A zeal of God, but not according to knowledge

Turning from the nation of Israel in the past, and their having been favoured as a matter of divine sovereignty, the apostle now thinks of that nation in the present in connection with the subject of divine righteousness. As Paul writes he is mindful that though Israel had a zeal for God it was ‘not according to knowledge’ because they were ignorant of that righteousness from God which is revealed in the gospel. This showed itself in that they went about to establish their own righteousness by means of law-keeping. The righteousness of the law is described by Moses, v. 5, as being one that is obtained by unfailing and continual adherence to the law, something that is impossible as chapter 3 has already shown. However, the righteousness which is of God, and declared in ‘the word of faith’, v. 8, is not secured by anything that man can do. Rather, all the work has been done by One who died and rose again, and heart belief in Him is ‘unto righteousness’, and confession is ‘unto salvation’.

In this there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, vv. 11-13. Just as ‘there is no difference: for all have sinned’, 3. 22, 23, so ‘there is no difference’ in terms of the offer of righteousness, ‘for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him’. The gospel may be freely preached to all, without exception, ‘for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved’.

To this end the gospel is universally preached and necessarily so, vv. 14-21. People cannot call on Him in whom they have not believed, or believe in Him of whom they have not heard. They cannot hear if nobody preaches to them, and no one can preach except he is sent. Who would not delight in making known that word? It is the ‘gospel of peace’ and ‘glad tidings of good things’. This is the ‘word of faith’ and the ‘word of God’, v. 17, which people must obey with the obedience of faith. Having quoted from the law in verse 5, and from the prophets in verse 11, Paul now quotes from Psalm 19. Indeed, the sound of the gospel has gone into all the earth, and it is the responsibility of each of us to continue its proclamation in our day.