Romans 9:30 – Righteousness out of faith

What, then, shall we be declaring? That the nations who are not pursuing righteousness overtook righteousness, yet a righteousness which is out of faith.

What would be the reaction to the foregoing now? Paul begins by stating that nations (not the nations, but some of them) do not pursue righteousness. Unlike the Jewish people, they have no zeal to be righteous before God. And yet, they have overtaken (understood) righteousness. I.e. got a hold (or grip) of it. They understand what God’s righteousness is and that this righteousness is not righteousness that a man accomplishes through performance. No, they understand that God’s righteousness means: God does justice to His promise and He fulfills what He promises!

A righteous person before God is one who trusts in what He promises. Paul had already explained this much earlier in chapters 3 and 4. Especially on the basis of the example of Abraham. God promised him offspring even though he and Sarah were “dead.” Abraham was not asked for anything; he received an unconditional promise “and Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness” (Gen.15:6; Rom.4:3).

For God, only “righteousness that is by faith” counts. God promises – without ifs and buts. And who then says: amen!, is a righteous one in His sight!

Delen: