“A Stone of Stumbling” (Romans 9:30–33)

“A Stone of Stumbling” (Romans 9:30–33)
Pastor Cameron Jungels
Eastside Baptist Church
Sunday AM, August 12, 2018

Romans 9:30–33, NIV
       30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal.
        32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.
        33 As it is written:

"See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame."

1. The Gentiles (in great numbers) have received the righteousness of God, even though they did not pursue it, because they received it through faith (30).

2. The Jews (in great numbers) have not received the righteousness of God, even though they did pursue it, because they pursued it through the works of the Law (31–32a).

3. The failure of many Jews to receive salvation in Jesus their Messiah is a failure to see their own sacred Scriptures as culminating and being fulfilled in him (32b–33).

4. Yet, there is still eternal salvation for everyone (Jew and Gentile alike) who puts their trust in Jesus, the chief Cornerstone, as Savior and Lord (33b).

Main Idea: Whether Jew or Gentile, the only way to be declared righteous before God is through faith in Jesus Christ; it cannot be earned through moral achievement.