A Stumbling Block

What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
Romans 9:30-33
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A Stumbling Block
            We are presented with two groups in these verses: the Jews and the Gentiles. For the Gentiles, there was never a mass turning from sin, a group repentance, or movement towards righteousness that caught the eye of God so that He brought them into His family of faith. Just the opposite, they wanted nothing to do with God and actively sought out the false gods of this world. On the other hand, the Jews were very concerned about their holy living and righteousness. So why, then, was the Gospel taking hold in the Gentile world and rejected by most of the Jewish world? Because in both instances God was the one who was the giver of the gift of faith. The Gospel did its work in the Gentil community, and their hearts and minds were open to the truth of Christ Jesus. They followed Christ in faith. The Jews were still trapped in their legalism and attempting to please God through their works. They were not following Him in faith. They had blinded themselves to God’s gift of the Messiah when He was given. The Cornerstone became the stumbling block on their path of self-justification. Thanks be to God that the faith we have been given has guided us to see Christ not as a stumbling block but as the very foundation of our faith and life. May His cross be ever present before us to guide and preserve us until His return.