Looking without Finding and Finding without Looking

Romans 9:30-10:4 

1. The Gentiles find righteousness without seeking it

2. The Jews cannot find righteousness because they seek it the wrong way

3. Righteousness for everyone who believes in Jesus Christ

Introduction

Today’s biggest question is How Do We Get Right in God’s Sight?  It’s not new to our day and age. It was already a big question back in the middle fifties AD, when the Apostle Paul wrote this letter overseas to the people at Rome. In fact, it was an especially big question back then: because there were two groups quarreling considerably about which of their two ways of salvation was the right one.

The Writer of this letter to the Romans was the Apostle Paul. Paul never even met Jesus while He was here on the earth. Paul was very strict Jew. When the gospel of Christ began to spread, Paul violently persecuted the believers. Then one day, as he was on his way to the city of Damascus, Paul suddenly met the risen and living Lord Jesus Christ, and became a believer himself. It was then that Jesus appointed Paul to be an Apostle. Jesus sent Paul to preach the gospel primarily among the Gentiles, that is, non-Jewish. But, same time he has burden for his Jewish people also.

First of all, there were the Jews of the time. Paul deals with them in the middle six verses here. He begins: Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works.

The Jews of Paul’s day aimed to get right in God’s sight by good deeds in conformity with God’s standards. Immediately, Paul says, they didn’t make it; they didn’t attain their goal of God’s righteousness. Why not? Their old sinful nature, inherited from their parents, all the way back to Adam and Eve, their old sinful nature made it impossible for them perfectly to love God and perfectly to love others.

This entire section emphasizes the difference between “Law righteousness” and “faith righteousness.” The contrasts are seen in the following.

Law of Righteousness                       Faith Righteousness

Only for the Jews                                For “whosoever”

Based on works                                  Comes by faith alone

Self-righteousness                               God’s righteousness

Cannot save                                        Bring salvation

Obey the Lord                                                Call on the Lord

1. The Gentiles find righteousness without seeking it (Romans 9:30-31)

The Jews on one side and the Gentiles on the other, two observable cultures. The Jews are devoting themselves to God’s law and keeping their distance from Gentile culture, which they see as unclean. The Gentiles have cooties. Not that every Jew feels that way, but it’s a pattern – pursuing a law that leads to righteousness. The Jews are serious about that. The Old Testament (the Bible) is the rule-book, and they’re following the rules, to be righteous and ready for the Messiah. But the Gentiles, over in their culture, aren’t pursuing righteousness. They’re like many people today, focused on other things.

When Paul preached to gentiles, they did not show any doubt on his words. But when he tried to preach Jewish, they always argued with him, and they show many doubt to him. But when gentiles heard the gospel, many of those Gentiles received, by putting faith on God, and they accepted it, and had thus find righteousness. However, it was not a righteousness based on their own goodness in the sight of God. It was God’s righteousness, appropriated by God given faith. It was a righteousness purchased by Christ’s redeeming blood.

The Gentiles have received right standing with God and covenant membership in the family of God by faith, not through the Law of Moses. Gentiles, who were not pursuing a right status with God and were not pursuing covenant membership with God, have been offered this status and the Gentiles have accepted this status by faith. They did not receive this status through the Law of Moses. The Gentiles did not receive this status by keeping the works of the Law (circumcision, Sabbath keeping, keeping clean and unclean ordinances, etc). They received this status of justified and covenant membership in God’s family through faith. This faith is not simply mental agreement to God’s promises for Paul has never defined faith this way in the letter to the Romans. Faith describes truly trusting in God and living faithfully to him.

Application

Even today, people find what they do not look. They read a book, listen to a song; somehow it sets them on the path toward God. They go to a wedding, a funeral, a baptism, and behold. God found them and they received righteousness by faith. Others have the opposite experience. They seek, but do not find, because they pursue righteousness the wrong way.

We need to decide what kind of righteousness we are seeking, whether we are depending on good works and character, or trusting Christ alone for salvation. God does not save people on the basis of birth or behavior. He saves them “by grace, through faith” (Eph. 2:8–9). It is not a question of whether or not we are among God’s elect. That is a mystery known only to God. He offers us His salvation by faith. After we have trusted Christ, then we have the witness and evidence that we are among His elect (Eph. 1:4–14; 1 Thess. 1:1–10). But first we must trust Him and receive by faith His righteousness which alone can guarantee heaven.

2. The Jews cannot find righteousness because they seek it the wrong way (Romans 9:32-33)

The Jews sought for righteousness but did not find it, while the Gentiles, who were not searching for it, found it. The reason is that Jewish did not pursue right standing by faith, but by works. They rejected “grace righteousness” and tried to please God with “Law righteousness.” The Jews thought that the Gentiles had to come up to Israel’s level to be saved; when actually the Jews had to go down to the level of the Gentiles to be saved. “For there is no difference: for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:22–23). Instead of permitting their religious privileges (Rom. 9:1–5) to lead them to Christ, they used these privileges as a substitute for Christ.

