Romans 9:30-33
30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
The people God chose to gain righteousness by keeping the Law, but found that it is impossible to completely obey Commandments, let alone all the 600 ceremonial regulations added with their own interpretations to excuse some sin. They missed the heart of obedience in rule keeping, while the other nations did not even look to please God by His standards. The end was God’s grace in Christ’s righteousness by faith as a gift unobtainable by efforts of man. So many stumbled in Israel in refusing to stop working and start trusting God to do it all. Their pride to earn God’s favor tripped them up. But even now the nations do the same in seeking to be good enough for deliverance from God’s wrath in judgment, yet the answer remains the same: by faith alone in Christ alone by grace alone. It is for God’s glory and not ours.
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