Audio commentary on this verse

Note 5 at Rom. 10:5: In verses 5-9, Paul contrasts those who seek righteousness by the law with those who seek the righteousness of God as a gift (see note 2 at v. 3, above). 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 (v. 9).

This is a simple and 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 (Gal. 3:12). When we simply believe and confess what has already been provided through Christ, then that's grace.

A person who is living under the law and a person who lives under grace should have very similar actions of holiness, but their motivations are completely opposite. The legalist has his attention on what he must do, while the person living by faith has his attention on what Christ has already done for him.

For instance, the scriptures teach us to confess with our mouth and believe with our heart and we will receive from God (Rom. 10:9-10; Mk. 11:23-24, etc.). The legalist thinks, "That means I can get God to heal me by confessing 'By his stripes I am healed.'" However, the person who understands God's grace will not confess the Word to get healed. He will confess, "By his stripes I am healed," because he really believes it has already been done.

Analyzing our "mind set" 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 with 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 Rom. 10:5: The Greek word that was translated "live" here is "zao," which means "to live." However, that definition by itself doesn't fully convey Paul's intent in quoting this Old Testament passage from Leviticus 18:5. It is clear from the context that Paul is contrasting the effort to keep the Old Testament law with the New Testament faith in Christ. He is concluding that the observance of the Old Testament law for producing righteousness (see note 3 at Rom. 10:4, p. 813) 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 quotes this same Old Testament passage in Galatians 3:12, and so does Nehemiah in Nehemiah 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 meaning that communicates Paul's meaning here. The word "live" can mean "to continue to remain alive."

Using this definition, this quote from Leviticus 18:5 is saying that once a man starts trying to fulfill the law to earn righteousness, he will have to subsist, or remain alive, by his continued adherence to the precepts of that law. In other words, once you decide to "earn" right standing with God, then God is going to give you what you deserve. The thing that is dreadfully wrong with this thought is that no one really deserves righteousness. We don't need justice. We need mercy!

This is what Paul is communicating through quoting 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 Rom. 5:1, p. 768). In contrast, salvation by grace through faith places the burden on Jesus, and allows us to walk free.