Romans 9:30-11:10

Romans 9:30-11:10

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.”

What shall we say then- looking back at ch 9

pursue righteousness-we did not look for God as the Jews did

attained to righteousness-we heard the gospel and responded and have been saved

but Israel- a very different story

that stumbling stone-Christ. The gospel of faith Isa 8:14

law of righteousness-The Gentiles went to God by faith while the Jews went to God by works of the Law

10 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. ² For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. ³ For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. ⁴ For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

heart’s desire- completeness

I bear them witness-He is a living example

they have a zeal for God- misplaced zeal is still zeal

being ignorant of God’s righteousness-Salvation by faith through Jesus

own righteousness-Works

Christ is the end of the law-He completed the Law

⁵ For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” ⁶ But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) ⁷ or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

does those things-Must do them all, all the time.

6-7- duet 30:13-14.  Amos 9:2Why say we need a savior either from heaven or arise from the dead, because that already has happened.  Christ came down Christ rose again.

 ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

what does it say- a continued look at the passage from duet. 

we preach- the gospel

9- The Gospel is simple, compared to the Law, this is hard not only for the Jews but for people everywhere.

confess with your mouth -1 John 4:15 this is the natural outpouring when we accept the Gospel.  This goes with Deut 30:14  we are acknowledging That Jesus is God

believe in your heart-  God raised him from the dead. 

10- this explains verse 9.  We acknowledge Jesus is God and believe in what he did. 

 ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

11- isa 28:16

¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. ¹³ For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

call upon Him- to pray Joel 2:32

¹⁴ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

14-15– There is a process in the presentation and acceptance of the Gospel

        We pray-slavations

        We believe- accept

        We hear-from preaching

        We preach- someone’s ministry

Isa 52:7

 ¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” ¹⁷ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.¹⁸ But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed:  “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.”

They-Israel, Paul’s focus has been Isreal in these passages

17-18-To believe the gospel you first need to hear it.  Ps 19:4

 ¹⁹ But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says:  “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.” ²⁰ But Isaiah is very bold and says:  “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.” ²¹ But to Israel he says:  “All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people.”

not know- How could they not know, they have the Law, the Prophets, they had Jesus

Moses says- Deut 32:21        

20-Is 65:1

foolish nation-A nation with no understanding of who God is. 

21-isa 65:2- God is never done with Israel but they continue to reject Him

11 I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. ² God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, ³  “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”?

I say then, has- Did

cast away- be done with Israel

Certainly not- My favorite word! 

I-he is proof of his declaration

seed of Abraham- Pure Jew

tribe of Benjamin-one of the faithful tribes

foreknew-He choose Isreal, why would he be done with them?

Scripture says of Elijah- This is the example paul gives 1 kings 19:10-14

⁴ But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” ⁵ Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. ⁶ And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

4-Pauls shows that God is never done with Isreal even when all seems lost.

present time-the time of Israels rejection of Jesus

remnant-those who are faithful and accept Jesus

grace-The opposite of works

of works-The opposite of grace

work is no longer work- it cannot be a mix of both like many people hold to today.  It is not both. 

⁷ What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. ⁸ Just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of stupor Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day.” ⁹ And David says:  “Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them. ¹⁰  Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, And bow down their back always.”

Israel has not obtained what it seeks- It is seeking salvation through works and that is not how it works

the elect have obtained it– There is always a remnant, God has chosen some to accept

rest were blinded- Deut 29:3-4  Isa 6:9-10 ps 69:22-23