Pursuing Salvation

Pursuing Salvation

Romans 9:30-10:4

Have you ever planned to meet a friend at a restaurant but found you were running late? You’d had a long day. got home, changed clothes quickly, hustled out the door, and drove slightly faster than you should to make that last stop light. You pull into the parking lot with one minute to spare and breathe a sigh of relief. Your quick change and fancy driving paid off. Then you get a text, “We are here.” You look around the restaurant but don’t see anyone. You heck the parking lot but see nothing. You text back and say, “I’m here too. Where are you?” “We’re at Chick-Fil-A. Where are you?” “I am at Chick-Fil-A….wait, which Chick-Fil-A?” You thought your efforts to hurry home, change quickly, hustle out the door, and run the last stop light had paid off, but all your effort doesn’t matter if you’re heading to the wrong destination. 

 A man was watching the news one night when it was reported that a car was going the wrong direction on the freeway. The man knew his wife was on that freeway and became very concerned, so called her cell. She answered and he said, “Dear, there’s one car going in the wrong direction on the freeway.” She exclaimed, “One car! There’s hundreds of them!” It doesn’t matter how fast we’re going if we’re going in the wrong direction. 

Friends, if we want to arrive at the right destination, we have to go the right direction. All our effort and all our speed don’t matter if we end up in the wrong place. The end of Romans 9 is a classic tale of the Jews thinking they are running in the right direction but ending up in the wrong destination. Paul has spent almost nine chapters teaching that righteousness is achieved not by vigorous effort but through faith. In fact, he opened his letter by sharing his eagerness to preach the gospel in Rome, 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16–17

Salvation for the Jew and the Gentile is by faith. If the destination is salvation with God, the road must be paved with righteousness. The problem is that, in and of ourselves, none of us is righteous.
“As it is written,

“None is righteous, no, not one;

no one understands;

no one seeks for God.  Romans 3:10–11

So, how do we achieve salvation if we are not righteous? If we are going to make it to God, then we need righteousness. Now, by God’s grace, His righteousness is a gift offered to both Jew and Gentile if they believe through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the only way to receive righteousness. 

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law…the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. Romans 3:21–25a

Paul has already unpacked that righteousness comes by faith for both Jew and Gentile. From Abraham to David, from Isaac to Jacob, Paul has explained, “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” Salvation is the only destination, and faith is the only way to reach that destination. 

Friends, make sure you are heading in the right direction toward the right destination. If you find yourself on the wrong path, I pray you would turn back to the narrow way. The Lord is ready to forgive. 

The Summary of Salvation

In Romans 9, Paul continues his exposition of justification by faith. He proves that the Word of God has not failed but provides further scriptural evidence that salvation begins and ends with God. In verse 30, Paul summarizes his argument, 

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. Romans 9:30–31

Like a master teacher, Paul summarizes the argument he has made throughout this chapter. The Gentiles, who were not seeking after righteousness, obtained it, while the Jews, who were pursuing the law that should have led to righteousness, did not obtain it.

Paul states the problem and then asks the question, “Why?” How could it be that the Gentiles, who were not God’s people, were called sons of the living God (Hosea 1)? How could the Jews, who were God’s people, be cut off from righteousness? Why? How could this be? Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul answers his own question. 

Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. Romans 9:32a

The problem was that the Jews were trying to get to the right destination in the wrong way. They were trying to get righteousness by their works. But no one is made righteous through works of the law. The law does not lead to righteousness; it exposes our inability to be righteous just as our failure to keep the law exposes our unrighteousness. 

For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. Romans 2:25

The book of Romans has one consistent message: The gospel is the power of God for salvation not the works of the law. We are justified through faith in Christ. 

So what happened to the Jews? How could they have missed it? They missed it because they stumbled over the stone.

The Stone of Stumbling

We will either be humbled by the stone of stumbling or crushed by it. The stone will either save us or expose us. It will crush our pride or reveal it. 

