CoreIssue
02-03-2006, 09:55 AM
Quote:Israel's Unbelief
30What then shall we say?
So what do all these realities add up to say?
Quote:That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;
The Gentiles were not blessed and chosen as Israel was. They never tried to earn righteousness but gained it through repentance by faith in grace.
Quote:31but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.
Yet Israel, who was blessed and chosen to be prophets, declare and enforce the Law and be God's evangelists to the world did try to earn righteousness and did not attain it.
Quote:32Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works.
The Gentiles gained salvation because they were humble and knew they could never earn it. Israel was prideful and believed they were actually able to keep the whole Law and earn salvation.
The Gentiles trusted God. Israel trusted themselves.
Quote:They stumbled over the "stumbling stone."
Christ is the corner stone of salvation. No one can come to God without putting faith in his sacrifice on their behalf.
The Gentiles accepted this reality but Israel in its pride could not accept it. So it tripped them up with God and they failed miserably.
When forced to accept or reject Christ as God in the flesh they rejected him and all he offered them.
Quote:33As it is written:
"See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall,
and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."[13]
Those who will seek God in faith knowing they cannot earn savlation will be saved. They will accept Christ the Rock of salvation.
But those who in pride believe they can themselves fulfill the Law and please God by their own efforts can never accept Christ.
Most Jews were looking only for the Messiah to be a conquering king to destroy their enemies and put the earth under their dominion. Most Jews today are still looking for the same thing.
30What then shall we say?
So what do all these realities add up to say?
Quote:That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;
The Gentiles were not blessed and chosen as Israel was. They never tried to earn righteousness but gained it through repentance by faith in grace.
Quote:31but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.
Yet Israel, who was blessed and chosen to be prophets, declare and enforce the Law and be God's evangelists to the world did try to earn righteousness and did not attain it.
Quote:32Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works.
The Gentiles gained salvation because they were humble and knew they could never earn it. Israel was prideful and believed they were actually able to keep the whole Law and earn salvation.
The Gentiles trusted God. Israel trusted themselves.
Quote:They stumbled over the "stumbling stone."
Christ is the corner stone of salvation. No one can come to God without putting faith in his sacrifice on their behalf.
The Gentiles accepted this reality but Israel in its pride could not accept it. So it tripped them up with God and they failed miserably.
When forced to accept or reject Christ as God in the flesh they rejected him and all he offered them.
Quote:33As it is written:
"See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall,
and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."[13]
Those who will seek God in faith knowing they cannot earn savlation will be saved. They will accept Christ the Rock of salvation.
But those who in pride believe they can themselves fulfill the Law and please God by their own efforts can never accept Christ.
Most Jews were looking only for the Messiah to be a conquering king to destroy their enemies and put the earth under their dominion. Most Jews today are still looking for the same thing.