Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 10:5-9

"For Moses writeth that the man that doeth the righteousness which is of the law shall live thereby. But the righteousness which is of faith saith thus, Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down:) or, Who shall descend into the abyss? (That is, to bring Christ up from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach: because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus [as] Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:" — Romans 10:5-9 (ASV)

For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law, that the man who does those things shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaks in this way: Do not say in your heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above?) or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead?) But what does it say? The word is near you, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.

"The righteousness which is of faith" is quite another thing from the righteousness which is of the law. It is not a matter of doing, and living by doing, but of trusting, and living forever by trusting. What are you attempting—you who would eagerly clamber up to the stars, or you who would plunge into the abyss? There is nothing for you to do, there is nothing for you to feel, there is nothing for you to be, in order that God may accept you; but, just as you are, if you will receive Christ into your heart, and confess him with your mouth, you shall be saved.

Oh, this glorious way of the salvation of sinners, — so simple, yet so safe, — so plain, yet so sublime, — for me to lay aside my own righteousness, and just to take the righteousness of Christ, and be covered with it from head to foot! I am certainly willing to lay aside my own righteousness, for it is a mass of filthy rags, fit only to be burned.