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.” Romans 9:32–3

The Jews stumbled over the stone. Paul quotes Isaiah 28:16 and Psalm 118:22 and merges them together,

therefore thus says the Lord GOD,

“Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion,

a stone, a tested stone,

a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:

‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’  Isaiah 28:16

The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone. Psalm 118:22

You are probably familiar with the Psalms passage since it is quoted often in the New Testament. Jesus quoted this passage to the Jews in all the synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, right after sharing the parable of the wicked tenants. The chief priests, the scribes, and the elders had come to Jesus questioning his authority. He responded by telling them this parable, 

And he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country. When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this Scripture:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone;

this was the Lord’s doing,

and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So they left him and went away. Mark 12:1–12

Notice that the Jews, ‘perceived that he told the parable against them.”, and they were right. Jesus was illustrating how God had sent messengers to His people again, and again, and again, and again, but they would not listen. They wanted to remain on the wrong path, heading in the wrong direction. They wanted a righteousness that came through their own effort and work. They did not want a Savior. They did not want to acknowledge their sin. They wanted to boast in their own effort and their own righteousness. This was the wrong way. The Jews did not receive righteousness because they did not pursue it through faith but through works. The stone that was rejected was Jesus Christ. Luke makes this clear in
Acts 4, 

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:8–12

The Jews rejected the stone, because they did not want to confess their sins and acknowledge their need for righteousness outside of themselves. Friends, are you on the right path? Are you on the path of righteousness by works, which is no righteousness at all, or are you on the path of righteousness by faith? 

The movie, Chariots of Fire chronicles the rise of two Scottish sprinters, Eric Liddell and Harold Abraham. Eric Liddell, a Christian, says in the movie, “I run to glorify God, and when I run, I feel His pleasure.” Harold Abraham, on the other hand, says before the big race, 

And now, in one hour's time, I will be out there again. I will raise my eyes and look down that corridor - 4 feet wide, with 10 lonely seconds to justify my whole existence. But will I?

How do we live? Are we more like Liddell, who lived for the glory of God and ran for His pleasure? Or are we more like Abraham, who lived in the ten lonely seconds, running to justify his whole existence?

What makes your life count? What makes your life worthwhile? What validates your existence? For many, our reason for living is being a parent. We think, 

You know my life is worthwhile and acceptable and valid, but the fact is I’m a father, I’m a mother, my children are happy, my children are successful, I’m living for them

If this is you, or if you have thought of such things, consider the words of one pastor, 

I want you to know if your children are the justification of your existence, if that’s how, you justify you being here, you’re going to destroy them. Parents who do this…their passion for their children's happiness and success is utterly selfish. It’s not about the kids, it’s about them. It’s their justification, it’s their righteousness, it’s their validating performance record. If I’m a good parent and my kids are happy and successful then I have [success], but you know what if anything goes wrong with them…you will melt down and not be in position to help them….

He concludes by saying,

Everybody is wrestling and struggling for righteousness and validation and worth and acceptability.

It doesn’t have to be parenting. We can wrestle and struggle for validation in our accomplishments, our grades, our work performance, our bank accounts. As another pastor notes,

All of your work will be done for one of these two ends: as an offering to glorify God or as a way to justify yourself. And if your work is really just your 10 lonely seconds—or 70 lonely hours a week—to justify your whole existence, “rest” will be out of the question. You will never be able to rest because you will always be wondering, “Have I done enough? Am I significant enough? Do I matter now?”

All religions have two basic views of salvation: either you are justified by your works or you are justified by faith. Christians, believe in the Gospel of grace. We believe we are justified, not by what we do, but what Christ has done. We believe we matter. We believe we are significant because Jesus Christ came to die in our place and was raised for our justification. In Christ, I can do nothing to make Him love me more, and nothing I have done could make Him love me less. I know this, but too often I work or do ministry to justify my existence. Sometimes, I have a hard time slowing down because I either do not want to deal with the quietness of my own soul or I want others to think well of me (i.e. justify me). I wish it wasn’t the case, but too often it’s true. 

What about you? How do you know if you are self-righteous? Here are a few signs that may help you recognize self-righteousness in your own life:

The self-righteous look down on others - They look down on others because they feel others’ behavior does not measure up to their own. Do you have a critical spirit?

The self-righteous parade their good works - They are quick to bring up the things they are doing well for others to see and hear. Do you like giving a list of your accomplishments? Do you provide a list of the good you do when someone points out your faults?

The self-righteous love the applause of others - They not only parade their works, but they want others’ praise for their works. They love the praise of men. Do you get an emotional jolt when others praise your performance? 

