Romans 9:27-33: a reflection

Paul explains why some attained the righteousness of God and others did not, and it comes down to this: righteousness is received by faith, not achieved by works. The Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained it, Paul says, the righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain it, because they did not seek it by faith but as though by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. The difference was not effort but the way sought: righteousness comes by faith, received as a gift, not by works, achieved by our own doing. Those who sought to achieve it by works stumbled; those who received it by faith attained it. This is the heart of the gospel: righteousness is God's gift received by faith, not our achievement by works. Righteousness comes by faith, not by our own works. We receive righteousness as a gift, not achieve it. Faith, not works, is the way to God's righteousness. Righteousness is received by faith, not earned.

Notice the contrast Paul draws. The Gentiles, who were not even pursuing righteousness, attained it, because they received it by faith; while Israel, earnestly pursuing righteousness, did not attain it, because they sought it the wrong way, as though by their own works rather than by faith. The problem was not that Israel did not try hard enough; it was that they sought righteousness by achieving it rather than by receiving it as a gift through faith, and so they stumbled over Christ, the stumbling stone. This is the heart of the gospel, and it corrects a deep instinct in us. We naturally think that righteousness before God must be achieved, earned by our own works and effort; but Paul says it is received by faith, as a gift, not achieved. The way to be right with God is not to work hard enough to earn it, which only leads to stumbling, but to receive it by faith in Christ. This frees us from the exhausting and hopeless attempt to earn our own righteousness, and directs us to receive it as God's gift. Righteousness is received by faith, not earned by works. We are freed from earning what God gives by faith. Do not try to achieve righteousness; receive it by faith. The gift of righteousness comes by faith in Christ, not by our works.

That is worth resting in, for righteousness before God is received by faith as a gift, not achieved by our own works, and this frees us from the hopeless attempt to earn it. We can try to achieve righteousness before God by our own effort and works, as Israel did, and stumble, never attaining it; but Paul says the righteousness of God is received by faith, as the Gentiles received it, not earned by works. Righteousness is God's gift. Do not exhaust yourself trying to earn righteousness by your works; receive it by faith in Christ, as God's gift. Rest in the truth that righteousness before God is received by faith as a gift, not achieved by our own works, as Paul explained that the Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness attained it by faith, while Israel, pursuing it as though by works rather than by faith, did not attain it but stumbled over the stumbling stone; for we naturally think that righteousness before God must be achieved, earned by our own effort and works, but the gospel is that it is received by faith in Christ, as a gift, not achieved, so that the way to be right with God is not to work hard enough to earn it, which only leads to stumbling, but to receive it by faith, which frees us from the exhausting and hopeless attempt to earn our own righteousness and directs us instead to receive God's gift with empty and open hands.