‘The stumbling stone’
[Romans 9:30-33]
We have already meditated on two hypothetical questions and one challenge question under the heading “What then shall we say” (v. 14), centered on Romans 9:14-29. We learned that we have nothing to say about God's sovereign and unconditional election and His irresistible grace, and that God did not choose, but rather people hardened their hearts. In other words, we have learned that we have nothing to say about God, by His sovereign and unconditional election, has mercy on whom He will have mercy (v. 15), and by His irresistible grace, justifies and saves those who believe in Jesus, while God’s bringing to His judgement by hardening the Pharaoh-like ones whom He did not choose in His sovereign will. No creature dares to say anything to the Creator about God's sovereign election and non-election. We have nothing to say about how God, in His sovereignty, chooses some to believe in Jesus and saves them, and does not choose others to perish in their sins. Paul said this as a parable of the potter and the vessel: “Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?” (v. 21). In a word, Paul says, ‘Who are you, O man, to talk back to God?’ (v. 20) We have nothing to say about the “vessels of mercy” whom God has chosen and called and the “vessels of wrath” whom God has not chosen (vv. 22-23).
I would like to meditate on Romans 9:30-33 today. Interestingly, if we look at verse 30 of today's text, Paul continues to write letters to the saints in Rome and begins again, “What then shall we say?” Why is he repeating, twice over and over again, ‘What then shall we say?” The reason is that the saints in Rome and all of us are emphasizing that we should have nothing to say about God's sovereign election. Indeed, as we meditate on the words of Romans 9:14-29, do we have anything to say to the sovereign God about who He chooses among His sovereign will and who He does not choose? Are we still challenging God's sovereignty by asking why He chooses some and not others? Aren't we questioning God about why He chooses some people to believe in Jesus and grants His salvation, while not choose others to be judged by God in their unbelief? If we still have doubts, I hope and pray that we will hear the voice of God “What then shall we say?” once again as we meditate on the words of Romans 9:30-33.
As I meditated on Romans 9:30-33, I came to think of two stones. It is none other than ‘The stumbling stone’ mentioned in verses 32 and 33 and ‘The steppingstone’. I believe that Jesus Christ can be both the stumbling stone and also the steppingstone. The reason I think this way is that Jesus Christ became the stumbling stone (vv. 32-33) to the Israelites who followed “a law of righteousness” (v. 31) and the steppingstone to the Gentiles who obtained the righteousness by faith (v. 30) to God the Father.
First, I would like to think about why Jesus Christ became the stumbling stone to the Israelites.
The reason why Jesus Christ became the stumbling stone to the Israelites was because of their unbelief. As we have already meditated on in Romans 9:4-5, despite the six privileges given to the Israelites to know and believe in God (adopted relationship with God, seeing the glory of God, given covenants, received the law, worship and promises, Jesus Christ begotten from them according to the flesh), they couldn’t enjoy those privileges because of their unbelief in Jesus Christ. Here, the unbelief of the Israelites based on Romans 9:31 refers to pursuing a law of righteousness rather than following (believing) Jesus (believing). In other words, the unbelief of the Israelites did not believe in Jesus as the Messiah (Christ) nor their Savior, but rather wanted to obtain righteousness by keeping the Moses’ law. Regarding this fact, Paul says: “… Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. …” (v. 32). For the Israelites who wanted to be justified by their works by keeping the Moses’ law, Jesus Christ had no choice but to be the stumbling stone. Therefore, they were eventually put to shame (v. 33). In other words, the Israelites failed in trying to gain salvation through works (Park).
Like the Israelites mentioned in today's text, if we think that we can obtain salvation through human merit, not by faith, but by works, then Jesus Christ will inevitably be the stumbling stone to us. As a result, we will surely fail (will be ashamed). Why? The reason is because no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law (Rom. 3:20; Gal.2:16). Paul says this: “Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, …” (Gal. 3:11). We definitely need to know that we can never be justified before God by keeping the law, that is, through human meritorious works.
How, then, did Jesus Christ become the steppingstone to the Gentiles?
In a word, it is by faith. In other words, it is because of faith that Jesus Christ has become the steppingstone, not the stumbling stone to the Gentiles. Look at Romans 9:30 – “What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith.” Here Paul writes to the saints in Rome, saying that because the law of Moses was not given to the Gentiles, they did not try to become righteous by keeping the law like the Jews who received the law [“the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness” (v.30) (Park). Nevertheless, the Gentiles were justified. How did the Gentiles justify? It was through “the righteousness that is by faith” (v. 30). In other words, the Gentiles were justified by faith in Jesus Christ (v. 30). Therefore, the Gentiles who believed in Jesus, who was the stumbling stone and “a rock of offense” to the Jews, were never be put to shame (v. 33). In a word, Jesus became the steppingstone for the Gentiles who were justified by faith in Jesus.
As we have already learned from Romans 2:1-16, even though the power of God for salvation is revealed to those who hear the gospel and believe in Jesus (1:16), those who know the existence of God but suppress the knowledge of God with all unrighteousness, turn the truth into a lie, and didn’t see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God's wrath will be revealed (1:18ff), and God's judgment will come in the end (v. 5). In other words, even though God's salvation comes to us who hear the gospel and believe in Jesus (1:16), God's wrath and God's judgment come to unbelievers who do not believe in Jesus even after hearing the gospel. Here we see both sides of the gospel. The gospel is the power of God that gives salvation to those who believe in Jesus, the content of the gospel, but to those who do not believe in Jesus, God's wrath (1:18-32) and God's judgment (2:1-16) is coming. In other words, the gospel brings blessings (eternal life) to those who believe, but curses (judgment, destruction) to those who do not believe. The Gentiles who hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and believe in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, are justified and are saved by God. In other words, the Gentiles were justified by “a law of faith” (3:27). The Gentiles never tried to be saved by keeping the law. Rather, they were saved by faith alone. Look at Romans 3:28 – “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.” For those who are justified by faith, Jesus Christ is the steppingstone. Look at John 14:6 – “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” Only through Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life, can we go to God the Father. In other words, Jesus becomes the steppingstone for us who believe in Jesus. Is Jesus the steppingstone or the stumbling stone to you? I hope and pray that Jesus is the steppingstone and not the stumbling stone to you.