The self-righteous are slow to forgive - Because they think they don’t need forgiveness, they are slow to forgive others. They are quick to condemn and judge those who fall into temptation. Are you slow to give grace?

The self-righteous do not heed correction - They do not listen when others give them correction or rebuke. They walk right past the warning signs. Do you dismiss friends’ warnings, or do you listen and heed correction?

The self-righteous have a high view of themselves - They are quick to elevate themselves over others and believe they are more important than others. Do you think things will fall apart if you aren’t around?

The self-righteous are entitled - They believe they deserve things and are entitled to the privileged seat or privileged position. Do you feel disrespected if you are not “in the know” or if you are overlooked by others?

We all have elements of self-righteousness that creep into our hearts. Let's confess and turn from it. 

The Jews came to the stone of stumbling and would not submit. They would not bow before Christ. They wanted to hold on to their own righteousness. They wanted to hold on to their own justification. Instead of listening to Jesus when they perceived He was talking about them, they decided to kill him. Friend, I do not know where you are this morning, but if you are trying to justify your existence by your work, your ministry, or your family, you are heading in the wrong direction. You need to turn back to Christ and find your hope in Him. 

The Gospel is offensive. It is called a “stone of offense” for a reason. The cross says you are a sinner. You have offended God and deserve death. That's an offensive message, but notice the end of verse 33, “and whoever believes in him (the Stone) will not be put to shame.” If you turn from your self-justification, if you turn from trying to earn your salvation, to work for your own righteousness, if you turn to Christ, you will not be put to shame.

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? For I am sure …nothing…will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:33–35

We will either come to the Stone for refuge, or we will fall on the Stone and be crushed. God will forgive. God will justify. But you must turn to Him. Make Him the Cornerstone of your life. Do not justify your existence with your works rather believe in the finished work of Christ. 

The Submission to Salvation

Those whose hearts are hardest against the Gospel are those who are full of self-righteousness and think their works will get them to heaven. Paul is burdened for them to submit to the free salvation of Christ. 

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:1–4

God’s salvation is now mediated through faith in Jesus Christ. Because the Law has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ, righteousness is now offered to everyone who believes in Jesus. Jesus is the cornerstone; salvation is found in no one else and there is no other name under heaven through which humanity can be saved. 

The Jews have a zeal for God. Paul was a committed, dedicated follower of God before meeting Christ on the Damascus road. He writes of himself in Philippians 3,

Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. Philippians 3:4–6

Paul had a zeal for God but not according to knowledge. You can be dedicated and passionate and still be heading in the wrong direction. If you are pursuing God in the wrong way, it does not matter how hard you work or how fast you go. Paul’s life was a picture of zealously pursuing God but not according to knowledge. God was gracious to save Paul. He was humbled by the Stone and submitted to a righteousness outside of himself.,

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7–11

Paul wanted every Jew to have the same experience. He wanted each of his kindred according to the flesh to turn from their sins and find righteousness in Christ. Paul realized it did not matter how fast he was running or how holy his works were because he was trusting in them for salvation. He was not trusting in Christ but in himself. But, after his conversion, he considered them loss compared to knowing Christ. He wanted others to experience what he had experienced. 

Are we burdened for those who are lost? Do we have the same heart’s desire? Do we look at people who are far from God and struggling with self-righteousness with contempt or with broken hearts? We should be those who weep for those who are blinded by their self-righteousness. 

And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Luke 19:41–42

Jesus wept because the Jews would not experience the peace He offered. He came to them again and again and again and again, but they would not turn from their pride and self-righteousness. 

How do we keep our burden for those who are lost? We never forget our salvation. We never lose the sense of awe that God would save sinners like us–not because of our good works but simply because of His mercy. Are you in awe of your salvation? Do you desire others to experience what you have? Pray that God would save those who are trapped in self-righteousness. 

Friends, you cannot save yourself. Either you will submit to the Stone or you will stumble over it? You will either be humbled or crushed. Will you stumble over it or will you be saved by it? Jesus is the Stone, the only one who can save. Friend, the choice is yours.  What will it be–self-righteousness and condemnation or Christ’s righteousness and salvation? Pursue Christ by His grace, and you will never be headed in the wrong direction.