THURSDAY September 3, 2020

A Stone of Stumbling

Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
Romans 9:32-33

When you speak with a Jew about Jesus Christ, they do not believe the Gospel by faith. Who is the Stumbling Stone? Jesus Christ. The Jews stumble at Him. Most Jews do not accept that Jesus is the Messiah, yet some do. God has said in His Word that Christ would be a stumbling stone to the Jew:

He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel... (Isaiah 8:14).

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily (Isaiah 28:16).

Those who do not accept Christ will be eternally damned, yet those who believe by faith in Jesus Christ are home free because of the grace and mercies of God. In the New Testament, the Apostle Peter explained that our faith is secure when we build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ for of our salvation:

Coming to Him [Jesus] as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious… Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,” and “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed (1 Peter 2:4-8).

The Scriptures are very clear. Without the sovereignty and grace of God, there is no salvation apart from Jesus Christ––the Chief Cornerstone.

Christ is our Cornerstone, on Him alone we build; with His true saints alone the courts of heaven are filled….
~John Chandler~

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