The way to attain a righteous standing before God is to trust his promise. Believing God’s promise is the way to please him, because “without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6) But, trying to earn a righteous standing before God by engaging in righteous exploits or demonstrations of righteous abilities is an indication that the person has not trusted God’s promise. An attempt to earn righteousness through works shows contempt for God’s promise. This person has “stumbled over the stumbling stone.”

Paul says that it is those “who did not pursue righteousness” are the ones who have believed the promise, while those who “who pursued the law as the way of righteousness” have rejected the promise because in their understanding they had already become righteous.

The promise of God is power, but it must be believed. The righteousness of God is transforming, but it must be received. The Words of God are renewing, but they must be understood. All of these (belief in the promise, receiving the righteousness, renewal by the word) will empower and transform the believer to be righteous. And, from this position the believer will produce the fruit of righteousness instead of doing works of righteousness.

A person that has been transformed by the promise, by the Spirit and by the Word of God will produce fruits of righteousness from their new nature. But, a person who has rejected the promise, rejected the Spirit and rejected the correct understanding of the Word of God will continue pursuing righteousness in their own effort because they stumbled over this very basic principle:

“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.”

“The Bible is no mere book, but a Living Creature,
with a power that conquers
all that oppose it.”
– Napoleon