Romans 9:30-33 – “What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law.  Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 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.”

The following was part of a message by Henry Mahan on what it means to be saved by grace alone – “Do you know what the most difficult thing for a Son of Adam, (a human being) to do? The most difficult thing, and I’m not talking about something foolish in the material or physical world, I’m talking about something that pertaineth to life, that which pertaineth to God, that which pertaineth to the spiritual life, that which is real life. The most difficult thing for any human being to do, that which an unbeliever cannot possibly do–and that which a believer finds most difficult? Do you know what it is? It is to believe in, completely trust and look only to, Jesus Christ for justification.  I will guarantee you that it is the hardest thing you will ever be called on to do. To believe only, to trust only, and to look only to Christ. – I didn’t say to look to Christ or believe in Christ – I said only – only so that nothing else enters in to the slightest degree. Nothing else affects your look, your trust, or your confidence only to Christ and Christ alone not only for your justification, but for sanctification and for a full acceptance with God. The Galatians couldn’t do it. The Colossians had trouble doing it. The Philippians were rebuked for not doing it.”

Last time we saw that it was God’s privilege to extend salvation to the world, and that His plan was for a Spiritual people, not a physical one, that would be saved by Jesus Christ alone.  The physical nation of Israel was a means of displaying the mercy and grace of God and His steadfast love.  If you look in the Old Testament, you will see picture after picture after picture of a disobedient people, enslaved, that God chooses to have mercy and grace to forgive and draw to Himself.  Instead of placing their faith in God alone, the people of Israel began to think that it was something within themselves, either by their nationality or by their works that merited their salvation.  The root of this of course is sin.  Man does want to submit themselves to God and His mercy.  That is the root of the gospel, we are not saved by anything in ourselves – even our faith to believe is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).  This is the stumbling stone Israel could not overcome, and it is why only a remnant of the physical nation of Israel were truly saved.

If someone comes to tell me that they have believed on Christ at some point in time, and do not struggle with trusting in Him alone today, they are the one most likely to have never trusted at all.  There is no greater struggle, than to accept the grace of God in Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 1:18 – “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”  To trust completely on Christ, is a daily exercise – to look to Him alone as our righteousness is a daily pleading with the Lord.  The people of Israel were very religious, moral people, and their religious morality (and attempting to achieve a righteousness of their own, instead of trusting in God alone) was what kept them from coming to Christ.  We must all put to death every ounce within us that seeks to be self-justifying.  We are all sinners.  Not just kind of bad – to our core.  We don’t need to be cleaned up, we need to be a new Creation.  We can’t do it.  God doesn’t ask us to, He simply says to look to Jesus.  Set your mind on the finished work of Jesus (Col 3:2) and believe.

Jesus told this parable to illustrate in Luke 18:9-14  “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” 

Brothers and Sisters, if we ignore the daily battle to trust in Christ alone, we will soon find we have drifted away into the same religious morality that Israel had.  That pathway leads to death.  Instead, let us look to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, alone for our salvation.  Let us ascribe unto Him, all glory and honor for salvation and all things.  He alone is worthy, and all who humble themselves before Him will be exalted on the last day.  Our hope in Him is secure; for what is a stumbling stone for many, is the foundation of eternal life for us.

Grace and Peace,

Adam