30 What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place. 31 But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. 32 Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law 1 instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path.
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God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said, “I am placing a stone in Jerusalem 2 that makes people stumble,
a rock that makes them fall.
But anyone who trusts in him
will never be disgraced.” 3
1 Dear brothers and sisters, 4 the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. 5 As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.