Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
After year’s of faithful service and perseverance, Moses blew it. In Numbers 20, God clearly told Moses to gather the people and speak to the rock and it would give water. Moses took the staff and struck the rock, frustrated and angry- but, as the water came out God’s consequences came in. “Moses, you will not enter the promise land. Joshua instead will lead the people in."
In Deuteronomy 32- Moses sings to God, the Rock, whose work is perfect and ways are just.
In Deut 34. Moses died in the land of Moab “according to the word of the Lord”. He saw the land, but he did not enter it.
It is written of Moses- “there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses”. But one sin called for consequences.
Why?
Christ was the rock (I Corinthians 10:4)- He is only struck once (the cross). We now just speak to him.
Moses represented the law. The Law does not get you through; only through Joshua (Jesus) can you enter the promise land.
If you read Romans 9-11, you get the basic point of Paul. The Jewish legal system was not a system of salvation. It was a tutor to lead us to the day of mercy and the gospel of Christ.
I think a lot about Paul’s first few days after meeting Christ. He went back through all of the Old Testament scriptures and they leapt off the page to him. Look at all the references in his letters. Just in Romans- Psalms, Jeremiah, Proverbs, Isaiah, Ezra, Ecclesiastes, Deuteronomy, Malachi, - all pointing to man’s sin, stubbornness, disobedience, the need for heart obedience, and prophecy that God will open the door to gentiles.
I imagine him being almost overwhelmed with disbelief, but then being encouraged as the gospel became clearer and more beautiful.
How is Christ the end of the Law? Is the LAW now abolished? No, it is fulfilled.
I believe there are two applications to Romans 10:4:
1) Christ represents the end of legalism as a way of salvation. He did what no man could. Through Him, we find entrance into the kingdom.
2) Christ is now our goal- we live in Him. By the way, we show love by obedience. But it is a life of love, faith, and forgiveness…. Not duty. We begin to see God’s law as good, providing peace and blessing.
In Romans 11:32 “God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all”. The holiest, strictest, religious people on the planet still fall short.
Salvation is a gift… what is keeping you from getting it? Is there anything worth missing out.
How do you get it?
Romans 10: 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
You call out to him in trust and begin to walk in Him daily.
All the glory goes to Him!
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