Explaining Israel's Unbelief

In this final section of Romans, Chapter 9, Paul provides his readers with spiritual insight into why Israel fell short of the righteousness of God, while the Gentiles attained it. It was not because Israel was ignorant of the need for righteousness, but because she tried to establish her own righteousness through the law, and she rejected the way of faith in Christ alone. Furthermore, Paul reveals that the real cause of Israel's stumbling was her refusal to receive her Messiah, Jesu Christ, who was ordained by the Father to be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.