ROMANS 9
30 What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 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 9:30-33
ROMANS 9 WORK FROM FAITH VERSUS LAW-BASED WORK
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
Work from true faith is an act of total God-dependence
While law-based work is anchored on self-confidence
Following the law for those with true faith is a result of grace
While religious routines and rituals are by-products of the law.
In this letter Paul presents a comparison between works of righteousness and law-based works. Working for your salvation is a result of faith that is based on following rules or laws so you earn merit for what you do. This is not true faith. It is called “religious rituals.” Jesus didn’t die for a religion but for a relationship. James defines religion in chapter one as pure and undefiled before God the Father. It is defined as visiting orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. The world focuses on “self” rather than on God’s gift of free grace. When one follows the law through his own effort, that person doesn’t depend on God but on himself.
Paul explains again about God’s grace and faith in his letter to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 12:9 when he said that “God’s grace is sufficient for you, for God’s power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ rests upon me.” He again mentions it in Ephesians 2:8-9 when he says “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. True faith leads to good works since it is a result of God’s grace. False faith is doing works to earn merits for themselves.
REFLECTION
- How can you differentiate works from true faith versus law-based works?
- What’s the difference between religion and relationship?
