Romans 10:1-4 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes.
‘That they might be saved’ Paul knew that God was still willing to forgive if they would only repent.
‘Zeal of God, but not according to knowledge’ – zealous but stubbornly ignorant (10:2-3).
‘Have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God’ – this shows their rebellion to the end.
‘For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes’ – the law ends in Christ who fulfilled it by being the real sacrifice of which the law sacrifices were merely typical (Eph. 2:14-15; Col. 2:14-17; Heb. 8:5; 10:1). The law was our schoolmaster to lead us to Christ and was added because of transgression until Christ should come (Gal. 3:19-25; Rom. 5:20; Heb. 9:10). It cannot save, but condemns, making the sinner realize his need of salvation. Christ is the end of the law of sacrifices, types, rituals, and outward religion which foreshadowed Him and the spiritual realities of the New Testament
The Law of commandments were abolished as we see from the Greek word katargeo that means to make of no effect (3:3; 4:14; Gal. 3:17; 5:4); come and bring to naught (1Cor. 1:28; 2:6); done away (1Cor. 13:10; 2Cor. 3:7, 3:11, 14); fail (1Cor. 13:8); cease (Gal. 6:11); vanish away (1Cor. 13:8); make void (3:31); cumber (Luke 13:7); deliver (7:6); loose (7:2); put away (1Cor. 13:11); put down (1Cor. 15:24); destroy (6:6; 1Cor. 6:13; 15:26; 2Thess. 2:8; Heb. 2:14); and abolish (2Cor. 3:13; Eph. 2:15; 2Tim. 1:10).
It is clear from these passages that whatever is abolished is completely null and void. What is it here (Eph. 2:14-15) that is abolished? It is the law of commandments in decrees, or the law of dogmatic commandments. The word for ordinances is dogma translated “decree” (Luke 2:1; Acts 16:4; 17:7) and “ordinance” (Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14). The law was made to expose sin (3:19-20; 7:13; Gal. 3:19-25) and to keep the Jews a distinct people until Christ came. After that it was no longer needed.
From Colossians 2:14-15, we see that the handwriting of ordinances was blotted out because it was against them and contrary to them; and it was taken out of the way by nailing it to Christ’s cross where He spoiled the principalities and powers (satan and his emissaries). Here it means satan and his forces were stripped of their power to condemn and kill the race. The law was blotted out and they had no further claim to hold man in sin and bondage, as they did by means of the law.
Living the Word 