In our last session, Paul said: “It is not that the Word of God has taken no effect.” (Romans 9:6) He was considering the great promises and covenant that God had made with people in Israel and the numbers who failed to believe and receive the promise of God. They were attempting to obtain righteousness before God by obedience to law, but they miserably failed. They were committed to a righteousness that comes by works but failed and stumbled over the righteousness that is attained by faith in Christ. God is faithful to His word, purposes, and promises and will faithfully do what He has said. When Israel was entering into the Promised Land, Balak wanted Baalam to curse God’s chosen people. When Baalam came to prophesy and looked upon the vast numbers of Israel, the Lord would only allow him to prophesy a blessing. Then Baalam told Balak what God said.
Numbers 23:19 NLT God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human, so He does not change His mind. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through?
The nature and character of God is represented in the things He says and does.
Since God is unchangeable in every aspect of His being, His every thought, word, and action complies with His being and nature. When we consider His word, it is good to remember that God is absolutely true to every aspect of His being and nature. No word that He has ever spoken has ever failed. When God makes a promise to bless, He will always do what He says.
When Solomon had finished praying and blessing God’s people, he spoke of God’s faithfulness.
1 Kings 8:56 NKJV Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses.
Each one of us must come to this same conclusion about God’s Word and promise.
Every promise of God will be fulfilled and no promise of God will ever fail. After making the statement that, “It is not as though God’s Word has failed,” the Apostle Paul turned his focus to the numbers of Gentiles who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 9:25-26 NLT Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea, “Those who were not my people, I will now call my people. And I will love those whom I did not love before.” And, “Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’ ”
Romans 9:30-33 AMP What shall we say then? That Gentiles who did not follow after righteousness [who did not seek salvation by right relationship to God] have attained it by faith [a righteousness imputed by God, based on and produced by faith], Whereas Israel, though ever in pursuit of a law [for the securing] of righteousness (right standing with God), actually did not succeed in fulfilling the Law. For what reason? Because [they pursued it] not through faith, relying [instead] on the merit of their works [they did not depend on faith but on what they could do]. They have stumbled over the Stumbling Stone. As it is written, Behold I am laying in Zion a Stone that will make men stumble, a Rock that will make them fall; but he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall not be put to shame nor be disappointed in his expectations.
In the Old Testament prophets and in the early church, several references are made to the Messiah being a “stone, rock, or cornerstone.”
Psalm 118:22 NKJV The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
Isaiah 28:16 AMP Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone) will not be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic].
Daniel prophesied about the Stone that was cut out of the mountain without hands.
He said, “That Stone became a great mountain and filled all the earth,” (Daniel 2:34-35, 2:44-45). This refers to the kingdom that God will set up which will never be destroyed.
Jesus was the first in the New Testament to remind every one that He was the “stone the builders rejected” and “the Cornerstone.”
Luke 20:17-18 NLT Jesus looked at them and said, “Then what does this Scripture mean? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.”
Upon saying this, the chief priest and Pharisees attempted to lay hands on Jesus to destroy Him.
Now Paul talks about belief, faith and trust in Christ.
Romans 9:33 NKJV 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.”
Throughout the Bible, God progressively revealed this message of belief, faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
Hosea, the Old Testament prophet, said: Hosea 2:23 NIV I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’ I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.’
When Simon Peter went to Cornelius’ household, he declared Christ Jesus to them.
In Acts 10:34-35 He started his message with the words: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”
In Acts 10:43 NIV, at the end of this message, Peter said, “All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
The word “believes” in the original language indicates more than what is understood by the English word “believe.” “Believe” means to commit to, trust in, have confidence in, have conviction and trust in the inner man (spiritual faith), to have intellectual faith, to have complete trust and reliance.
John said the same thing.
1 John 5:1 AMP EVERYONE WHO believes (adheres to, trusts, and relies on the fact) that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah) is a born-again child of God; and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him (His offspring).
Those who truly “believe in Jesus Christ” find a sure foundation.
Romans 9:33 AMP As it is written, Behold I am laying in Zion a Stone that will make men stumble, a Rock that will make them fall; but he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall not be put to shame nor be disappointed in his expectations.
So what does it mean to believe in, adhere to, trust in, and rely on Jesus Christ?
The illustration that is repeated throughout Biblical prophecy gives two possibilities. A person will either “stumble over Christ and fall” or “they will believe and be established” (not be put to shame nor be disappointed). Follow this analogy.
Jesus Christ is the Stone, the Chief Cornerstone, that believers find stability, security and foundation in or upon.
Ephesians 2:19-22 AMP Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God’s own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God’s [own] household. You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone. In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit.
This message of faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation for God’s people.
In Christ Jesus we find the strength, substance and structure that enables us to stand, grow and increase in the glory of God. When we accept Christ by faith or belief, we chose Him as the foundation for our lives.
1 Peter 2:4-5 AMP Come to Him then, to that Living Stone which men tried and threw away, but which is chosen and precious in God’s sight. Come and, like living stones, be yourselves built into a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.
How do we come to Christ?
This is an action of faith and trust in Christ as our Savior. We chose to accept what God the Father has provided that gives us forgiveness, righteousness and acceptance.
1 Peter 2:6-8 AMP For thus it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen, precious chief Cornerstone, and he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall never be disappointed or put to shame. To you then who believe (who adhere to, trust in, and rely on Him) is the preciousness; but for those who disbelieve [it is true], The [very] Stone which the builders rejected has become the main Cornerstone, And, A Stone that will cause stumbling and a Rock that will give [men] offense; they stumble because they disobey and disbelieve [God’s] Word, as those [who reject Him] were destined (appointed) to do.
Do you see how impossible it is to ignore Jesus Christ?
We must either believe, trust and have faith in Him, or disbelieve, reject, and stumble over Christ. Those who believe find new life and purpose in Christ. Those who do not believe are put to shame.
1 Peter 2:9-10 NIV84 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
In Romans chapters 9-11, Paul addressed Israel’s rejection of Jesus Christ.
Many were attempting to come to God without accepting Christ Jesus. They were trying to “establish their own righteousness” by their personal works, (Romans 10:3). The Gospel of Jesus Christ presents a message of righteousness for everyone who believes in Christ, (Romans 10:4). Through Christ, everyone who believes is made to be the righteousness of God, (Romans 3:22). This Word of faith presents hope and salvation to everyone who believes in Christ.
Romans 10:8-13 NIV But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
These verses give the process of our faith and salvation in Christ.
From the heart, we must believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and we confess that fact with our mouth. There is more to this than just saying, “Jesus is Lord.” This is a statement of heartfelt “belief, faith and trust” in Jesus as Lord. He is the Foundation of our hope and life. He is the Rock of our salvation and eternal life. He is our righteousness.
According to Scripture, God the Father provided the Chief Cornerstone.
God made it possible for us to have this great salvation. If we accept, believe and trust in Jesus Christ and put our full faith and reliance in Him, we will be saved. If we reject God’s gift (Jesus Christ our Savior), we will stumble and be disappointed when we stand before God. Your background and heritage cannot prevent you from receiving this great salvation.
If you believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be saved and you will not be ashamed when you stand before God.
Jesus empowers a sustainable life of victory and hope. We have been designed to be an intimately connected body that is established and thriving on the person, life and victory of Jesus Christ.