July 30, 2017
Romans 9:30 - 33; 1Peter 2:2-7
Most of us have experienced making a wrong turn or finding out you have taken the wrong road. It adds to the problem if too much time has elapsed before you know the error and you cannot make up the time.
Several years ago I had an appointment in Columbia, Tennessee with a car factory. The potential business was quite large so two people from our Corporate Sales Dep. along with the Manager from the Nashville Office attended the meeting. As always the meeting lasted much longer than expected and Brent and I were faced with getting the corporate people to the Nashville Airport in a hurry. Brent informed me of a short cut and led the way. After a while, Brent stopped and walked back to my car and said, "I have taken the wrong road - we will need to go back the way we came". When I told the guys from Corporate the bad news of the wrong road and they would miss their flight and would need to spend the night in Nashville they were gracious. The effect of taking the wrong road was for them a day late in getting home. That was bad enough but there was no lasting effect.
When it comes to the matter of Eternity, it is too costly to be on the Wrong Road
The Jews sought to put God in their debt; the Gentiles were content to be in God's debt. The Jews believed they could win salvation by doing things for God; the Gentiles were lost in amazement at what God had done for them. The Jews sought to find the way to God by works; the Gentiles came by the way of trust. As A. M. Toplady's hymn 'Rock of Ages' has it: Barclay, W. (2002). The Letter to the Romans (3rd ed. fully rev. & updated, p. 158). Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press.
Contrary to what is taught in the religious world all roads don't lead to heaven. And if you leave this world (die) without Christ, who said, "...I am the way..." You can't return from death and have another opportunity. The Central message of the Bible is the story of Redemption. Throughout the Bible, we are warned: Prepare for Eternity - "Prepare to meet thy God".
The way of salvation is clearly marked in God's Word: It is the Gospel of Christ, Romans 1:16. If a person misses Christ it is because of disobedience to Holy spirit in the Gospel message.
Christ came from the Father to us:1 John 1:1-2 "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Christ came from the Father to us.Father, and was manifested unto us;)"
He is the Christ, The Son of God" that did come into the World. 2 Tim. 1:9 "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,"1:
He is the Author of eternal life to us. Heb_12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Rom 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. a It is the Father who laid Christ as the Chief Corner Stone. He is the Stone Laid.1.
He is the only foundation laid. 1Co_3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. He is given by God and the only one recognized by God is Christ.
Romans 9:31-32 "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 People spend their lives searching for a law or a deed that can make them right with God. But there are none! stumblingstone;"
Why is Christ a stumbling stone to so many?
People stumble over Christ because of blindness to the gospel, 2 Cor. 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
People stumble over Christ because He can only be understood by faith, Rom 4:5 "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
Gal.1:6-9 "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man People stumble over Christ because of false teachers. preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." They stumbled because of disobeying God's Word. Act 20:32 "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."
People stumble over Christ because they have no interest in their soul, Joh 9:35 -38 "Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him."
1Pe_2:4. People stumble over Christ because of their own unbelief - disallowing the truth of Christ, "To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, "
"...precious, and by him highly honoured, made higher than the kings of the earth, "than the angels in heaven, than the heavens themselves, being set down at God's right hand, and a name given him above every name in this world, or that to come; and who is precious to the saints too, more so than rubies, or any precious stones, or any thing or creature whatever; his person is precious, and so are his name, his blood, his righteousness, his truths, his ordinances, and his people." from Gill on E sword.
2. He is the Stone to be believed. When Christ is believed He is found, Precious. 1Pe_2:7 "Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner," Around the Tabernacle in the wilderness a high fence was erected so one from the outside could not see inside the Tabernacle. You would need to come inside by the way of the sin offering and the burnt offering. You can't know Christ from the outside. You can't stand on the outside and understand Him. You can only know Him by faith in Him as your Saviour
"Unto you which believe he is precious.... That is the value you put on Him. Luk 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
He is valued when you find your forgiveness in Him. In John Chapter Eight (8), The woman valued Christ because He forgave her but the Scribes and Pharisees did not. John 8:1-11.
You find mercy with the LORD when you stand before Him as a sinner. i.e. Joh 8:9 " And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst." i.e. 8:10b -11 Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
3. He is the Stone found sufficient. Isa 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Remember you don't find Him sufficient as in all things until you believe on Him for eternal life. He is sufficient but you can't know that from the outside looking in. You must enter in by faith.
The Father has declared Him sufficient. " Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation...." Isa. 28:16
You will find Him sufficient when you trust Him. ".....: he that believeth shall not make haste" Isa. 28:16b. Haste means the same as "confounded"
in 1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. The same as "ashamed" found in Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Haste, confounded and ashamed are words that give the believer confidence in Christ. He is the laid Stone, the Sure Foundation. You will never be ashamed that you trusted Christ. You will never be ashamed of putting your confidence in Him. Regardless of the storms of life He never changes: He is the Rock of Ages. He will never fail you in the day of trial. In the day of crisis you will not need to make haste (look for another Saviour) but rather rest in Him. You will never be disgraced by the faithfulness of Christ.
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