But see the grace of God: Israel’s rejection means the Gentiles’ salvation. Paul’s final quotation was from Isaiah 28:16. (The words quoted by Paul here in verse 33 are a combination of two biblical passages: Isa. 28:16 and 8:14:“Behold, I lay in Zion a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a solid foundation. The one who trusts will never be dismayed” (Isa. 28:16). “For both houses of Israel he will be a stone that causes people to stumble, and a rock that makes them fall” (Isa. 8:14).) It referred to Jesus Christ; God’s Stone of salvation (see Ps. 118:22). In Zion was placed a stone that made people stumble and a rock that would trip them up. God gave Christ to be a Foundation Stone, but Israel rejected Him and He became a stumbling stone. Instead of “rising” on this Stone, Israel fell (Rom. 11:11); but, as we shall see, their fall made possible the salvation of the Gentiles by the grace of God.

Israel, on the other hand, pursued a law of righteousness (v. 31), but didn’t obtain it? Because they did not have faith; rather, they tried to get righteousness by works (v. 32). They trusted in their own efforts. They said: “Because we are descendants of Abraham by birth, surely we must children of God.” but in thinking this, they had made a big mistake. They thought that because they were circumcised on the eighth day that they were in God’s family. They thought because they possessed the Law of Moses that they were the people of God. But Paul has shown that no one is justified by the works of the Law (Romans 3:20). Even though they were indeed God’s chosen people on the basis of their natural descent from Abraham, in the end they lost the privilege of being God’s people, God’s children, because of their refusal to believe in Christ. Our election, our righteousness, our salvation are all by faith, not by works. Most of Jews tried to obtain righteousness and salvation by their own religious works, and they failed. The Gentiles, who in the Jews’ eyes didn’t even pursue righteousness, ended up getting it through faith.

When the Jewish rejected Christ, they lost their salvation – that is, they stumbled (Isaiah 8:14, 28:16). The Jews could not believe that their savior – who the Old Testament Promised would come – would turn out to be the son of an ordinary carpenter and then, worse than that, end up dying on a cross like a poor criminal. Instead of worshiping such a savior, they despised Him. Therefore, Christ became for the Jews “stumbling stone” over which they stumble and fell.

They did not live faithfully to God. They did not put their trust in God, but opposed God. Instead, the Jews thought they had right standing before God and covenant membership in God’s family by the works of the Law.

Application

Israelites come upon Jesus, look him over carefully and reject him. Why? Because Jesus himself is not bowed toward law and the righteousness people try to earn. He didn't care about their rules. He didn't promote righteousness as they understood it, so they rejected him. Of course, jealousy of Jesus’ popularity made them more angry. But they were right about this: Jesus did not tell people to pursue legal righteousness by their work. He offered righteousness by grace (9:33).

Sometimes we show ourselves that we are very righteous and spiritual. And we are tried to judge others by our lives. But, actually we ourselves not worthy to judge others, because our own lives itself not worthy for that, so how we can judge others.

Christ was stumbling block for Jewish same way he become stumbling block for today’s people. Sometimes, we are also finding something but we are not looking God’s will. We are tried to find according to our will, our desire. But, we become fail to find that things, because that is not God’s will. But, we should try to find according to God’s desire, so we can get it.

Because Jesus is the foundation stone, so that those who reject him must stumble and fall (Matt 21:44). Indeed, Jesus told those who rejected him, “The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit” (21:43). And everyone who follows Jesus, Jew or Gentile, will receive that fruit.

3. Righteousness for everyone who believes in Jesus Christ (Romans.10:1-4)

Jewish pursued righteousness but failed to achieve it because they seeking it by personal value rather than by faith. But, the Gentiles find it without seeking it. The deep longing of Paul’s heart was that his countrymen experience salvation. The reality of his love is seen in the fact that he prayed for them. He, like they, belonged to that special race through whom God had revealed himself in history. Reflecting on his pre-conversion days, he told the Galatians of his extreme zeal for the traditions of the fathers (Gal 1:14; cf. Acts 22:3). But God met him on the Damascus road, and his eyes were opened to God’s way of righteousness. The experience did not turn him bitter against his former associates but rather kindled within his heart a burning desire that they too might experience the forgiving grace of God through Jesus Christ.

There was a time when Paul would have agreed with his people, for he himself opposed the Gospel and considered Jesus Christ a fraud. Paul himself had been zealous for the Law and the traditions (Acts 26:1–11; Gal. 1:13–14). Israel considered the Gentiles in need of salvation, but certainly not the Jews. In several of His parables, Jesus pointed out this wrong attitude: the elder brother (Luke 15:11–32) and the Pharisee (Luke 18:9–14) are two examples. Israel would have been happy for political salvation from Rome, but it did not feel it needed spiritual salvation from its own sin.

