March 5, 2023 - Romans 9:30-10:15

 

An Exercise on Romans 9:30-10:15

First a reminder: Notice the opening question in 9:30. Paul often asks, “What should we say then?” as he moves his letter into its next section.

Look through the text below.

1.     Circle every time the word righteousness is in the text.

2.     Underline every time the word faith or believe is in the text.

3.     Draw a box around the word law every time it is in the text.

³⁰ What should we say then? Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained righteousness—namely the righteousness that comes from faith. ³¹ But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not achieved the righteousness of the law. ³² Why is that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. ³³ As it is written,

Look, I am putting a stone in Zion to stumble over
and a rock to trip over,
and the one who believes on him
will not be put to shame.

10:1 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them is for their salvation. ² I can testify about them that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. ³ Since they are ignorant of the righteousness of God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness. ⁴ For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes, ⁵ since Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: The one who does these things will live by them. ⁶ But the righteousness that comes from faith speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, “Who will go up to heaven?” that is, to bring Christ down ⁷ or, “Who will go down into the abyss?” that is, to bring Christ up from the dead. ⁸ On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: ⁹ If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, ¹² since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. ¹³ For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Israel’s Rejection of the Message

¹⁴ How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.

How would you summarize the main theme of this part of Romans?

How are the righteousness that comes from faith and the righteousness of the law different?

v. 32-33 speak of “a stone of stumbling” and “rock of offense.” What is this?[1]

Norman Nagel quote –

This is an important insight into the sinful heart!

Subject vs. object

In justification and righteousness we are always the …

The Augsburg Confession, Article IV – “Our churches teach that people cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works. People are freely justified for Christ sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. By His death, Christ made satisfaction for our sins. God counts this faith for righteousness in His sight (Romans 3 and 4).”

The Apology (Defense) of the Augsburg Confession, Article IV – “… they[2] condemn us for teaching that ‘people obtain forgiveness of sins not because of their own merits, but freely for Christ’s sake, through faith in Christ.’” – Melanchthon spends the next 20 pages defending justification by grace through faith.

The Small Catechism, Apostles’ Creed, 3^rd Article

What is the promise faith holds onto in v. 30-33?

10:1

What kind of attitude does Paul display toward Israel in this passage? How might that inform us as we deal with people who do not believe in Jesus?

How might this passage inform the way we deal with people who have walked away from the faith?

Wrapping Up

What is one insight/word of comfort/challenging idea that you hope to hold onto from these verse?

How will the lessons learned from these verses impact your faith life?

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[1] In v. 33, Paul brings Isaiah 8:14 together with Isaiah 28:16.

[2] The writers of The Confutation, the document that the Roman Catholic church created to refute The Augsburg Confession.