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"The righteousness of faith..."

Text: Romans 9:30

ISRAEL AND THE GENTILES COMPARED

Paul made a very bold comparison between Israel and the Gentiles in the following text! He knew that this would not make him very popular, but he had to make the following statement!

“What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue
righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the
righteousness of faith, but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness
has not attained to the law of righteousness.”
Romans 9:30-31

1. Gentiles

a) They were not known to have “pursued righteousness”

i) Not with reference to their own religious practices (Cf. Romans 1).

ii) Not with reference to religious faith of Israel.

b) They nevertheless attained righteousness

i) An imputed righteousness.

ii) This righteousness came about as a result of their faith in Christ.

2. Israel

a) They were greatly advantaged having been given the Scriptures.

b) They had many great servants of God sent by the Lord to instruct the nation.

c) They pursued the law of righteousness for their salvation.

i) They failed to fully comprehend the salvation plan of God.

ii) They sought to attain righteousness through their works.

iii) They did not consider God’s concept of imputed righteousness through faith in Christ.

d) They failed to attain “to the law of righteousness”.

i) They continued in sin.

ii) They became “vessels of wrath prepared for destruction” (Romans 9:22).