EXPLORE THE TEXT

Righteousness through Faith (Rom. 9:30-33)

Application Point:

All people need to understand that true righteousness comes through faith not by works.

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.

Recap:

Summarize the following from page 75 of the PSG to
highlight how the Gentiles found righteousness and how the Jews failed to find righteousness:

“Gentiles did not pursue righteousness.
On the contrary, they wandered in spiritual darkness.
But when they heard the good news about Jesus Christ, many Gentiles believed
and placed their faith in Christ, receiving His gift of salvation. .

The people of Israel chose a path that led them in a different direction. .

They pursued righteousness based on works.
Instead of entrusting their lives to Christ, they gave themselves to knowing and keeping the law. .

However, the path that they took kept them from being right with God.”

Ask:

• Why might people stumble over the message of the gospel? (PSG, p. 76)

Transition:

Paul recognized many Jews rejected Jesus with a misguided zeal for the law,
while Gentiles with no background in the law more easily embraced faith in Christ.
He longed for them to redirect their zeal and accept what Jesus had done for them.