At first, that statement seems almost impossible. Israel had received God's law. They had been given God's promises. They had the Scriptures, the prophets, the covenants, and the worship of God. They pursued righteousness. Yet Paul says they “have not attained” it. Why? Because they pursued righteousness in the wrong way.
Paul explains: “Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.” Romans 9:32
This is one of the great warnings of Romans. It is possible to be deeply religious and still misunderstand God's way of salvation.
It is possible to know the Scriptures, attend church, try to live a moral life, and sincerely desire to please God, and yet still attempt to establish one's own righteousness rather than receive the righteousness God provides through Christ.
Paul has already established this truth earlier in Romans: “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:28
And again: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Ephesians 2:8
The problem was not that God's law was bad. Paul had already said: “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” Romans 7:12
The problem was humanity's inability to achieve righteousness through the law. The law reveals God's standard. It reveals our sin. But it cannot save us.
Salvation requires something we cannot manufacture for ourselves. It requires God's grace.
The Stumblingstone
Paul explains why Israel stumbled: “For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;”
Romans 9:32 And then he identifies that stumblingstone: “As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” Romans 9:33
The stumblingstone is Christ. Jesus did not fit the expectations of many who were looking for a Messiah according to their own understanding. They expected righteousness to be established through religious achievement.
But Jesus presented something radically different: Come to Me. Believe. Trust. Receive. The gospel confronts human pride because it leaves no room for boasting.
We cannot stand before God and say, “I earned this.” We can only say: “God had mercy on me.”
Faith Instead of Self-Righteousness
Romans repeatedly brings us back to faith. Paul wrote: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” Romans 5:1
And Abraham is the great example: “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” Romans 4:3 Abraham's righteousness was counted because he believed God.
That does not mean faith is merely agreeing that God exists. Biblical faith means trusting God. It means relying upon His promise. It means looking away from ourselves and looking toward Christ.
There is something deeply appealing about earning our own way. We like to be able to point to something we accomplished. We like to say:
- “I worked for this.”
- “I earned this.”
- “I deserve this.”
But salvation is different. The gospel leaves us nothing to boast about.
Paul asks: “Where is boasting then? It is excluded.” Romans 3:27 Why? Because salvation is God's gift. The danger of self-righteousness is that it can look very spiritual.
A person can spend years trying to become good enough for God without ever resting in the grace of God. They may constantly wonder:
- Have I done enough?
- Am I good enough?
- Have I earned God's favor?
The gospel gives a different answer. Christ is enough. Our righteousness does not come from our perfection. It comes through Jesus Christ.
Paul later expresses this beautifully: “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ…” Philippians 3:9
That is freedom. Instead of spending our lives trying to prove ourselves to God, we can trust what Christ has already accomplished.
The Rock of Offence
The same Christ who is the foundation of salvation can become a stumblingstone when people refuse to come to Him on His terms. That is why the gospel can be offensive to human pride.
- It tells the successful person that he needs grace.
- It tells the religious person that she needs grace.
- It tells the moral person that he needs grace.
- It tells the immoral person that she needs grace.
Everyone comes the same way. By faith in Christ.
At the foot of the cross, human achievement cannot give us an advantage. We all need mercy. And that is actually good news.
Because God's grace is available to all who come to Him through Christ.
Life Application
Ask yourself where you are placing your confidence.
- Is it in your goodness?
- Your religious activity?
- Your knowledge of Scripture?
- Your church attendance?
- Your morality?
- Your ability to keep rules?
None of those things can replace faith in Christ.
Good works have their proper place in the Christian life, but they are the fruit of salvation, not the foundation of it.
We obey God because we belong to Him. We don't obey in order to purchase our salvation.
So when you are tempted to measure your standing with God by your performance, look again to Christ.
When you fail, don't try to compensate by becoming more self-righteous. Confess your sin. Receive God's forgiveness.
Return to Christ. And keep walking by faith.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Help me never to place my confidence in my own goodness or religious accomplishments.
Keep me from pride and self-righteousness. Remind me that everything I have spiritually is because of Your grace.
When I fail, help me run toward You rather than trying to hide behind my own efforts.
Teach me to trust Christ more deeply each day. Let my obedience flow from love and gratitude rather than from an attempt to earn Your acceptance.
Thank You that I can rest in the righteousness You provide through Jesus.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
