Pursue God by Faith - Romans 9-11

 Romans 9:30-33 (ESV)

Israel's Unbelief

30 What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written,

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Pursue God by Faith 

The above passage is taken from the middle of Paul’s discussion on justification by faith and not by works.  We miss some good teaching by simply detaching the above out of the context of the rest.   However, this quick summary of what he is trying to tell the Roman Christians can give us some great strength and guide our daily behaviors.  The nation of Israel was presented with a formal system on how to approach God.   It had all types of rules and regulations.   God spent about two chapters telling us how He made the world, but entire books on how to approach Him.   Approaching God is a big deal.  Accessing God and His grace and forgiveness is a big deal.  Yet, most of the world would like to study butterflies and rainbows more than how their sin keeps them from God.  

The above passage simply tells us Israel’s mistake and warns us to not repeat their failure.    They approached God, rather than by faith, on the basis of this own works.  They thought they could earn God’s unmerited favor, when in reality it was God giving them His grace, totally underserved.   The system God created was created to teach them how to approach God: Through faith in a sacrifice.  Later we would learn that Christ is that sacrifice and we still approach God by faith in Christ’s sacrifice.   We don’t approach God by works.  Note what Paul said in the previous chapter about this:

Romans 9:16 (ESV)

16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

It is not our will or exertion that justifies us. It is by faith.  God wants us to pursue Him and engage in relationship with Him.  But, He wants us to do so with His way of approach, by faith.  Works indeed matter as we will read more about in chapter twelve.  But, the works we do only show evidence of the faith we have.