Stumbling at that Stumbling-stone Romans 9:32

Paul the apostle told the people in Rome how Isaiah in the Old Testament wrote, “What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith”, and he added, “But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.” In chapter nine and verse thirty-two of Romans, Paul continued his thought as he told his readers how, “they stumbled at that stumbling-stone” where we read:

Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.

For they stumbled at that stumbling-stone;

The verse begins, “Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.” Paul began with the word, “wherefore” which means “through and for what reason”? “because” or “since, on account of and consequently” “they sought it not” which refers to “the Jews did not seek, search out of” “by faith” which means “through the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ”. Paul shared how the Jews did not “seek out” God's “law” through “faith” but through “works”.

The verse goes on to say “For they stumbled at that stumbling-stone;” Paul added the word, “for” which means “even as, indeed, seeing then, no doubt, verily and therefore” “they stumbled” which means “the Jews struck, rushed, and beat against” “at that stumbling-stone” or “at that obstacle in the way which if one strikes his foot against he stumbles or falls”. Because the Jews sought to fulfill the “law of God” through “works” instead of “faith”, the “law” became as a “stone” which caused them to trip and fall.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see how “faith”, not “works” is the key to aligning a person themselves with “God's law”. This is the way a person comes into a relationship with God Almighty. God sent His Son Jesus to die for the sins of every person, and then He raised Jesus from the dead to provide “everlasting life” to those who “believe and trust” in Him. “Works”, no matter how great they may be, shall never save a person. “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved” (Acts 16:31), and any alternative is futile in it's attempt.

Next time we see Paul tell his readers how God, “lay in Sion a stumbling-stone and rock of offense”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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