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Consequently, they sought to achieve a heaven to bring down the commandment.
righteousness of their own that would be Neither was it necessary for someone to
acceptable to God. In doing so, they were cross the sea in order to bring it to them.
failing to submit themselves to God’s abso- It was readily available to them. It was in
lute righteousness. As a result, they could their mouths, that is, they regularly quoted
not see that “all our righteousnesses are as the Law. It was also in their hearts. It was
filthy rags” (Isa 64:6). The purpose of the part of the very fabric of their lives. There
Law isn’t to set an impossible standard was no reason why they could not obey it.
for us to seek to achieve, but to impress Even so, the righteousness which is pro-
upon us our sinfulness and cause us to duced by faith doesn’t require someone to
find our righteousness in Christ (Rom go up to heaven to bring Christ down; He
10:4). The word for “end” bears the mean- has already been here (Rom 10:6). Nor is it
ing of “goal,” suggesting that the aim of necessary to go down to the abyss in order
the Law is to point us to Christ as the One to resurrect Christ. Faith doesn’t doubt the
who satisfied the requirements of the Law incarnation of Christ nor His resurrection
through His redemptive work on the cross. from the dead (v7). These are not matters
In verses 5-13, Paul contrasts the righ- for debate to faith.
teousness of the Law with faith as a means Notice now the NIV translation of verse
of redemption. In verse 5, Paul quotes 9, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus
God’s own words to Moses, “The man who is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that
has practised those things shall live by [or, God raised him from the dead, you will
as a result of] them” (JND). The verb “to be saved.” This is a public assertion of
do” is in the aorist tense, which does not the deity of Christ. While the Greek word
concern itself with the process but with the for “Lord” (kurios) does not always refer
end result. In other words, the person who to deity, in this context it most certainly
has achieved this result, without failure, does. We will see this clearly when we get
will attain [eternal] life. Only Christ has to verse 13. Faith doesn’t require proof; it
lived a perfect, sinless life. is enough that God has said it. In verse
To understand verses 6-9, we need to 10 Paul writes, “For with the heart man
compare the original context in Deuter- believeth unto righteousness; and with the
onomy 30:11-14: “For this commandment mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
which I command thee this day, it is not Notice that the order is reversed. In verse 9
hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It the mouth is mentioned first, but in verse
is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, 10 the heart is mentioned first. Verse 9 is
Who shall go up for us to heaven, and following the order of Moses’ statement in
bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and verse 8. On the other hand, verse 10 gives
do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou us the moral order of events. There isn’t a
shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea time differential between being reckoned
for us, and bring it unto us, that we may righteous and being saved. These events
hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh take place simultaneously. But believ-
unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, ing with the heart produces the results.
that thou mayest do it.” These words were Confessing with the mouth is the result.
written by Moses himself. He is stating that Actually, the confession is primarily to
it was not necessary for someone to go to Christ Himself (vv12-13).

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