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Romans 9:30-32
What should we say then? Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained righteousness— namely the righteousness that comes from faith.But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not achieved the righteousness of the law.Why is that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.
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Isaiah 66:3-6
One person slaughters an ox, another kills a person; one person sacrifices a lamb, another breaks a dog’s neck; one person offers a grain offering, another offers pig’s blood; one person offers incense, another praises an idol— all these have chosen their ways and delight in their abhorrent practices.So I will choose their punishment, and I will bring on them what they dread because I called and no one answered; I spoke and they did not listen; they did what was evil in my sight and chose what I did not delight in.You who tremble at his word, hear the word of the LORD:“ Your brothers who hate and exclude you for my name’s sake have said,‘ Let the LORD be glorified so that we can see your joy!’ But they will be put to shame.”A sound of uproar from the city! A voice from the temple— the voice of the LORD, paying back his enemies what they deserve!
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Jeremiah 7:8-10
But look, you keep trusting in deceitful words that cannot help.“‘ Do you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known?Then do you come and stand before me in this house that bears my name and say,“ We are rescued, so we can continue doing all these detestable acts”?
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Isaiah 59:5-6
They hatch viper’s eggs and weave spider’s webs. Whoever eats their eggs will die; crack one open, and a viper is hatched.Their webs cannot become clothing, and they cannot cover themselves with their works. Their works are sinful works, and violent acts are in their hands.
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Isaiah 57:12-13
I will announce your righteousness, and your works— they will not profit you.When you cry out, let your collection of idols rescue you! The wind will carry all of them off, a breath will take them away. But whoever takes refuge in me will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain.
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1 Corinthians 1 18-1 Corinthians 1 31
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent.Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish?For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached.For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom,but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God,because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth.Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world— what is viewed as nothing— to bring to nothing what is viewed as something,so that no one may boast in his presence.It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us— our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption—in order that, as it is written: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.
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Isaiah 64:6
All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.