Romans 9:1-33
I did not count how many times my Study Bible used the word “faith” in its notes to today’s reading. But as I read the text without the notes, what seems clear to me is not an issue of faith, but one of obedience. So now I’m struggling with trying to understand faith and obedience – how are they similar, how are they different. And I begin to wonder if faith has to do with the heart (believing, being) and obedience has to do with the hands (acting, doing). I note in my comments in the second link below, “…we respond to whatever God puts in front of us, again fully seeking His will, His wisdom, His guidance.” To me, that is a statement of faith – seeking, seeking, seeking, but not doing. Obedience follows, based on faith. As/after we seek, we do – and what we do is either obedience or disobedience. Confusing! Carol said to me, just before I began to post, “Today’s reading is difficult.” She should post to you all why she said that.
See also: June 26 / Romans 9:1-13; June 27 / Romans 9:14-29; June 28 / Romans 9:30-10:13
“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.” (Rom 9:30,31)
Just a thought on this: It seems to me that pursuing righteousness simply by trying to follow the Law will always be unsuccessful because it relies on human ability to be perfect in fulfilling God’s will. Only one human, Jesus, was able to do that. On the other hand, pursuing righteousness by faith is attainable because only through faith can we have a direct relationship with God so that He abides in us as we abide in Him. Our missteps can be forgiven and we can be transformed from glory to glory (even though our human side will continue to make missteps because we will always be a work in progress).
Is there a difference between faith and obedience? Just asking…