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In Romans 10.5-8, Paul distinguishes two ways of righteousness: by law and by faith.

Here’s what Paul writes:

Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming… 

According to Paul, righteousness by law is the way of effort. He quotes from Leviticus 18.5 in order describe this way: “The man who does these things will live by them.” For Paul, this verse sets an exacting standard of obedience to the law. If we obey it perfectly at all times, then we can attain righteousness this way. But in fact, we do not obey the law perfectly at all times. As Paul puts it in Romans 3.23, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Consequently, the way of righteousness by the law is really a way of death. In the words of Romans 6.23, “the wages of sin is death.”

By contrast, righteousness by faith is an effortless way. We do nothing to get it. It is a gift. In the words of Romans 6.23, “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Paul illustrates the effortlessness of faith by riffing on Deuteronomy 30.11-14. In that passage, Moses had said to the Israelites:

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

What is Moses’ point, and what is Paul’s? Moses is not saying that the law is easy to obey. He is saying that it is easy to find. Finding God’s will is not a game of hide-and-seek in which we must search the highest heavens and the depths of the earth. Rather, God has revealed it to us precisely “so you may obey it.” Paul uses Moses’ words to make a similar point about the gospel. Finding the gospel does not require strenuous effort. Through Christ, God undertook all the hard work of making it known.

How do we come to know the gospel for ourselves? That’s the topic of our next Daily Word.