Jesus a stumbling stone!

Romans 9:30-33

Jesus a stumbling stone!  Have you viewed Jesus in that light?  I believe if I asked that question to those who go by the name Christian I would receive a strong no.  In fact, many would wonder if I were anti-Christ, or just ignorant.   But it is not I asking or making the statement, but the Holy Spirit speaking through the apostle Paul’s lips.  My prayer is that you ponder and pray over these three verses.

“What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written,

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;
 and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Could it be that many who go by the name Christian are making the same mistakes that Israel made, trying to attain God’s favor by performance?  One would be wise to pay attention to the following words of a wise person: Religion is about “doing” for God, and Christianity is about “done” for I’m sure you recall Jesus saying on the Cross, it is finished, it is all done, and it is a gift of faith that leads to freedom, and life in the full, now and eternally.

This song rings in my ears, for it tells about what Jesus did for you and me, the only Son of God took on flesh and became like His creation: “He paid a debt He did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay, I needed someone to wash my sins away. And now I sing a brand new song Amazing Grace Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay.”

If you have any doubt about who the apostle Paul is talking about you may find the information all through the Bible, but begin in the gospel of John 1 and you will find one of Jesus” many names: the Word, or as witnessed by John the Baptist “the Son of God”, or as the disciple Nathanael stated so correctly, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God!  You are the King of Israel!”  Or Nicodemus a ruler of the Jews coming to Jesus at night and stating; “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with Him.”  Now Nick was a man like all his Pharisee brothers with this exception, they were not seekers of truth and he was; they were keepers of the customs and only outwardly keepers of the law, to be seen by men. 

Now Jesus’ reply to Nicodemus surprised him and it may come as a shock to you, in that Jesus replied in this manner; “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  We find out later in the Scripture that Nick believed and by faith entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ.  So church member the question must be asked, have you stumbled over the rock of offense; or have you by faith believed and acted to confess your faith to others you come in contact with?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice