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Commentaries
English
Romans
  
b) The aggravation of the offense of the Israelite people because God was more merciful to them than to any other people
(Romans 10:4-8)
4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.5For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "The man who does those things shall live by them."6But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' "(that is, to bring Christ down from above)7or, " 'Who will descend into the abyss?' "(that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).8But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach)


Paul testifies that the ultimate goal of the law is Christ Jesus, for he is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through him (John 14:6).
Christ perfectly fulfilled all the requirements of the law, with all its details, and became an example to follow. Therefore when we compare ourselves to him, we find ourselves corrupt. This concerns both Jews and Christians, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, since all are lacking love and truth (Leviticus 18:5; Romans 3:23).
At the same time, Jesus reconciled the whole world to the Holy God through his atoning death (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). Christ fulfilled the old law completely, and therefore he is our new law, in whom we see the law of grace. Since his atoning death our new right has been fulfilled, that we obtain free justification by grace, in order to receive eternal life. Thus, Christ is our righteousness (Isaiah 45:24; Jeremiah 23:6; 33:16), and whoever turns to him will not be condemned.
The Lord says in the law of Moses: he who keeps my commandments shall live. But nobody kept all the commandments of God except Jesus alone. Therefore, nobody lives forever by virtue of himself. This is why the Jews attempt, through their prayers, services, fasting, and expectations to bring the promised Messiah down to save them from the wrath of God. On the other hand, they do not want to hear about, or to approach, the true Messiah who willingly came down. The righteousness of faith does not need a new Christ to come down from heaven, nor does it need a new Christ to rise from the dead, for Christ came down to us (Luke 2:11), and rose from the dead (Matthew 28:5, 6), and the word of life has reached many. The gospel which is preached is full of the authority of Christ. Whoever hears it and believes it receives the blessing of the gospel in his heart, and whoever utters it finds it in his mouth. We are richer than we know, and should therefore give others a share in this spiritual food, for they think themselves great and strong, while in fact they are mortal and dead in sins and offences.

Prayer
O heavenly Father, we worship you because you sent your only Son to fulfill your law, to take away the sin of the world, and to atone for us. Since his universal atoning death the law cannot accuse us. Jesus has ended the age of the law, and brought us into the age of grace. Amen.
Question
What is the meaning of Paul’s motto: Christ is the end of the law? Why do Jews look forward to the coming of their Messiah?