9:30-33 What do we learn from Paul's summing up here of Israel's rejection by God?

This is the conclusion to Paul's teaching on election in Ch 9 in which he explains why Israel was set aside by God, and Gentiles obtained the "righteousness which is of faith". This was not arbitrarily or capriciously decreed by God but was a result of the Jew's own making (CP 31-32 with 10:1-4 and Ac 13:44-47). In the Greek construction of Ro 10:3 the phrase being ignorant of, actually means that the Jew's lack of knowledge was due to wilful disobedience (CP Isa 65:1-2; Ro 10:21).

The Jews wilfully ignored God's righteousness manifest in Christ and tried to establish their own righteousness by works of the law. Yet right throughout scripture God had made it clear that His righteousness could only be obtained by faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. The Levitical blood sacrifices, the law, and the Old Testament prophets all pointed to the supreme sacrifice, Jesus, who could deliver them from the sin the law revealed (CP Ro 3:19-26; Ga 3:19-26; He 9:6-10; 10:1-10).

In Ro 3:21 we learn that the righteousness of God is apart from the law, and yet it is testified to by the law and the prophets. By exposing sin, the law pointed the Jews to their need of a Saviour who has been foretold by the law and the prophets; but the law is not the Saviour - Jesus is (CP Isa 7:14; 9:6-7; Mic 5:1-3; Zech 12:8 - 13:1; Mt 2:5-6; Ro 11:26).

Jesus is both the completion, and the fulfilment of the law. The law was only there to lead people to Jesus that they might be justified by faith (CP Ro 10:4; Ga 3:23-26; Eph 2:14-18; Col 2:14-17; He 8:1-6; 10:1). God's righteousness can only be obtained through faith in Christ (CP Ro 1:16-17; 3:20-26; 4:4-8; 5:1-2, 8-11, 15-21; 10:4; 1Cor 1:30; 2Cor 5:18-21; Php 3:9).

Many of the Jews believed in Jesus but most did not and Jesus became an offence, a stumbling stone, to them. God predicted this through Isaiah, the Old Testament prophet (CP Ro 9:33 with Isa 8:13-15; 53:3; Jn 1:11; 1Cor 1:18-25). While Christ was a rock of offence and a stumbling stone to the Jews, He was a cornerstone of faith for the Gentiles (CP Isa 28:16 with Ac 4:10-12; 13:44-49; 1Pe 2:6-8).

See also comments on Ro 9:30-33, 10:4, 10:6-11, 10:12-13, 10:18-21, 11:1-10, 11:2, 11:4, 11:7-10, 11:16, 11:17-24, 11:29, 11:32, 11:33-36; Rev 12:1-5, and 12:6 and author's studies The Old Covenant - Fulfilled in Christ and Completely Abolished in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1), and Israel in God's eternal Purpose in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2).

10:1-3 See comments on Ro 9:30-33.

"Romans"