In recent years the number of available Bible translations and paraphrases has increased markedly. Some are good; some are not so good. But often by comparing the wording of several different translations, you can gain a better understanding of what a Bible text means.

This particular version that I will use here is called the Venden Revised Version! It’s a paraphrase of Romans 9:30–10:4.

“What shall we say then? The Gentiles, who didn’t work on producing fruit, have produced fruit–and it’s the real thing too! But Israel, who worked very hard to try to produce fruit, have not managed to grow any fruit at all. Why? Because they tried to do it themselves, by working hard on the fruit. 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 worked hard–but not on the right things. For they haven’t understood God’s way of producing fruit, so they have come up with their own way to try to grow fruit and have not submitted themselves to God’s way of doing things. For Christ is the end of working hard to produce fruit for every one that believeth.”

Translating the Bible is hard work! Try it sometime on a favorite passage of yours and see how you do!

What Paul is describing in Romans 9 to 10 is the misunderstanding that Israel had about how to produce the fruits of righteousness. They didn’t comprehend God’s methods, and so they devised their own methods which didn’t work. They had put forth a lot of effort. Paul was willing to admit that. But their effort ended in nothing, because it was directed toward the wrong thing.

Two extremes of thinking seem to show up when it comes to keeping the law. The first is, “If the law is good, let’s all work hard to obey it.” The result is legalism and no genuine obedience. The second extreme is, if we are not supposed to work hard to keep the law, it must not be necessary to keep the law at all.” The result is antinomianism and no genuine obedience. Both extremes lead to the same error in the end.

The righteousness that comes by faith in Christ alone brings good news–that genuine obedience is possible, but that it does not come through our own efforts to produce obedience. Cor-rectly understanding the experience of righteousness by faith in Christ alone prevents both legalism and lawlessness.

Through an ongoing relationship and fellowship with the Lord Jesus, we realize a continually greater appreciation of His love and kindness toward us. And,

“as soon as we have a correct view of the love of God, we shall have no disposition to abuse it.” – Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 312.

Christ is not the end of the law; He is the end of our own futile efforts to keep the law. The sure result of a faith relationship with Him will be genuine lawkeeping that comes from the heart.

“Good works will follow as the blossoms and fruit of faith. Appropriation of the righteousness of Christ will be manifested in a well-ordered life and godly conversation.” – Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, Sep-tember 5, 1892.

The ultimate test of whether a person is in favor of the law of God is whether he is living in a faith relationship with Christ so that the law can be written on his heart. If we acknowledge the claims of God’s law and the reality that we cannot keep the law, our only option is to come to Christ for His gift of righteousness.