“30 What should we say then? Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained righteousness — namely the righteousness that comes from faith. 31 But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not achieved the righteousness of the law. 32 Why is that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. 33 As it is written, look, I am putting a stone in Zion to stumble over and a rock to trip over, and the one who believes on him will not be put to shame.”
In the previous devotional, Paul was addressing God’s plan from the beginning concerning His chosen people, the Israelites. Has God saved the Gentiles, yet abandoned Israel? In today’s devotional, Paul continues to address this concern, and concludes Chapter 9 with a helpful summary of the relationship between Jews and Gentiles. The Gentiles, who pursued faith, obtained righteousness by their faith in Jesus Christ. The Israelites, who pursued the law, did not obtain righteousness, only the judgment that results from transgression of the law. How is this? Paul explained in the previous chapters of Romans that if our righteousness is to come through obedience to the law, then no one will be righteous. We are completely incapable of keeping the law in our sinful flesh. Righteousness and salvation must come through faith in Christ Jesus who has fulfilled the law for us, and has done so perfectly. It is hard to say it more clearly than Paul said it back in Chapter 3:
“But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction.” — Romans 3:21-22
In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, while speaking of himself and the other Jews with whom he was speaking, says:
“We are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners,” and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified.” — Galatians 2:15-16
Paul shows us that it was prophetically predicted that Israel would not have faith in Christ, and that, though shown the gospel and given access to Jesus the Messiah, they would stumble and face judgment: “They stumbled over the stumbling stone. As it is written, Look, I am putting a stone in Zion to stumble over and a rock to trip over, and the one who believes on him will not be put to shame.” (v. 32b-33) So then, it has been God’s plan from the beginning that Israel would reject His Son, the Messiah. These verses come from what the prophet Isaiah said:
“You are to regard only the Lord of Armies as holy. Only he should be feared; only he should be held in awe. He will be a sanctuary; but for the two houses of Israel, he will be a stone to stumble over and a rock to trip over, and a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Many will stumble over these; they will fall and be broken; they will be snared and captured. — Isaiah 8:13-15
“Therefore the Lord God said: “Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.”” — Isaiah 28:16
So, is that it for Israel? They chose the law when they should have chosen faith? Is there any hope that Israel will find salvation from sin? Yes, there is hope and certainty. God has used Israel’s stumbling as a means to reach other nations with the Gospel of faith, but He has not forgotten Israel, nor will He forget His covenants with them. Paul will address further God’s future plans for Israel in the coming chapters.