The Rock of Offense

Romans 9:30-33

By Pastor Craig Phelps, March 04, 2023

Introduction: The first part of Romans 9 is about God’s role in our salvation. It is from God’s perspective. We now are going to see our role in salvation. What it looks like from our perspective.

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.

  • The were pursuing a right relationship with God and the were not.
  • The way of the Jews but many gentiles found a way that .

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.

  • The Jews pursued righteousness by obeying the .
  • The law required them to follow all the laws, .
  • Because God is , He is just in rejecting even the best of sinners.
  • God gave the the law to show them that they needed a . Galatian 3:24
  • Paul calls a 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.”

  • Jesus the Jews when they stumbled over Him.
    • His offended them.
    • His offended them.
    • His offended them.
  • But some gentiles in Him and were saved.
    • They were not offended or of Jesus.

This is not about whether you are a Jew or a gentile. It’s about how you are going to respond to the life and righteousness that Jesus offers you. Will you be ashamed of Him, pursue your own way and one day stand ashamed before God or will you believe in Him and bear the shame of the world but one day stand before God, righteous in Christ and unashamed? That is what we all must decide.