10:5 {4} For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
(4) That the law is points to Christ and is inclined to him is manifestly proved, because it propounds such a condition as can be and is fulfilled, by none but Christ alone: which being imputed to us by faith, our conscience is quieted, so that now no man can ask, Who can ascend up into heaven, or bring us from hell?, seeing that the gospel teaches that both of these is done by Christ and that for their sake's, who with true faith embrace him who calls them.
10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is by the law. Paul now shows the Jews who cling to the law that the law itself is against the law as a way of securing righteousness. In Le 18:5.
The man which doeth those things shall live by them. He who keeps the law in all respects blameless shall have life. But Paul has elsewhere shown that no one can keep the law perfectly (see notes on Ro 2:13 4:15,16 Ga 3:12). That righteousness, then, requires a perfect obedience, a sinless life. What Jew could say that he had never sinned?
10:5 For Moses describeth the only righteousness which is attainable by the law, when he saith, The man who doeth these things shall live by them - that is, he that perfectly keeps all these precepts in every point, he alone may claim life and salvation by them. But this way of justification is impossible to any who have ever transgressed any one law in any point. Lev 18:5
10:5-11 The self-condemned sinner need not perplex himself how this righteousness may be found. When we speak of looking upon Christ, and receiving, and feeding upon him, it is not Christ in heaven, nor Christ in the deep, that we mean; but Christ in the promise, Christ offered in the word. Justification by faith in Christ is a plain doctrine. It is brought before the mind and heart of every one, thus leaving him without excuse for unbelief. If a man confessed faith in Jesus, as the Lord and Saviour of lost sinners, and really believed in his heart that God had raised him from the dead, thus showing that he had accepted the atonement, he should be saved by the righteousness of Christ, imputed to him through faith. But no faith is justifying which is not powerful in sanctifying the heart, and regulating all its affections by the love of Christ. We must devote and give up to God our souls and our bodies: our souls in believing with the heart, and our bodies in confessing with the mouth. The believer shall never have cause to repent his confident trust in the Lord Jesus. Of such faith no sinner shall be ashamed before God; and he ought to glory in it before men.
