1. The blame is ours (19-29).

If God sovereignly chose who would be saved, then how are we to be blamed if we are not? Paul writes that God "bore with great patience the objects of his wrath - prepared for destruction." All of us deserve his wrath because we are sinners. Once we were not his people, but now we are in Christ. His glory has been revealed in us. Who can question his wisdom or his purpose?

2. Israel's unbelief (30-33).

Everything seemed upside down. The Gentiles obtained a righteousness before God by faith, while Israel, who pursued righteousness by the keeping the law, failed to obtain it. In this way, Israel stumbled over Christ. Christ is the stumbling block for all those who fail to trust him for the forgiveness of their sins. Israel stumbled because of their unbelief.