Scripture Reading: Romans 9:19-33

The Stumbling Stone

The situation Paul describes is completely topsy-turvy. To describe pagans as not pursuing righteousness is a major understatement. Most of them were godless and self-centered, going their own way, lovers of themselves, of money and pleasure, rather than lovers of God and of goodness. Nevertheless, they obtained what they did not pursue. Indeed, when they heard the Gospel of justification by faith, the Holy Spirit worked in them so powerfully, that they “laid hold” of it almost with violence, by faith. On the other hand, Israel’s pursuit of righteousness was almost proverbial. They were imbued with a religious and moral zeal that some would call fanaticism. But they did not arrive at righteousness because they were pursuing an impossible goal.

With regard to the Jews who did not arrive at righteousness, Paul attributes Israel’s failure to its own folly because they pursued it not by faith (which is how the Gentiles laid hold of it) but as if it were by works, that is, as if the accumulation of works were God’s way of salvation. So they stumbled over the stumbling stone. What Paul means by this is not in doubt, since he uses the same imagery elsewhere. It is the proclamation of Christ crucified.

Why do people stumble over the cross? Because it undermines our self- righteousness. If we could gain a righteous standing before God by our own obedience to his law, the cross would be superfluous. If we could save ourselves, why did Christ have to die? The fact, that Christ died for our sins is proof positive that we cannot save ourselves. But to make this humiliating confession is an intolerable offense to our pride. So instead of humbling ourselves, we stumble over the stumbling stone. Everybody has to decide how to relate to this rock that God has laid down. There are only two possibilities. One is to kick against him and so stumble and fall. The other is to put our trust in him, to take him as the foundation of our lives and to build on him.

Taken from: Reading Romans with John Stott, Vol. 2, pp 25-27 InterVarsity Press, 201