Israel’s Unbelief – Romans 9:30 – 10:13
30 What then are we to say? Gentiles, who did not strive for righteousness, have attained it, that is, righteousness through faith; 31 but Israel, who did strive for the righteousness that is based on the law, did not succeed in fulfilling that law. 32 Why not? Because they did not strive for it on the basis of faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written,
“See, I am laying in Zion a stone that will make people stumble, a rock that will make them fall,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness.4 For Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Salvation Is for All
5 Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say?
“The word is near you,
on your lips and in your heart”
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11 The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.13 For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
What does the Passage Say?
V. 30-33 The reason why Paul was emphasizing about being chosen was to prove a point. That the Israelites were chosen, but they failed to receive the Salvation. Therefore, I believe, that the text we read yesterday does not fully support the theory of ‘Predestination.’ The Message says, “How can we sum this up? All those people (Gentiles) who didn’t seem interested in what God was doing (Salvation) actually embraced what God was doing, as he straightened out their lives. And Israel, who seemed so interested in reading and talking about what God was doing (Law), missed it. How could they miss it? Because instead of trusting God, they took over (self-righteousness). They were absorbed in what they themselves were doing” (v. 30-32 The Message).
V. 1-13 Salvation comes through your heart. Paul continues to call out to the Israelites. Since they are people ‘zealous for God.’ He introduces Christ as the ‘culmination of the law,’ and through Jesus, the doors had been widely open. He was asking when the door gates opened, why are the Israelites excluded. The reason is that they hold on to their own way of being saved, instead of believing.
The Message says, “It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God – “Jesus is my Master” – embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That’s Salvation.
What does this mean to us?
I might be preaching to the choir. We all know this simple truth. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (v. 13 NIV). But what if we lost the greatness of this unmeasured grace. What if we fall into a pit of doing the work of God, according to our own righteousness? What if we like the Israelites, lost the point and the true meaning of Salvation?
That is why we need to go back to the basic and have that Grace overflow in our lives. That is the reason we need to submit fully to our Lord, by saying ‘You are my Lord and Savior.’ Then we will see how God will do God’s work in our lives.
Lord, we come back to the heart of worship. It is only by your grace; we are called to be your children. Today, may we see how you continue to work and live in our lives, as our true Master and Savior. In Christ Name, Amen.
What are your thoughts?
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