Romans 9:30-10:13 “Israel’s Unbelief in Christ”

Big Picture Question: Why are many Gentiles and only some Jews being saved . . . but Israel as a whole is not?

Answer: Gentiles are submitting to God’s righteousness. Israel is not.

Israel has failed to enjoy the blessings of Messiah’s salvation because she has been preoccupied with earning a right standing before God based on observing the Law of Moses, and so has stumbled over the cross of Christ, where God’s righteousness is truly manifested.

Point # 1 Israel’s false pursuit: why did Israel fail to obtain righteousness (9:30-10:3)?

Because . . . .

a) they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works.
b) they stumbled over the stumbling stone of Christ crucified.
c) they have zeal but lack knowledge.
d) they sought to establish their own righteousness.
e) they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

THE HINGE VERSE (v.4): “Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.”

Point # 2 The contrast between the righteousness of the Law and the righteousness of faith (5-13).

a) The one who keeps the Law of Moses perfectly will experience eternal life. This is the righteousness demanded by the Law.
b) In contrast, the righteousness of faith does not require any superhuman moral effort. God sent his messiah into the world and raised him from the dead. We have only to believe!
Christ is not only easily accessible, but also equally accessible to all - to Jews and Gentiles - since there is no difference, no favoritism. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.