Romans 10:3 – “Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.”

An Extended Explanation of the Verse

In this verse, Paul is explaining why the Israelites had missed the way to salvation. The problem wasn’t that they didn’t want to be righteous—it was that they were trying to establish their own righteousness instead of accepting the righteousness that comes from God.

The Jewish people were deeply committed to following the law, thinking that their obedience would make them right with God. But in doing so, they rejected the righteousness that only God can provide through faith in Jesus Christ. They didn’t recognize that righteousness is not something humans achieve but something God gives as a gift to those who believe in Jesus.

Paul says they “did not submit” to God’s righteousness. This means they resisted God’s way of salvation. Instead of humbly accepting that they needed a Savior, they tried to prove themselves righteous by their own works. Their pride and reliance on their own efforts kept them from receiving the true righteousness that only God can give.

Historical Context

At the time Paul was writing, most Jewish people believed that righteousness—being right with God—came through following the law of Moses. For centuries, they had been given commandments, sacrifices, and traditions that set them apart as God’s people. But these laws were never meant to be a way to earn salvation. They were supposed to point people to their need for a Savior.

When Jesus came, He fulfilled the law and provided the way to true righteousness (Matthew 5:17). However, many Jews refused to accept this. They were still trying to prove themselves through their own efforts, unwilling to trust in Jesus.

Paul himself had once lived this way. Before his conversion, he was a Pharisee, completely devoted to the law (Philippians 3:4-6). But after meeting Jesus, he realized that no one can be made right with God through human effort—only through faith in Christ (Philippians 3:9).

Theological Implications

This verse teaches several important truths about salvation:

1. Self-righteousness leads people away from God. When people try to make themselves right with God through their own efforts—whether through religious rules, moral behavior, or good deeds—they reject the only righteousness that truly counts: the one that comes from God.
2. True righteousness comes from God, not from human effort. The Bible is clear that righteousness is not something we earn. It is something God gives to those who trust in Jesus (Romans 3:21-22).
3. Submitting to God’s righteousness requires humility. Many people reject the gospel because they don’t want to admit they need a Savior. But salvation requires surrender—acknowledging that we cannot save ourselves and trusting in Christ alone.

Literary Analysis

Paul contrasts “God’s righteousness” with “their own righteousness.” The phrase “sought to establish their own” suggests an active effort—Israel was working hard to prove themselves right with God, but in doing so, they missed the true way to righteousness.

The word “submit” in Greek (hypotassō) means to place oneself under authority. This means that righteousness is not something we take for ourselves but something we receive by accepting God’s way. The Israelites refused to submit to God’s way of righteousness because they wanted to maintain control over their own salvation.

Biblical Cross-References

• Isaiah 64:6 – “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” Human righteousness is never enough to meet God’s perfect standard.
• Romans 3:20 – “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.”
• Romans 5:17 – “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!”
• Galatians 2:16 – “A person is not justified by the works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ.”

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

This verse speaks to the danger of trying to earn God’s approval through religious efforts instead of trusting in Christ. Many people today still struggle with this mindset. Some think they can be right with God by being a good person, following religious rituals, or doing good deeds. But the Bible makes it clear—righteousness is not something we achieve; it is something we receive by faith.

This verse challenges us to ask: Am I relying on my own efforts, or am I fully trusting in Jesus? True salvation comes from surrendering to God’s way and accepting the righteousness that only He can provide.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

God’s love is seen in the fact that He offers His righteousness as a free gift. He does not demand that we work for it, nor does He make salvation difficult. Instead, He provides the way through Jesus, making it available to all who believe.

But love also requires truth. God does not accept human attempts at righteousness because they fall short of His perfect standard. Out of love, He sent Jesus to do for us what we could never do on our own. His righteousness is a gift, but we must humble ourselves to receive it.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

Jesus is the answer to the problem Paul describes in this verse. The Israelites were trying to establish their own righteousness, but Jesus came to fulfill the law and offer true righteousness to all who believe.

• Romans 10:4 – “Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” Jesus is the end of the law as a means to righteousness—He is the only way.
• 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus took our sin and gave us His righteousness in exchange.
• John 6:29 – Jesus said, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” Salvation is not about human effort—it’s about faith in Jesus.

The righteousness that Israel sought was found in Jesus all along. But instead of receiving Him, they held onto their own efforts. Today, people make the same mistake when they trust in religion, morality, or personal effort rather than Christ.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Are there any ways in which you are trying to “establish your own righteousness” instead of trusting fully in Jesus?
2. Why do you think people resist submitting to God’s righteousness?
3. How can we help others understand that righteousness comes through faith, not works?
4. What does this verse teach us about the importance of humility in coming to God?
5. How does this verse challenge the way you think about salvation and your relationship with God?

Romans 10:3 reminds us that righteousness is not something we earn—it is something we receive by faith in Jesus. God offers us His righteousness freely, but we must surrender our own efforts and trust in Him alone.