Christ, The Stumblingstone
“Unto the Jews a stumblingblock”, and, “Unto the wisdom of the world foolishness”. How true is the statement in l Peter 2:7-8, “Unto you therefore who believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the Stone which the builders rejected, the Same is made the Head of the corner, And a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient; whereunto also they were appointed.”
This is stated also in Romans 9:32-33, “Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that Stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a Stumblingstone and Rock of offense; and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.”
Worldly wise men, and self‑righteous men have always stumbled at the virgin birth of the Son of God. The great mystery and miracle of the incarnation is too much for the wisdom of this world. Even religious leaders today repudiate it, because it cannot be explained within the realm of natural science. This is the spirit of antichrist that was in the world before the last of the Apostles died. The Christianized agnostics in the assemblies today do not care for the fellowship of the members of the Body of Christ whom they call Fundamentalists. We say to those who DO believe in this all important doctrine, that is the Deity of Christ, be warned against fellowshipping or supporting the pseudo Christians who deny the Deity of the Son of God. 2 John 10-11. Then 1 John 2:22 says, “Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ. He is antichrist.”
Christ was in the world and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. This is the testimony of the Holy Spirit in John 1:10. And, because the rulers, spiritual and physical, of this world knew not the eternal purpose of God in Christ, they crucified the LORD of Glory. 1 Corinthians 2:8. “They killed the Prince of Life.” Acts 3:14-15.
To the religions self righteous Jews on earth, when Christ was in their midst...their Messiah said, “do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, Moses, in whom ye trust: For had Ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me, for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings how shall ye believe My words?” John 5:45-47.
Note this terrible indictment against the Jewish leaders, “But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him. That the saying of Isaiah, the prophet, might be fulfilled, which he spake, ‘Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?’” John 12:37-38. “The Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that He was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.” John 9:22. (The Jews, often mentioned in the Gospels are not to be taken for the everyday common man of Israel. In first century Palestine there was no separation between church and state. The priests at the temple in Jerusalem not only officiated over the religious life of the Jews, they were also rulers and judges. These along with the Sadducees, were what is referenced as The Jews)
The Jews would not believe their own Scriptures. They claimed to believe Moses, but they did not. Just as the Modernists claim to believe Christ; but they do not. The Jews saw Christ feed five thousand people with one scanty meal; they saw Him calm the stormy sea; they saw Him raise Lazarus from the dead; they acknowledged that He was a Teacher come from God; that He spoke as never men spake; that He might be John the Baptist raised front the dead or some old testament prophet reincarnated; but when Christ made Himself equal with God, they took up stones to kill Him John 10:28-35. Then Christ added, “they hated Me without a cause."
WHO HATH BELIEVED OUR REPORT?
That was a very important question, “Who hath believed our report?” And the other question asked with it, “To whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed?”
The answer to this last question is given in the language of Christ recorded in Matthew 11:25-27, “Thou hast hid these things from the wise and the prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes; Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight. And no man knoweth the Son, but the Father.”
What a wonderful truth this is! AND, this still seemeth good unto the Father. When Simon made the great confession to the Messiah “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living, God,” The Son of God said a most significant thing, “BLESSED ART THOU...FLESH AND BLOOD HATH NOT REVEALED THIS UNTO THEE. BUT MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.” Matthew 16:16-19. In line with this great truth, the Apostle Paul wrote years later, “no man can say that Jesus is LORD except by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:3.
Later on in this message series we shall refer to another Mystery of Christ mentioned in Ephesians 3:4, and again we shall ask the question “who hath believed our report, and, to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” In Ephesians 1:16-19, we learn that the same God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ gives the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to all members of the Body of Christ who really desire to know the deep things of God. “For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10.
But LOOK, millions of members of the Body of Christ, who believe the report concerning. the virgin birth and eternal Deity of the LORD Jesus Christ, do NOT believe the LORD’s report concerning “the Mystery of Christ” in Ephesians 3:1-11. Why? One reason is because the eyes of their understanding have not been enlightened in accordance with Ephesians 1:18. This Mystery is, to the great majority of redeemed saints, “The Mysterious Mystery.” Its enemies in the assemblies are many, and even some fundamentalists call it divisive teaching, because they have not received the Spirit of revelation. Like the Jews in the days of Christ, they have agreed that they will put out of the synagogue any who confess and teach that the risen LORD revealed a Mystery to the Apostle Paul different from the message and program which He gave to the twelve Apostles. This, right here, is THE cause of all of the schisms and divisions in the Body of Christ today, because the eyes of their understanding have not been enlightened in accordance with Ephesians 1:18.
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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry
Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)
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