both now and throughout eternity. Come to Him in faith and God will pardon your sin and give you His righteousness.
What application can we draw from this as believers? It is easy to fall into a self-righteous attitude, not concerning our salvation necessarily, but concerning God’s favor. Take your prayer life for example. Maybe you feel confident to approach God in prayer because you’ve had a pretty good week, or maybe you feel that you cannot approach God in prayer because you’ve had a pretty bad week. Both of these attitudes reflect the self-righteousness that God rejects. Whether you’ve have a good week, or whether this week has been a struggle for you, you can confidently approach the throne of God in prayer. Why? Because God accepts you and hears your prayers, not based on how well you have or haven’t done, but based on the performance of His Son for you as your sin substitute and as your righteousness.
Another application of this message can be drawn from what follows in the passage. Are you sharing this message? Paul goes on to talk about the need for people to tell this message in order for people to believe.
I’d like to close by reading a hymn text that I think captures well the message of righteousness by faith in the work of Christ entitled, “Before the Throne of God Above.”
Before the throne of God above I have a strong a perfect plea, A great High priest whose name is “Love,” Who ever lives and pleads for me. My name is graven on His hands, my name is written on His heart; I know that while in heav’n He stands no tongue can bid me thence depart, No tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair, and tells me of the guilt within, upward I look and see Him there who made an end to all my sin. Because the sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free; For God, the Just, is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me, To look on Him and pardon me.
Behold Him there! The risen Lamb, my perfect, spotless Righteousness, the great, unchangeable I AM, the King of glory and of grace! One with Himself I cannot die, my soul is purchase by His blood; My life is hid with Christ on high, with Christ, my Savior and my God, With Christ my Savior and my God.
Conclusion: Righteousness is not attained by works. It is a gift from God, received by faith alone in what Christ alone has done. Today you are on one of two roads: pursuing righteousness by yours works or submitting to the righteousness of Christ by faith. Set aside all self-effort and submit by faith to what God has done in Christ!
It might be helpful to think of these two aspects as debt that needs to be paid and assets. Sin sends us to hell, and when Christ takes away our sin, he free us from hell. But that is only part of it. This part removes our debt but doesn’t give us righteousness.
30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 just as it is written, “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. 3 For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. 6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, ‘WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or ‘WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 8 But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."
Salvation 4x (1, 9, 10, 13)
30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 just as it is written, “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. 3 For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. 6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, ‘WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or ‘WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 8 But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."
30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 just as it is written, “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. 3 For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. 6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, ‘WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or ‘WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 8 But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."
Calling on the Lord: To call on the Lord here is essentially the same as faith. Often we equate calling on the Lord with prayer, but this expression communicates more than that. It is a calling on for help, for mercy, for grace. The attitude behind the one calling is one of desperation and need, recognizing that his only hope is in the Lord.
Why has God designed that righteous be by faith?
Works magnifies oneself, while faith magnifies the work of another.
Romans 4:16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace.
Ephesians 2:8–9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
1 Corinthians 1:29–31 29 so that no man may boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."