Why did Israel fail to attain unto righteousness?

Answer

"But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled
at that stumbling-stone!' Rom. 9: 31, 32.

How does grace, as the ground of justification, exclude righteousness by works?
What did the people say when they saw these things?
What has ever been the theme of God's prophets?
On what did God write the Ten Commandments?
By what other terms are these covenants designated?
What power mentioned in the thirteenth chapter of Revelation is to enforce this mark?
How does God regard one who abandons his faith?

Questions & Answers are from the book Bible Readings for the Home Circle