"Rom 9:33 As it is written, "Look! I am placing a stone in Zion that people will stumble over and a large rock that will make them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be ashamed."
What EXACTLY is this stone sposed 2b, and why do people stumble on it?
2007-10-05 19:59:48 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Why do people "stumble on it"
2007-10-05 20:07:38 · update #1
Doesn't the rock then represent not Jesus directly but rather "the realization that all you have to do for salvation is believe in Jesus"
Doesnt that fit in to what Jesus said to Peter also?
2007-10-05 20:23:08 · update #2
"As it is written" indicates this verse is referring to another from the Old Testament.
Ps 118:22 states "The stone which the builders refused is become the head of the corner"
Is 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.
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Jesus is the Rock...the chief corner stone and the church us built upon Jesus, not Peter as many are taught.
People stumble on it because Jesus told us that in order to be saved, all we need to do is trust HIM. People however want to "earn' their salvation and we often think we deserve to be saved because of how good we are. Yet even all of our good works are as filthy rags to God. It is only by accepting Jesus that we are made righteous. This is the gospel...Jesus died, was buried and rose again and it is offensive to many who think WE are the important ones.
2007-10-05 20:17:23 · answer #1 · answered by Ken 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Jesusolitors say the stone is Jesus. But they say everything the Bible talks about is "JESUS!".
Maybe you need to get clear on what Zion is. Is it a place, or a people, or what? Zion is the Kingdom, maybe. But the Kingdom is within, as Jesus tells us.
What stone is within you that would make you fall?
How many times does the Bible, in many of the stories talk of the hard hearted people. Hearts like a stone. Stiffnecked people. And then, Simon being called a Rock (Peter) by Jesus.
What is the stone in Zion? You are your own stone. Your attachment to your beliefs and the things you value is the hardness you will fall over.
Soften your heart, OPEN your heart. Be willing to change your mind. People used to think with their hearts in the old days. Just a change in the semantics.)
2007-10-05 20:20:02 · answer #2 · answered by bahbdorje 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What a wonderful prophecy!
The cornerstone is Jesus. There are more verses about that, but here's the rub! God was prophesying that the Jews would not believe. The 'builders' rejected the cornerstone.
That's why the Jews as a people or nation do not believe that the Messiah was Jesus, God told them it would happen, He was pissed at them because they would consistently follow after false gods.
This is the verse:
Isaiah 28:16
So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.
Romans 9 is telling us that not all Israel are the sons of Abraham. Only a remnant will be saved. As with all people, only a remnant will be saved. God only wants a few of every people. The rest are not wanted by Him.
As Paul stated:
18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
So what a great gift that God has given me and the people who He wants. It's not a cheap gift, but one of eternal life! Anyone who believes will be saved. God makes it possible, even the desire comes from Him.
John 6
44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me."
EDIT: "Why do people stumble on it?"
Because they are incredulous about it. "How can this be?!" They are quoted as saying. They are confounded by the fantasicness of it. A man whose name means, "God is with us" is really God, and he fulfills umpteen prophecies, make the religious Jews angry, and fulfills the prophecies concerning the way he dies. To top that off, the Old Testament is FULL of things about him and they STILL reject it. They in essence stumble over him, they don't know what to do with it, even as the world runs with the declaration!
You are asking some good questions!
2007-10-05 20:14:13 · answer #3 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Paul is quoting from both Isaiah 8:14 and Isaiah 28:16. A look at Isa 8:13-14 reveals that the stone is none other than the Lord Himself. In the first passage it says he is a Rock that will make them fall. In the second passage it says the one who believes in the cornerstone will not be shaken.
The meaning of it is this. Paul is talking about people who believed that by obeying the law better than anyone else (or so they think) they can achieve righteousness. But the message of Jesus is that his grace is a free gift to all sinners who turn to Him. It does not matter if they were prostitutes or tax collectors or worse. God's grace is a stumbling block to the self-righteous because their so-called superiority is striped from them. So they resent Jesus instead of loving him. Hence, they stumble and fall.
But to those who accept His gift Jesus is their refuge and strength. In him they will not be disappointed. So Jesus is good news to some, but bad news to others.
2007-10-05 20:18:32 · answer #4 · answered by out of the grey 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is the Rock of Ages, but a stumbling block for unbelievers...
Matthew 21:42
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
1 Corinthians 10:4
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
2007-10-05 22:53:40 · answer #5 · answered by Mikey 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus
... The 2 verses from Isaiah quoted here seem to have been used by the early Christians to demonstrate that Jesus was Messiah in contrast to the misconceptions of the Jews looking for an earth-based kingdom.
... people stumble by not recognizing the nature of the kingdom.
2007-10-05 20:02:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jesus. He is also called the Cornerstone that th builders left off.
He is also the stone in the Book of Daniel that knocked over the statue representing all the empires of man.
Throoughout Scripture, Jesus is decribed as a Stone or Rock.
2007-10-05 20:05:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Paul is speaking about Jews and using words from the Jewish prophet Isaiah. Jesus is the stumbling block for Jews who choose not believe that He is the fulfillment of the law. (First covenent between God and Hebrew)
2007-10-05 20:19:22 · answer #8 · answered by Aletheia 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To those that don't believe in Christ or in the salvation He offers, Christ has become a stumbling block. Like a hindrance to them. The teachings of Christ differ from what they believe and they don't want to hear about it. Christ (in this case the stone) gets in their way. But to those that accept Christ and all that He offers will not stumble and be put to shame.
2007-10-05 20:10:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Greetings,
Jesus is the stone.he will cause people to stumble and fall.Whoever has trust that stone made him realize that whatever he was wrong and follow the right way.All the wrongs will be forgiven and he will never be put to shame.
Thats Our Lord.
praise you Jesus.
2007-10-05 20:27:51 · answer #10 · answered by Nick Carter 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