The Righteous Gentiles Romans 9:30

Paul the apostle told the people in Rome how Isaiah in the Old Testament wrote, “Except the Lord of Sabbath had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom, and been made like unto Gomorrah”, and in chapter nine and verse thirty of Romans, Paul continued his thought as he told his readers, “the Gentiles … have attained righteousness … of faith” where we read:

What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

The verse begins, “What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, ...” Paul began with the words, “what shall we say” which means “whether shall Paul, his companions and his believing readers utter, speak or proclaim” “then” or “therefore, accordingly, consequently and these things being so”? “That the Gentiles” which refers to “because and since the tribes, nations and people groups which are not Jewish”, “which followed not” which means “who did not run swiftly after or pursue” “after righteousness” or “toward a state which a person is as they ought to be and the condition acceptable to God” “have attained” which means “have laid hold of, attained, seized upon and taken possession” “to righteousness” or “toward a state which a person is as they ought to be and the condition acceptable to God”. Paul shared how the people within the nations who were not Jewish also “seized upon the condition acceptable to God”.

The verse continues, “...even the righteousness which is of faith.” Paul added the words, “even the righteousness” which means “moreover and the state which a person is as they ought to be and the condition acceptable to God” “which is of faith” or “that is pertaining to the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ”. “The condition acceptable to God” which the “Gentiles attained” was by “believing and trusting” that “God exists and bestows salvation through His Son Jesus Christ”.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how God extended His “salvation” plan of “righteousness” to every nation including “Jews and Gentiles”. This “righteousness” is gained by “believing and trusting” in Jesus Christ as a personal “Savior and Lord”, and it is available to everyone who “receives” God's offer. Let every person who reads these words consider this awesome God who openly invites everyone to receive His loving gift of “righteousness”.

Next time we see Paul tell his readers how, “Israel … has not attained to the law of righteousness”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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