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.”
Commentary
And so it is that the Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith. That is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ every believing Gentile has attained to the righteousness that God requires of us all (Rom 5:1). While Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness, because they did not seek it by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but rather by works of the law. That is they in seeking to obtain too a righteous standing with God through their own obedience to the Law of God have not not obtained to a righteous standing with God. For the Law of God only places us all, whether Jew or Gentile, under sin (Rom 3:19:28, vs. 23) and thus justifies no-one, other than God who gave it. Therefore those who seek to be declared righteous by God through their own works, righteousness, obedience, zealousness etc., through the Law of God or anything else have not obtained too the righteousness that God requires of us all, because they are not seeking it by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but rather by works of the Law (consider Rom. 4:4-5; Eph. 2:8-9).
Therefore the Gospel is God's Good News of His Righteousness imputed to us all who believe in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor 5:21). For salvation is and always will be of the Lord (Jonah 2:9), of what He has done to save us all who believe in His Son from the wrath to come (Rom 5:8-10; 1 Thess. 1:10). And so Israel in pursuing the law of righteousness have not obtained to the law of righteousness, because they did not seek it by faith, but rather by works of the law. Thus the Apostle Paul rightly says of his countrymen who have done so, and are continuing to do so, that they have stumbled at the stumbling stone (vs. 32). For the Lord Jesus Christ is the "stumbling stone and rock of offense" that God has laid in the heart of Judaism, in Zion. So that Jesus would become either the means of eternal salvation for them, and us all, or the means through which they would stumble and be caught by their own religious pride and zeal (consider Matt. 21:42-44; 1 Peter 2:6-8; and Phil 3:1-9, vs. 7-9, where the Apostle Paul renounces everything about himself that is not of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ). And so it is that Jesus has become, just as Isaiah the prophet foretold of Him, God's sole means of salvation for all who believe in Him, as the Scripture says: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” Isaiah 28:16
And so it is that the Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith. That is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ every believing Gentile has attained to the righteousness that God requires of us all (Rom 5:1). While Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness, because they did not seek it by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but rather by works of the law. That is they in seeking to obtain too a righteous standing with God through their own obedience to the Law of God have not not obtained to a righteous standing with God. For the Law of God only places us all, whether Jew or Gentile, under sin (Rom 3:19:28, vs. 23) and thus justifies no-one, other than God who gave it. Therefore those who seek to be declared righteous by God through their own works, righteousness, obedience, zealousness etc., through the Law of God or anything else have not obtained too the righteousness that God requires of us all, because they are not seeking it by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but rather by works of the Law (consider Rom. 4:4-5; Eph. 2:8-9).
Therefore the Gospel is God's Good News of His Righteousness imputed to us all who believe in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor 5:21). For salvation is and always will be of the Lord (Jonah 2:9), of what He has done to save us all who believe in His Son from the wrath to come (Rom 5:8-10; 1 Thess. 1:10). And so Israel in pursuing the law of righteousness have not obtained to the law of righteousness, because they did not seek it by faith, but rather by works of the law. Thus the Apostle Paul rightly says of his countrymen who have done so, and are continuing to do so, that they have stumbled at the stumbling stone (vs. 32). For the Lord Jesus Christ is the "stumbling stone and rock of offense" that God has laid in the heart of Judaism, in Zion. So that Jesus would become either the means of eternal salvation for them, and us all, or the means through which they would stumble and be caught by their own religious pride and zeal (consider Matt. 21:42-44; 1 Peter 2:6-8; and Phil 3:1-9, vs. 7-9, where the Apostle Paul renounces everything about himself that is not of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ). And so it is that Jesus has become, just as Isaiah the prophet foretold of Him, God's sole means of salvation for all who believe in Him, as the Scripture says: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” Isaiah 28:16
Thus no one (no matter what they have done) who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ will be put shame by God. For it will be the Lord Jesus Christ who will justify us all who believe in Him before God the Father. Therefore if you have not yet received the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart life then please do so now. By a simple prayer of faith, by believing in His Person and calling on His Name, you can have remission of all your sins and everlasting life. For Jesus has already suffered crucifixion death for us all, and thus has made atonement for us all. Then He having died in our place came back to life on the third day after His burial in a tomb, so that He can now impute His Righteousness and give everlasting life to everyone one of us who believe in Him. For apart from Him we are only dead in our sins and transgressions, and under the wrath of God. But through faith in Him, God not only bring us to life by His Holy Spirit, He also unites us with Himself and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. And so it is by faith in Jesus' Person we become a child of God (John 1:12).
Scripture Quotation
The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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