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but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n God does not reward obedience, he rewards faith.<\/p>\n The word \u201cpursuing<\/span>\u201d is di\u014dk\u014d<\/em><\/span>, the same root word as was translated pursue in the previous verse.<\/p>\n \u201cAttained<\/span>\u201d is phthano<\/em><\/span>, which we talked about in the previous verse also. It means \u201cto come suddenly upon something\u201d or \u201cto arrive at a goal.\u201d<\/p>\n In the previous verse Paul made the point that the Gentiles who do not vigorously pursue righteousness have, nonetheless, seized upon it with eagerness. He now tells us that the Israelites did vigorously pursue righteousness but they have not arrived at the goal.<\/p>\n So, why couldn\u2019t the Israelites reach the goal (righteousness) they were working so hard to obtain and why did the Gentiles seize the righteousness which they weren\u2019t pursuing? The difference is works verses faith. The Israelites tried to please God and obtain His righteousness by doing works of obedience. They tried to work their way to righteousness. However, God does not reward obedience, He rewards faith. Let me say that again, God does not reward obedience, He rewards faith.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s look at an example from the Old Testament. After God led the Israelites through the wilderness and gave them the Law through Moses\u2019 leadership, he led them into the Promised Land where they began to eliminate all the inhabitants of the land. Under Joshua\u2019s leadership they were successful at driving the people out of the land. After Joshua\u2019s death, however, the new generation failed to drive the remainder of the people out of the land.<\/p>\n On the surface, this looks like a failure of obedience. After all, God told them to do it, but they didn\u2019t. However, if we look at it closely we will see that it was not a lack of obedience, it was a lack of faith. Here\u2019s how it is expressed in the book of Judges:<\/p>\n Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals; and they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from <\/span>among<\/em><\/span> <\/span>the gods of the people who<\/span> were<\/em> <\/span>all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the LORD to anger.<\/span> (Judges 2:11,12<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n God considered His relationship with the Israelites like a marriage relationship just as He considers the relationship between the church and Christ a marriage relationship. But the Israelites were unfaithful to their husband-God. God\u2019s anger against the Israelites was because of unfaithfulness, not disobedience. That\u2019s the point that Paul is making. Righteousness is not obtained by works, but by faith.<\/p>\n Are you still trying to please God by your good works? Or do you perform your good works out of gratitude because you believe God\u2019s promise of salvation through the blood of Christ. God does not reward obedience, he rewards faith!<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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