Sermon Title: The Stumbling of Israel –> The Hope of Mankind

Sermon Text: Romans 9:30-10:13

Rom. 9:30 ¶ What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith;

Rom. 9:31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law.

Rom. 9:32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,

Rom. 9:33 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.”

Rom. 10:1 ¶ Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.

Rom. 10:2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

Rom. 10:3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

Rom. 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Rom. 10:5 ¶ For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.

Rom. 10:6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down)

Rom. 10:7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

Rom. 10:8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);

Rom. 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Rom. 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Rom. 10:11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Rom. 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.

Rom. 10:13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Main Idea: Israel stumbled over the message of Jesus Christ because he and his message were one of righteousness by faith, not by works; and yet the very law that Israel loved was meant to lead them to Jesus, and that message was meant to go out into all the world.

Outline:

1. Faith-Righteousness (9:30-33)
2. The Self-Righteousness Trap (10:1-7)
3. The Saving Riches of Christ (10:8-13)