A group called Ultra-Dispensationalists or Hyper-Dispensationalists believe that salvation is only by faith in this dispensation and was or will be by works in other dispensations. However, this belief doesn't hold up to scrutiny. In this article we will evaluate one of the verses they use to "prove" salvation came from works and the law in the Old Testament. 

“For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.”

‭‭(Romans‬ ‭10:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

 

“For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness.”
‭‭(Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭5‬ ‭NASB)

 

Let’s look at the beginning of Romans 10:

 

“For I bear them record that they [Israel] 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.”

‭‭(Romans‬ ‭10:2-3‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

 

“For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.”
‭‭(Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NASB)

 

Paul’s speaking of Israel’s failure and misguided zeal. They were ignorant by not knowing that righteousness comes from God (Gen. 15:6). They were seeking to establish their own righteousness (Isaiah 64:6).

 

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

‭‭(Romans‬ ‭10:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

 

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
‭‭(Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭4‬ ‭NASB)

 

The word translated “end” (telos) stands in the emphatic first position in the Greek sentence. Christ is the end of the Law (cf. Gal. 3:24). The Law did not and could not provide righteousness before God for individuals (cf. Romans 3:20; 7:7).

 

Concerning verse 5, in presenting God’s gracious offer of salvation in Christ and the provision of righteousness by faith, Paul first stated the contrast of the by-works approach to achieving righteousness. He wrote that Moses describes (“writes”) the righteousness that is by the law. Then Paul quoted Leviticus 18:5, “Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.” Leviticus‬ ‭18:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬. If a Jew were to receive righteousness by keeping the demands of the Law, that would be a human achievement; it would not be from God. However, a Jew would need to keep the entire Law perfectly (like Jesus which is why Jesus didn’t need salvation because he had no sin) all his life-an impossible task for man (James 2:10).

 

Paul then quotes Moses in support of righteousness by faith:

 

“But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)”

‭‭(Romans‬ ‭10:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬)

 

“But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down),”
‭‭(Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭6‬ ‭NASB)

 

This is a quote from Deuteronomy 30:11-14 in which Moses taught that justification came by faith.