Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Why did this happen? Because they were trying to earn it through following rules and doing good deeds instead of just trusting God. They tripped over the very thing that was supposed to help them.
You can't earn your way to God, trust is the only path that works.
📚 Historical Context
In the first century, the Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Romans to address the spiritual struggles of both Jews and Gentiles, explaining why many Jews had rejected Jesus as the Messiah despite their deep religious heritage. He pointed out that they were pursuing righteousness through strict obedience to the Mosaic Law rather than through faith in Christ, which caused them to stumble over Jesus as a prophesied obstacle. This reflects the broader biblical narrative of God's shift from the old covenant of law to the new covenant of grace.
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