I would remind you of the matter that is before us by reading again from verse 30 to verse 33 in the ninth chapter of the epistle to the Romans.

What shall we say then?

That the Gentiles which followed not after righteousness have attained too righteousness,

even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness,

hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

Wherefore?

Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law.

For they stumbled at that stumbling stone, as it is written,

behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whosoever believeth

on him shall not be ashamed.

Now, this is the conclusion, as we saw last Friday night, to the argument of the whole of this great chapter.

The Apostle says, well now then, what is the position?

And in verses 30 and 31, he just puts the fact before us.

And the fact is a remarkable and an astonishing one.

That looking at the Christian church this is

what was to be seen, that the Gentiles who never gave a thought of being right with God

and were not concerned about righteousness have eagerly grasped the offer of righteousness

in Christ which was made to them by the preaching of the gospel and are to be found in the Christian Church.

Whereas Israel, whose main concern in life in many respects, was to attain into this righteousness,

and who thought that they could do so by giving an obedience to the law given through Moses

have not attained into it, have not arrived at it, and are outside the Christian church.

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