Yet had they followed the law with FAITH, they would have.
Romans 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith
They knew nothing about living under the law so they accepted Christ through pure faith. And faith come by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. And the laws they followed became law to them.
Romans 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Those who were born and raised under the law, didn't catch onto where the law was leading them. They only saw it for the "outer" man, never internalizing, therefore never having come about the changes of the inner man and the love of God all that would produce.
Romans 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone
It would seem that before THE RISEN CHRIST, Faith was NOT a gift, wouldn't it? If it had been the Israel would not have stumbled.
Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed
And it was prophecy it would happen.
And what have we now.
now, Jesus is being accepted and but the law is being rejected by the "new Pharisee" type, so limiting them from much of the Word of God. In bondage to a set of rules limiting works, deeds, law, repentance, speech....
And, yet now, there is also those who elect to embrace the Lcord Jesus Christ the Saviour, and to embrace the law that allows us to recognize our sins and to "put them away" as we journey toward our Lord God. Free of any bondage to the flesh carnal man, free of any bondage to a law of death, free of any bondage to traditions of man, Free to repent, Free to be washed clean daily, Free to not be perfect because He was and as such is able to offer the blood of infinite value to wash away sin, Free to not fear death, Free to not fear Judgment, Free to use ALL the Word of God.