![\"\"](\"..\/..\/Banner-MOG-60.gif\" "\\"Ministry")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
1 Peter 2:8<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n and “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n Truth to Learn<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Those who reject God\u2019s call are condemned because they don\u2019t believe.<\/p>\n Behind the Words<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The word translated \u201cstone<\/span>\u201d is lithos<\/span><\/em>, which is a primary word that refers to any stone independent of size, whereas the word translated \u201crock\u201d is from the Greek word petra<\/span><\/em>, meaning \u201ca mass of rock\u201d or \u201ca massive rock.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStumbling<\/span>\u201d is translated from proskommatos<\/span><\/em>, which is made up of pros<\/span><\/em>, meaning \u201cto, toward, or against\u201d and a form of kopt\u014d<\/span><\/em>, meaning \u201cto cut\u201d or \u201cto strike.\u201d So, literally this word means \u201cto strike against,\u201d that is, \u201cto stub\u201d or \u201cto stumble.\u201d<\/p>\n The word translated \u201coffense<\/span>\u201d is the Greek word scandalon<\/span><\/em>. It literally means \u201ca trap stick\u201d, that is, a stick which is bated and used to trap or snare an animal. This word has come to mean \u201can occasion to fall\u201d or \u201can offense.\u201d<\/p>\n The word \u201cdisobedient<\/span>\u201d is translated from apeithe\u014d<\/span><\/em>, which we looked at in the previous verse. It means \u201cdisbelieving\u201d or \u201cbeing disobedient.\u201d<\/p>\n Finally, the word \u201cappointed<\/span>\u201d is from a form of tith\u0113mi<\/span><\/em> which means \u201cto place\u201d, \u201cto put\u201d, or \u201cto appoint.\u201d<\/p>\n Meaning Explained<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Not only has Christ become the most important foundation stone upon which Christians and the church as a whole are built, but He has become a different kind of stone for those who reject Him.<\/p>\n Peter is saying that Christ has become a firm cornerstone to believers but to those who stub themselves on the Word (that is, they don\u2019t believe the simple message contained in the Bible), He is a stubbing stone and a massive rock that traps. The reason they stub themselves is because they do not believe, to which condition they were appointed (because they are not among the chosen ones). This interpretation has been hotly debated for centuries but those who interpret the Bible literally understand it to be consistent with the doctrine of election.<\/p>\n Now, lest we get the wrong idea from what Peter is saying, these who do not believe are condemned because they are disobedient. They are not disobedient because they are condemned. That is, God does not \u201ccause\u201d them to be disobedient; He simply judges them for their disobedience.<\/p>\n And \u2026 God does not hide the truth from these disobedient ones, but Satan does:<\/p>\n whose minds the god of this age <\/span>[Satan] has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.<\/span> (2Corinthians 4:4<\/span><\/strong>)<\/p>\n Application<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Those who do not believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that He died on the cross to pay for their sins, are condemned for their disobedience. They are disobedient by their very nature (sin nature), not because God caused them to be disobedient. They are personally responsible for their sins, just as we are. The difference is that we have accepted Jesus\u2019 payment for our sins and they haven\u2019t.<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2008 Will Krause. All rights reserved.<\/span><\/p>\n – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –<\/p>\n <\/span>If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, you can call the church phone (618) 614-3070 and leave a message telling us your name and e-mail address or you can send an e-mail to:![\"signature\"](\"..\/..\/signature.gif\")
<\/p>\n![\"e-mail](\"..\/..\/Will_e-mail.gif\")
<\/p>\n