Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 9:30-33.

 

“³⁰ What shall we say then?  That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith;

 

³¹  but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.

 

³²  Why?  Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works.  They stumbled over the stumbling stone,

 

³³  just as it is written,                                                                                                                 “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”  Romans 9:30-33.

 

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In God’s sovereignty over salvation, God saved many of the Gentiles by giving them faith in Jesus Christ.  These Gentiles did not pursue righteousness or salvation, but God caused them to attain righteousness and salvation by giving them faith in Jesus Christ.

 

On the other hand, but as still part of God’s sovereignty over salvation, God “LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”.  Israel stumbled over the stumbling stone (Christ) and did not believe in Him.  

 

Even though God is sovereign, we still have the duty to learn lessons and follow the right path to righteousness and salvation.  We can apply I Corinthians Chapter 10 to today’s Scripture.  Even though 1 Corinthians Chapter 10 speaks specifically about immorality, we can consider that what happened to Israel about pursuing righteousness based on the law can be a warning to us.  “Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.  Do not be idolaters, as some of them were;  as it is written, “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY.”  Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.  Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.  Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.  Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.  Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.”  1 Corinthians 10:6-12.

 

Like the Jews and like the Galatians, it may tempt us today to pursue righteousness based on the law.  “You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?  This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?  Are you so foolish?  Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?  Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?  So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”  Galatians 3:1-4. 

 

 

“For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse;  for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.”  Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident;  for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”  However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.”  Galatians 3:10-12.

 

“You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law;  you have fallen from grace.  For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.”  Galatians 5:4-4.

 

If anybody had motivation to pursue righteousness based on the law, it was Paul.  “circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee;  as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.  But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,”  Philippians 3:5-9.