The third Part.
Vers. 30. What shall wee say then? that the Gentiles which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of Faith:
The third part of the Chapter, wherein the Apostle o∣pens this, as his scope to what went before, that the expe∣rience of Believers among the Gentiles, and of Justicia∣ries among the Jews, might confirm his former Doctrine of Justification by Faith, and not of Works. The first part of the experience touching the Gentiles, is this, The Gentiles (saith hee) which did not follow after the righ∣teousness of works, attained true righteousness, viz. that righteousness which is by Faith: Therefore that is the only ground of Justification, which is by Faith, and not of Works.
Vers. 31. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righ∣teousness.
The other part of the experience, is of the unbelieving Jews; The Israelites (saith hee) followed after the law of righteousness, that they might bee justified according to that, but attained not that righteousness which is by works, because righteousness by the Law is impossible▪ Therefore Justification is not by Works, or according to the Law, but of Faith.
Vers. 32. Wherefore? because they sought it not by Faith, but as it were by the works of the Law; for they stumbled at that stumbling stone.
That hee might further make use of this experience, hee enquires after the cause, why the Jews that followed after the Law, did not attain to righteousness: By way of answer, hee assigns a threefold cause: The first is, because they did not seek after righteousness by Faith, which is the only ground of Justification.
Another cause, in as much as they sought after righte∣ousness by works, which way is impossible, not only be∣cause no man could perfectly observe the Law, but also because good works, which the followers after legal righteousness, without Faith perform, are not worthy the name of good works, they have only the shew of good works, and they that affect Justification thereby, fondly desire to bee justified, as it were by works, or a shew of good works. The third cause, because they knew not Christ, by reason of his humility, and the infirmity of his flesh, in whom they should believe, that they might bee justified, but despised him, and to their own destruction set themselves against him, stumbling at him, as at a stumbling stone.
Vers. 33. As it is written; Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone, and rock of offence; and whosoe∣ver believeth on him shall not bee ashamed.
Both parts of this experience hee confirms from the Prophets prediction, Isai. 8.14. and 28.16. after this manner: Behold I will lay (saith God) Christ in the Church, whose beginning is out of Zion, a tryed stone, a rock of offence (as the incredulous Jews have experien∣ced) and whoever believeth in him, in the expectation of him, that is, in his righteousness and life eternal, hee shall not bee frustrated, as the believing Jews have found by experience: And thus the Apostle hath firmly proved that wee are justified by Faith.