Daily Devotional
July 17
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. - Romans 9:31-33 (KJV)
The only way to righteousness is to either work for it, or receive it as a gift, and Israel tried to earn it by works of the law. No one can earn it, as we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The only way to God’s type of righteousness is to accept it as a gift through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The Jews had a real desire for God (Romans 10:2), but they went about it wrong. They had all their faith in themselves, and sought after self-righteousness, and that was their downfall. Faith is what pleases God (Hebrews 11:6), but it has to be faith in God, and not in ourselves. People who put all their faith in themselves can never please God, no matter how hard they work at keeping the law (Romans 3:20). All our self-righteousness is like filthy rags to our Lord (Isaiah 64:6)
This stumbling stone of course was Jesus, and the Jews surely did stumble at His being the Christ, as they could not believe in Him. This verse is quoting an Old Testament Scripture about Him being a stumbling stone to the Jews (Isaiah 28:16). Praise God that we have the gift of salvation by faith, and do not have to try and earn it by our works of the law. We only have to believe in Jesus (Romans 10:9-10), and obey Him (Hebrews 5:9) – Thank you Jesus.
Devotional by Pastor Joe W. Green, www.infinite-faith.com
**Daily Devotional**
**July 17**
*31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. - Romans 9:31-33 (KJV)*
The only way to righteousness is to either work for it, or receive it as a gift, and Israel tried to earn it by works of the law. No one can earn it, as we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The only way to God’s type of righteousness is to accept it as a gift through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The Jews had a real desire for God (Romans 10:2), but they went about it wrong. They had all their faith in themselves, and sought after self-righteousness, and that was their downfall. Faith is what pleases God (Hebrews 11:6), but it has to be faith in God, and not in ourselves. People who put all their faith in themselves can never please God, no matter how hard they work at keeping the law (Romans 3:20). All our self-righteousness is like filthy rags to our Lord (Isaiah 64:6)
This stumbling stone of course was Jesus, and the Jews surely did stumble at His being the Christ, as they could not believe in Him. This verse is quoting an Old Testament Scripture about Him being a stumbling stone to the Jews (Isaiah 28:16). Praise God that we have the gift of salvation by faith, and do not have to try and earn it by our works of the law. We only have to believe in Jesus (Romans 10:9-10), and obey Him (Hebrews 5:9) – Thank you Jesus.
Devotional by Pastor Joe W. Green, www.infinite-faith.com
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