“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:4
This verse is a turning point in understanding salvation. Paul is saying that Jesus fulfilled the law’s demands perfectly, and now righteousness is no longer earned through works but received through faith. But here’s the problem: if we misunderstand God’s righteousness, we’ll misunderstand our need for Christ. That’s what happened to many in Israel. They were zealous for God, but their zeal wasn’t grounded in truth. They thought their rituals, rules, and religious heritage made them right with God. But Jesus didn’t come to affirm their self-righteousness—He came to expose it. And when He did, they stumbled over Him instead of surrendering to Him.
Jesus often confronted this faulty theology. In Matthew 23, He rebuked the Pharisees for appearing righteous outwardly while being spiritually dead inside. They didn’t see their need for a Savior because they thought they were already spiritually healthy. But Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Mark 2:17). Like someone who refuses to see a doctor because they don’t believe they’re sick, many rejected Jesus because they didn’t recognize their spiritual condition. Their theology was off, so their view of Christ was off. They expected a political Messiah, not a Savior from sin. They trusted in their own remedies, not realizing they were spiritually bankrupt.
This still happens today. Many people believe that being good, loving others, or following religious traditions is enough. But Jesus told a scribe in Mark 12, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Not far—but still outside. Close enough is not close enough. We must come to the end of ourselves to see our need for Christ. Faulty theology says, “I can fix myself.” True faith says, “Only Jesus can save me.” That’s why the gospel begins with repentance. Until we understand God’s perfect righteousness, we won’t understand our helplessness. And until we see our helplessness, we won’t see our need for the cross. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness—to everyone who believes. Not to everyone who tries harder. Believe, surrender, and be made whole.
“The faith which believes the word of God, which trusts in the blood of Christ, which surrenders to the will of God, is the faith which saves.” – E.M. Bounds
surrendered devotions 