ROMANS UNWRAPPED 165

"What shall we say, then? that the Gentiles which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of but Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness have not attained to the law of righteousness.   Wherefore? because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.   For they stumbled at that stumbling stone; as it is written "behold I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed."   Romans 9v30-33

Hitherto in chapter 9, Paul has been arguing and answering objectors from the standpoint of the SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD.   Now from 9v30 - 10v21 he considers the same matter, but from the standpoint of the RESPONSIBILITY OF MAN.   These twin aspects are always found side by side in scripture.   There is no thought of fatalism in the things of God: we are all responsible beings, and are required to respond to the motions of divine grace.  

In these verses Paul returns to the theme of chapters 1-8, namely "RIGHTEOUSNESS"; this word is used many times in these verses, in chapter 9v30; chapter 9v31; chapter 10v3; chapter 10v6; chapter 10v10.   We remember this word means God's way of making people right with Himself.   This was established from the very beginning and has continued all the way through.   God's righteousness, in these verses is compared to man's righteousness (or self righteousness) and these are contrary the one to the other.   Here Paul uses the imagery of an obstacle race; Israel, who were given a head start and a favorable position as compared to other nations, have stumbled at the last hurdle.   Jesus Christ the Messiah crucified became a stumbling stone to them (1st Corinthians 1v3).   The Gentiles came from way behind and have overtaken them entering into God's blessing in vast numbers.   The reason is that Israel took the wrong course.   They followed after the wrong objective; they pursued the way of self righteousness rather than the righteousness of God.   They chose righteousness by means of their own efforts, instead of by faith in God.

The Gentiles (that is those of them who are saved)  found the right way, probably because they knew they had no works of their own that would be acceptable to God; they accepted the way of faith in Christ; literally "laid hold upon the righteousness which springs from faith ;" they accepted that only the life and death of Christ was sufficient for their salvation and they received it with open arms.   Israel lost it because they sought it not by faith but by their own efforts.    This is a salutary lesson to all those born into spiritual privilege.   Like Israel, it is possible that many of us will loose our spiritual heritage, through not listening to and obeying the word of God.  

We must come God's way if we are to be made right with Himself.   Jesus Christ became to Israel (that is apart from the believing remnant amongst them) a stumbling stone, a rock of offence, the stone which the builders rejected.   Unfortunately for them God has made (figuratively) the stone, which they rejected, to become the head of the corner,   1st Peter 2v6-8.