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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.”<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n To the Jews Jesus is merely a stumbling stone in the pathway of life. To Christians He is a solid rock of salvation.<\/p>\n \u201cLay<\/span>\u201d is from the Greek word tith\u0113mi<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto set in place\u201d or \u201cto lay something down.\u201d<\/p>\n The word \u201cstone<\/span>\u201d is from lithos<\/em><\/span>, which refers to a stone (anything from the size of a pebble to the size of a millstone or a block of a building).<\/p>\n \u201cRock<\/span>,\u201d on the other hand, is from petra<\/em><\/span>, which refers to \u201ca huge mass of rock like a rock outcropping of a mountain.\u201d<\/p>\n The Apostle Paul was very well versed in the Law and the Prophets. He studied them under Gamaliel, one of the greatest rabbinical teachers of his day. As a result, he had a thorough understanding of what we now call the Old Testament. Here\u2019s what he told the Israelites of his time (after He was saved):<\/p>\n I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. (Acts 22:3<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n In the current verse Paul not only demonstrates his knowledge of what is written in the Old Testament but also what is meant by these writings. He does this by quoting two separate verses and combining them in a manner that reveals the intent of both passages. The first verse quoted is Isaiah 8:14<\/strong><\/span>, which reads:<\/p>\n He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.<\/span><\/p>\n The second verse quoted is Isaiah 28:16<\/strong><\/span>, which reads:<\/p>\n 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.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The stone which Isaiah referred to is the Messiah, the Christ. He is the chief cornerstone upon which the church is built. But the Israelites rejected their Messiah and, as a result, He has become a stumbling stone to them and a huge rock of offence. To the Jews of Paul\u2019s day (and the Jews of our day) Jesus was an imposter who was executed for His crimes. To them He was simply a pebble or a small rock, but to God He is a huge, massive, solid rock of salvation. So, instead of believing on the rock of salvation and receiving God\u2019s imputed righteousness, they continue to try to earn their own righteousness by obeying all the precepts and commandments in the Law and, as a result, miss out on righteousness completely.<\/p>\n Are you righteous, my friend? If so, was that righteousness granted to you by God\u2019s choice alone or do you believe that you earned it by doing something?<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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