" What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.” " (Romans 9:30-33)
It's an offense, a stumbling block, to say: those who work hard to attain righteousness do not receive it; but those who do no work to attain righteousness do receive it. The work that does not obtain righteousness is our own work; but the work that does obtain righteousness is the work of faith. Our work is a work of the flesh by the sweat of our brow, but the work of faith is a work of the Spirit. Our toil was given to us as a punishment from God at the fall at the Garden; our toil and labor produces sweat, but the work of faith does not. As it is written, “Linen turbans shall be on their heads and linen undergarments shall be on their loins; they shall not gird themselves with anything which makes them sweat.” (Ezekiel 44:18) And the priests of the Old Covenant wore linen clothes when they ministered in the tabernacle; so the Holy Spirit is signifying that the work of God is not burdensome. Regarding the work of the law, it says, “Why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?” (Acts 15:10) But regarding the work of faith, it says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3) Human flesh accomplishes nothing, it never pleased God and never will. But the work that pleases God is faith; faith is a work of the spirit by believing in Jesus Christ. So then, where is our boasting? Is it in the flesh? No! But rather our boast is in God; as it says, " Let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD. " (Jeremiah 9:24)
“For we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.” (Philippians 3:3)
What then do we do, if we have faith within, but nothing is worked out? For our works make our faith complete. Faith without works is dead; it is not faith at all, but sincere faith is living, for it is doing. That which is dead, does nothing; and that which is dead cannot save anyone; can a mute idol save even itself? Who but the living God can raise the dead? Who can deliver but God? A sincere faith is like breathing - we do it naturally. We don't have to try or toil so hard to breathe, we just do it. That's the same with sincere faith: we don't try so hard, but it comes naturally. We believe and so act. So be a child in regard to faith - simply believe. What about blinking? You certainly don't strive hard to blink! It happens naturally. If you want to lose weight, you can run a marathon or eat nothing; which is easier? If you want to stay afloat, strive hard and kick or be at peace and float; which is less stress? Even if you can exert enough strength to remain afloat for an hour, certainly you cannot for a lifetime, can you? Faith is for a lifetime, but human strength is only for a moment; as it says, “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.” (Psalms 30:5) For the work of the flesh brings forth wrath, but those who believe obtain favor with God. Those who exert strength for eternal life do not obtain life, but those who rest in Christ find the mercy of God. So strive to keep your faith sincere; this is a most important thing. Do not try to make faith by simulating faith with works; but rather, have authentic faith which produces works. A simulator is not actually the thing it is simulating; it is only a fake, a robot. If a robot mimics a human, does that make it a human? Of course not! If you simulate being a Christian by doing what Christians do, that doesn't make you a Christian; that's not really faith, and that won't get you into Paradise - for the Lord sees your heart. When I was young, I wanted to get out of school; I simulated a cold to trick my mom to let me stay home; certainly I was able to fool her. I didn't actually have a cold, I was only simulating one: I put the tissues on my nose, I put the heat on my forehead, I disfigured my face. I knew the truth and God knew the truth; but I first needed to deceive myself in order to deceive my mom; I had to lie to myself before I lied to another. I can fool myself, but will simulating faith fool the living God on judgment day? That is why it says, " The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. " (Romans 14:22)
So strive for faith of your own in Christ; if you do not believe, pray that you may believe; seek and He will graciously let you find Him; the Father will lead you to the Son, then you will naturally do the things which are fruits of faith. I must have faith of my own, namely that, the eternal Father was in Christ and died for me, that He has great love towards me in Christ; I must have my own faith in that He loved me to give me life and He loved me to give me new life. With faith, I experience a change of heart: the hardness of it cut away. My life is changed forever; the Lord changes me from within. Know the nature of unbelief; as it says, “The one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son.” (1 John 5:10) But, "It is impossible for God to lie.” (Hebrews 6:18) However, "He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true.” (John 3:33)
From the beginning of time, God hid by mystery in His Word the way to be made right with Himself, which is now revealed in Christ: a righteousness which is by faith. Jesus came down from heaven and healed men of their sickness and did good where-ever He went; the people who received healing were those who had faith in His name. They were not healed because of their obedience to the law of Moses or any good work they had done; but rather, they were healed because of their faith; as it says, " Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease. " (Mark 5:34)
And, " Recover your sight; your faith has made you well. " (Luke 18:42)
And there are many other such things He said (Luke 7:50, Mark 10:52, Luke 17:19, Matthew 8:13, Matthew 15:28). Abraham was reckoned righteous by believing in God's promise given by God's generosity. And it is no different for us today: we are made right with God by believing the testimony about His Son. He is the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham; God has given us right standing with Himself and eternal life in His Son. After Abraham was counted righteous by God, He gave Abraham a sign of the covenant which is the circumcision of all males in the flesh. And today, we have the same sign, but it's a spiritual circumcision, made without hands, a spiritual procedure of putting away the body of sins by removing the heart of stone; as it says, " And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh. " (Ezekiel 11:19)
And then it says, " In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ. " (Colossians 2:11)
It is Christ who puts away the flesh of the body and takes away the hardness of heart. For the only good flesh is the heart of flesh! Jesus is the Physician, and He does the procedure; it happens at the moment we believe the Testimony. And the second part of the procedure is the uniting of the Holy Spirit with our spirit; for God writes on our new circumcised hearts His law, by His Spirit; as it says, " For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. " (Jeremiah 31:33)
“For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” (Galatians 6:15)