Section 15

faith. "What shall we say then? That the nations who did not pursue righteousness have attained righteousness, but righteousness which is out of faith" (v. 30). The nations, meaning the Gentiles, have obtained righteousness, although they did not pursue it. This righteousness is not the right eousness of the law, but that which is out of faith. The nations have shared in God's selection by the righteousness of God which is out of faith.

"But Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Why? Because it was not out of faith, but as it were out of works; they stumbled at the Stone of stumbling, as it is writ ten, Behold, I lay in Zion a Stone of stumbling, a Rock of offense, and he who believes on Him shall not be put to shame" (vv. 31-33). We can never arrive at righteousness by pursuing the law of righteousness. The Israelites sought to estab lish their own righteousness, but stumbled at the "Stone of stumbling," which is Christ, the "Rock of offense." Nevertheless, "he who believes on Him shall not be put to shame."

In this connection we also need to read the first three verses of chapter ten. "Brothers, the delight of my heart and my supplication to God for them is for their salvation. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not

according to full knowledge. For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, did not sub mit to the righteousness of God." It is possible to be exceedingly zealous for God while lacking the proper knowledge of His way. The Jews have missed and continue to miss the mark of God's selection because they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, have attempted to establish their own righteousness by trying to keep the law and have not submitted themselves to the righteous ness of God, which is Christ Himself. Hence, they have missed God's salvation. Any attempt to keep the law or to do good to please God, being man's efforts to establish his own righteousness, will cause people to miss the way of God's salvation.

This booklet is compiled from

Please feel free to share this eBooklet with others.

See more titles in this series at

www.lsm.org/booklets.

SEE LINK S TO P U R CHASE

AUDI OBO O K • EB O O K • P R IN T Life-study of Romans

Purchase Life-study of Romans

Click on the badge for the format

you wish to purchase.

Audiobook

eBook

Available at LSM Bookstore U

FO Q

www.lsm.org/life-study-romans

↑ Back to top