Everything about the Jewish religion pointed to the coming Messiah (their sacrifices, priesthood, temple services, religious festivals, and covenants). Their Law told them they were sinners in need of a Savior. But instead of hire the Law bring them to Christ (Gal. 3:24), they worshiped their Law and rejected their Savior. The Law was a signboard, pointing the way. But it could never take them to their destination. The Law cannot give righteousness; it only leads the sinner to the Savior who can give righteousness.

Paul’s comment in last verse of passage is mysterious: Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes (10:4). “Law” means the Law of Moses. But in what sense is Christ the end of the law? The word “end” in English and the Greek word for “end” - TELOS - can have three meanings that make sense here: it can mean “fulfillment” or “purpose” (as in “the chief end of man is to glorify God”), it can mean “termination” (“come to an end”), or it can mean “goal” (“means and ends”). It is hard to decide what Paul means here, because all three applications of the word make sense in context and are consistent with other biblical teaching. Christ “fulfills” the righteousness which the Law can only describe; he “terminates” the Law as a means of salvation; and he is the “goal” toward which the whole Mosaic legislation pointed--the Law is our “schoolmaster” to bring us to Christ.

Christ is “the end of the Law” in the sense that through His death and resurrection, He has terminated the ministry of the Law for those who believe. The Law is ended as far as Christians are concerned. The righteousness of the Law is being fulfilled in the life of the believer through the power of the Spirit (Rom. 8:4); but the reign of the Law has ended ( Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14). Jesus himself said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish but to fulfill” (Matt 5:17). “Therefore we are not under the Law, but under grace” (Rom. 6:14). (John 1:17 says, “the law was given through Moses; but, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”)

Paul further testifies that Israel did not understand how God was keeping his promised covenant. They did not understand God’s plan through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God’s righteousness was not just for Israel, but was through them. God was not just giving right standing to Israel. Israel was the vehicle through which the Messiah would come so that the whole world could receive right standing before God. The promises were not exclusive to Israel.

Since the Jews did not know the righteousness that comes from God - that is, the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ, they did not submit to it. They didn’t understand that Christ himself was the embodiment of God’s righteousness.

When Paul says that Christ is the end of the Law – that is, the Jewish law. The law has now been replaced by Christ Himself. No longer is the law necessary as a means of obtaining righteousness or salvation. Now Christ stands in place of the law. He is the new way for men and women to obtain righteousness; He is the new way to the heavenly Father for everyone who believes in Him (John 14:6). Christ is not only the end of the law; He is also fulfillment of the law.

Application

It is sad to say, many religious people today are making the same mistake. They think that their good works and religious deeds will save them, when actually these practices are keeping them from being saved. Certainly many of us are sincere and religious, but sincerity and devotion will never save the soul. “Therefore by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight” (Rom. 3:20).

Today, many churches want the status of right standing with God to be based on belief without obedience or external works and not on faith. But Paul has taught that those who are children of God are those who walk in the footsteps of faith of Abraham, who put sin to death by being united to Christ through baptism, conforming themselves to the image of his Son. Zeal alone does not put one in God’s body of saved people.

Finally I want to reminds two things

First, the Law of Moses was not the ultimate goal. Christ was the ultimate goal. The law itself was not God’s end purpose. Christ was the goal and the completion of the Law of Moses. Righteousness comes through Jesus, not through the Law. Second, right standing before God and covenant membership in God’s family is to everyone who believes. It is not to Jews who believe. Righteousness is to every person who believes.

Conclusion

So now we can have a better understanding that we are not under the Law as a way of salvation. Christ has freed us from the curse of the Law (Gal. 3:10, 13). He has freed us from the penalty of the Law (Rom.6:23, 8:1-2). He has freed us from the requirements of the ceremonial law--the sacrifices, circumcision, ritual cleanness--for they only existed to point forward to him and are no longer needed. But he has not freed us from the Law itself, which still continues to perform its original function of driving us to him.

Brothers and sisters, we need to confess our sin; then take Christ as our foundation stone. Turn to God and say: “Father, I’ve stumbled into sin as I’ve tried to obey you. I can’t claim any righteousness of my own. But Jesus, my Savior, did not sin. Invited by you, prompted by you, I claim his righteousness as my own.”

Paul gave us the spiritual understanding of this warning. He told us that God’s way of salvation was not difficult and complicated. We do not have to go to heaven to find Christ, or into the world of the dead. He is near to us. In other words, the Gospel of Christ—the Word of faith—is available and accessible. The sinner need not perform difficult works in order to be saved. All he has to do is trust Christ.

If you hold to my teaching, you are my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.