A Life of Trust
Romans 9:30–32 NASB
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…
The people who weren’t running after righteousness are the ones who attained it? Yet those who, with zeal, had pursued it so passionately did not?
That is the great irony of Israel’s pursuit of the law.
They had a zeal for God, yes. They had a passion for Him. But in their pursuit of righteousness, they did not arrive at the right conclusion. They thought they could place their hopes and dreams in being part of the “right” bloodline. They thought that if they did everything right, they would be found in right standing before God.
And then, in a surprising turn of events, those coming to a new faith in Jesus are being welcomed into the family of God. Gentile Christians, those outside the Jewish community, are being brought into God’s family by placing their faith in Jesus as their Messiah.
Is this really a surprise, though?
I’d argue that it is actually fitting, because Jesus isn’t simply the King of the Jews.
No, He’s the King of the entire universe.
It was always God’s intent to welcome the nations.
But what exactly was the difference?
Let’s highlight two methods here for right standing before God. Paul describes one as being through faith and the other as being through the law.
Scott McKnight, in his book Reading Romans Backwards, comments on the repetition in Paul’s language:
“The telling, striving footrace expressions in 9:30-33, which are repeated a few times for emphasis, answer why Israel did not win right-standing with God. Paul’s answer is, ‘Because they did not strive for it on the basis of faith, but as if it were based on works.’”
He goes on to say:
“That is, their basis was not trusting but striving, and trusting is aimed at Christ while striving is aimed at Torah.”
Maybe a better way to categorize these two methods is this: one is through trust, and the other is through striving.
Paul, earlier in Romans, describes Abraham’s faith in Yahweh as the badge that identifies him as part of God’s family. And it is no different now.
It is not our pedigree or our bloodline that counts us as part of God’s family.
It’s not how well you performed this week.
It’s not how well we know our Bibles.
It is our faith in Jesus as our Messiah.
That is our badge.
That is what makes you and I brothers and sisters.
God isn’t changing His mind here or inventing something entirely new. No, on the contrary, He’s being true to who He has always been and who He is. He’s being true to Himself.
We share in Abraham’s faith when we place our trust in Jesus as Messiah.
Let’s highlight two methods here for right standing before God. Paul describes one as being through faith and the other as being through the law.
Scott McKnight, in his book Reading Romans Backwards, comments on the repetition in Paul’s language:
“The telling, striving footrace expressions in 9:30-33, which are repeated a few times for emphasis, answer why Israel did not win right-standing with God. Paul’s answer is, ‘Because they did not strive for it on the basis of faith, but as if it were based on works.’”
He goes on to say:
“That is, their basis was not trusting but striving, and trusting is aimed at Christ while striving is aimed at Torah.”
Maybe a better way to categorize these two methods is this: one is through trust, and the other is through striving.
Paul, earlier in Romans, describes Abraham’s faith in Yahweh as the badge that identifies him as part of God’s family. And it is no different now.
It is not our pedigree or our bloodline that counts us as part of God’s family.
It’s not how well you performed this week.
It’s not how well we know our Bibles.
It is our faith in Jesus as our Messiah.
That is our badge.
That is what makes you and I brothers and sisters.
God isn’t changing His mind here or inventing something entirely new. No, on the contrary, He’s being true to who He has always been and who He is. He’s being true to Himself.
We share in Abraham’s faith when we place our trust in Jesus as Messiah.
I want to emphasize the word trust here.
For those who have come to faith in Jesus, we can become a bit overzealous about doing the right thing. And I’ll admit, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We should have a zeal to honor God.
But in our pursuit of God, we shouldn’t lose our trust in Him by putting our trust in ourselves. In our ability to save ourselves.
But as a Pastor, let me offer a little criticism of ourselves. A gentle one.
If we claim to believe that Jesus lived, died, rose again, and ascended to heaven. I’d argue, our lives would reflect that.
If we trust the God who created heaven and earth, if we truly trust His words, we would make it our ambition to live by them. To trust in them.
I don’t want to live a life that simply believed Jesus was real. By that same definition, even demons believe.
I don’t want to know the scriptures simply to have more knowledge. No, I want to know Him. The One who gave His life so that I can draw close.
I want to live a life that trusts Jesus and His words.
To place our trust in Jesus means that we live according to the way Jesus has called us to live.
Trust produces a way of life. And listen, we can place our trust in just about anything. The economy, the fluctuating political party sitting in power, or even in ourselves.
But all of those things will eventually prove themselves unworthy of our trust.
I pray we’d put our sole trust in the one we can trust in.
I’d love to ask you a few questions for reflection:
Who do you trust with your life?
With your future? With your present?
Are you striving?
Trying to earn God’s notice? To earn His love?
Would you try to quiet your mind this weekend? Quiet your heart long enough to examine your life.
In whom are you trusting?
We ended this Sunday’s message with Romans 10:4:
Romans 10:4
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
The word Paul uses for the phrase “is the end” is the Greek word telos. It can mean the goal, the purpose, or the final state of something.
Paul uses this word to show us that Jesus is the telos of the law for righteousness.
Jesus is the purpose of it all.
He is the telos.
The law reaches its goal in Jesus.
Jesus has been, and will always be, the goal.
I pray we make Jesus our goal.
