Audio commentary on this verse

Note 5 at Ro 10:5: In Ro 10:5-9, Paul contrasted those who seek righteousness by the Law with those who seek the righteousness of God as a gift (see note 2 at Ro 10:3). Those who seek to earn righteousness through keeping the Law are consumed with "doing" (this verse), while those who receive righteousness by faith are simply confessing what has already been done (Ro 10:9).

This is a simple yet profound difference. If we are still "doing" acts of holiness to get God to move in our lives, then we are still operating under a "Law" mentality that is not faith (Ga 3:12). When we simply believe and confess what has already been provided through Christ, that's grace.

Those who are living under the Law and those who are living under grace should have very similar actions of holiness, but their motivations are completely opposite. Legalists have their attention on what they must do, while those living by faith have their attention on what Christ has already done for them.

For instance, the Scriptures teach us to confess with our mouths and believe with our hearts and we will receive from God (Ro 10:9-10 and Mr 11:23-24). Legalists think that means they can get God to heal them by confessing that by His stripes, they are healed. However, those who understand God's grace will not confess the Word to get healed. They will confess that by His stripes, they are healed, because they really believe it has already been done.

Analyzing our mindsets is the simplest way of discerning whether we are operating in true Bible faith or a legalistic counterfeit. If the motive for our actions is to be accepted by God, then that's legalism. If we live holy out of faith and gratefulness for what God has already done, then that's grace.

Note 6 at Ro 10:5: The Greek word that was translated "live" here is "ZAO," and it means "to live" (Strong's Concordance). However, that definition by itself doesn't fully convey Paul's intent in quoting this Old Testament passage from Le 18:5. It is clear from the context that Paul was contrasting the effort to keep the Old Testament Law with the New Testament faith in Christ. He was concluding that the observance of the Old Testament Law for producing righteousness (see note 3 at Ro 10:4) is inferior to the New Testament method of obtaining righteousness by putting faith in Jesus as our Savior.

This quote from Moses is intended to illustrate the harshness of living by the Old Testament Law. Paul quoted this same Old Testament passage in Ga 3:12, and so did Nehemiah in Ne 9:29. In each case, the context clearly reveals that the writer was quoting this verse to speak of the negative effects of living by the Law.

The word "live" in the English language can mean many different things, as can be seen by the multiple definitions of this word in any dictionary. In the American Heritage Dictionary, there is one definition that communicates Paul's meaning here. The word "live" can mean "to continue to be alive."

Using this definition, this quote from Le 18:5 is saying that once people start trying to fulfill the Law to earn righteousness, they will have to subsist, or continue to be alive, by their ongoing adherence to the precepts of that Law. In other words, once they decide to "earn" right standing with God, then God is going to give them what they deserve. The thing that is dreadfully wrong with this thought is that people don't really deserve righteousness. They don't need justice. They need mercy!

This is what Paul was communicating when he quoted this scripture from Leviticus. Trying to achieve righteousness by keeping the Law doesn't bring peace, because it puts the burden of salvation on our shoulders (see note 2 at Ro 5:1). In contrast, salvation by grace through faith places the burden on Jesus and allows us to walk free.