The Book of Romans ~ Lesson Twenty-One

"A Tried Stone"

Romans 9:30-33 (NLT) What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place. But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said,
  
 “I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble,
      a rock that makes them fall.
   But anyone who trusts in him
      will never be disgraced.”


The Jews were and are the chosen people of God. Even though they had the Law and wanted a relationship with God, they failed. They failed as you and I fail. We are all sinners. The Law was meant to draw men toward God but because man is failable they focused on the Law and not the reason behind the Law so when the Messiah did come their hearts and minds were not open to see Him. Some did recognize Jesus when He came to earth but many of them refused Him. Because of this when Jesus came they stumbled. They couldn't get over Him and accept Him as the Son of God.

What is this "stone" the Scriptures talk about? Paul quoted this verse from Isaiah 8:14. The Stone is the Messiah and the Messiah is Jesus. Throughout the Bible Jesus is called The Rock, The Stone, The Stumbling Block. Let's look at some of these verses:

1 Samuel 2:2 (NLT) No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.


Psalm 18:30-32 (NLT) God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock? God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect.


Psalm 62:5-7 (NLT) Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.


Psalm 95:1-3 (NLT) Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods.

I could go on and on. Jesus, who is God, is the Rock. The problem comes when those who don't believe that He is God or even exists stumble upon Him. Their spirits are searching for God, but their minds, the decision-making part of them, can't get over their unbelief. For those who do come to believe in Jesus, they don't rely on themselves, but by faith choose to believe that Jesus is God. They no longer stumble on Him, they stand upon Him. He becomes their Rock, their solid foundation that holds them up.

Where are you in this process of belief versus unbelief? Are you standing on the Rock or do you stumble on Him? Christ the Solid Rock wants you to believe in Him and trust Him because He loves you beyond all reason.

1 Peter 2:4-8 (NLT) You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.
   And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” And,
 “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.”
   They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.

What does "Cornerstone" mean? Why do the builders reject it? "In ancient times the cornerstone was the stone at the corner of two walls that united them. It was the visible corner of the foundation of the building and the starting point of all future building above the foundation. It was the most costly stone because of its beauty and strength. It was also the largest, most solid and carefully constructed stone.
To cast aside the cornerstone would be to resist any future building on that foundation." bible-history.com

Jesus is Who connects God and man. He rejoins us with God into a right relationship with Him. Those of the Jewish faith who come to Jesus, are joined from the Old Covenant (The Law) to the New Covenant (belief in Jesus). Those who are gentiles have been asked to join in this New Covenant through faith in Christ. Anyone who builds on Jesus as the foundation for their lives will not fall. Those who don't build on shifting sand.

Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT) “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

Jesus is the only sure foundation. Who or what do place your faith in? We all place our faith in something. Will your foundation hold you up? Think about what your life is based on. Is it sure and solid? Does it see you safely into eternity? During this Christmas season take the time to think about the foundation of your life and eternity. Jesus is the only sure foundation.

"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."Isaiah 28:16 (KJV)