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“Stumble” and “Offense”

What do “stumble” and “offense” mean in Romans 9:32-33?

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Romans 9:32-33

32Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33As 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.”

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Introduction

This text must be studied in the context of Romans 9:10-33

There are many important subjects related to the study of this passage.

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Topics Covered

Sovereignty of God Plan of God for each individual life Predestination Hatred Complaining Purpose of God

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Topics Covered

Stumble – Am I responsible for weaker Christians who stumble over me?

Duty – What is my duty to those who stumble?

Offense – Must I give in to every person who claims to be offended at my actions or decisions?

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Romans 9:10

Isaac is the son of Abraham Rebecca and Isaac were expecting a child Twins were born – Jacob and Esau

And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac

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Romans 9:11

God made a decision– Not about saved and lost– Not about who was a better moral person– Not about who was good or bad

(for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls),

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Romans 9:11

God made a decision God’s decision was according to His purpose –

His plan for mankind God chose Jacob just as He chose Abraham and

Isaac God is sovereign. He has all power.

(for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls),

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Romans 9:12

God knew –– There were twins – no ultrasound needed– He knew both were males– He knew the younger would rise higher– He knew the older would serve the younger

it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.”

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Romans 9:13

Did God “hate” Esau? Vincent Word Studies – “This language sounds a bit harsh

to us. It is possible that the word “misew” did not always carry the full force of what we mean by “hate.”

“There is no doubt about God’s preference for Jacob and rejection of Esau, but …one hesitates to read into these words here the intense hatred that has always existed between the descendants of Jacob and Esau.

As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

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Romans 9:13

Did God “hate” Esau? Barnes Notes – This does not mean any

positive hatred; but that he had preferred Jacob, and had withheld from Esau those privileges and blessings which he had conferred on the posterity of Jacob.

God showed a preference for Jacob.

As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

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Romans 9:14

Who dares accuse God of being unrighteous?

Don’t go there. Don’t even think such a thing.

God is sovereign. He has the right to make a choice.

What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!

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Romans 9:14

REMEMBER: This is not eternal destiny– God could choose anyone for this work– It could have been you– God is selecting the lineage for Christ

There is nothing unrighteous about this

What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!

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Romans 9:15

God can choose Abraham out of all the people in the world

God can select Jacob over Esau God can show mercy and compassion God can refuse to extend mercy and compassion

For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”

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Romans 9:17

God can raise up a wicked king to work His plan God can set kings in power – remove them The issue is not – Good or bad, kind or mean The point is – Does he fit in the plan of God for

that country, that time, or for the world?

For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”

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Romans 9:18

This verse is a repeat of the statement in verse 15.

God can harden – or soften – according to His will

God knows how we will react to a situation

Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.

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Romans 9:18

Two people have a similar crisis in their lives

One will repent and turn to God Another will become bitter and reject God THE SAME SUN THAT MELTS WAX

HARDENS CLAY

Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.

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Romans 9:19

We must not find fault with God’s choice See verse 14 – Is God unrighteous? Neither should we resist the will of God God will accomplish His purpose and plan If you refuse, God will find another way What if Abraham had refused?

You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?”

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Romans 9:20

Job did not charge God foolishly when all his trouble came– Job 1:22 - In all this Job did not sin nor charge

God with wrong.

Who do we think we are to challenge, question, or charge God?

But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”

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Romans 9:20

Does a car ask why it was made a sedan instead of an SUV?

Does a TV question why it was not a computer?

Why do we think we have any right to question the choices of God?

But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”

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Romans 9:21

The potter takes a lump of clay– He has many choices– He can make a simple soup bowl– He can make a fancy museum display

Does the clay complain? Does the clay have any choice?

Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

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Romans 9:22

Matthew Henry – What ever God does, must be just. Wherein the holy, happy people of God differ from others, God’s grace alone makes them differ. In this preventing, effectual, distinguishing grace, He acts as a benefactor, whose grace is His own. None deserved it; so that those who are saved, must thank God only; and those who perish, must blame themselves only.

What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,

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Romans 9:23

We may not understand. But God has a purpose.

He makes choices – not based on goodness, beauty, or wealth.

God makes choices based on what will advance His plan and purposes.

and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,

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Romans 9:24

God chose us. God chose ME. God chose Gentiles as well as Jews. God loves all men, nations, tongues, and

tribes.

even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

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Romans 9:25-26

The Jews were not an “exclusive” race of people. God always planned to include all of us. God can call people who are not His, and make

them His.

25 As He says also in Hosea: “I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved.”

26 “And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them,‘You are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.”

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Romans 9:27

After all God did for Israel, most would reject Him.

They would not accept His plan for their salvation.

Only a “remnant” would remain faithful.

Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:“Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved.

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Romans 9:28-29

There were several times that the blood line was down to one person.– Esther – Esther 7:4– Joash – 2 Kings 11:2– Jesus – Matthew 2:16

28 For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth.”

29And as Isaiah said before: “Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We would have become like Sodom, And we would have been made like Gomorrah.”

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Romans 9:30-31

What is the message of all this? Some nations were given special protection,

rights, blessings But they did not follow God

30What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith;

31but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.

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Romans 9:30-31

Other nations (Gentiles) were not given any special blessings.

They chose to follow the path of obedience, righteousness and faith in God.

30What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith;

31but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.

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Why study all this?

The original question was about the words “stumble” and “offense” in the next verses.

All of the previous study is leading up to this point– God has a plan– Man does not always obey, follow the plan– What was intended to help becomes a

roadblock

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Romans 9:32

Why did Israel reject the Messiah? He was not what they expected –

– Ruler – army builder– Overthrow the Romans– They wanted physical deliverance– Jesus offered deliverance from sin

Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.

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Romans 9:32

Stumble – to strike the foot against, to trip, to strike a stone or other obstacle in the path

Jesus came to be a savior, redeemer The Jews saw his as an obstacle to their

ideas, plans, and notions The stone that could have lifted them up –

became the stone that caused them to trip.

Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.

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Romans 9:33

God predicted they would stumble They tripped

– Not because God made them fall– He did everything to protect them from falling

Offense – The small plate in a jaw trap where the bait is placed. When an animal touches the bait, the trap closes.

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.”

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Romans 9:33

Offense today– Means – “I don’t like it.”– Colors, styles, music, movies, hair– Used by ACLU – object to God in our lives

THIS IS NOT THE MEANING OF THE WORD HERE!

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.”

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Romans 9:33

Offend– People were “offended” at Jesus – They did not believe

his message.

– What was intended to help them – a stepping stone – became the rock on which they stumbled.

Was Jesus the “offense” in this verse?– Yes – because the misunderstood his purpose

– To us – when we fail to see the purpose of God

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.”

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Lessons from Romans 9

Sovereignty of God God has a plan

– Jacob and Esau – 10-14– Pharaoh – 17-19– Don’t blame God – 20-08

Predestination Why did the Jews reject Jesus?

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Discuss:

Why did the Jews reject Jesus? Is Jesus to blame for their stumbling? Can we be a cause for others to stumble? What is my duty if someone stumbles over

me (my example)?

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What is my duty if someone stumbles over me (my example)? 1 Corinthians 8:9 - But beware lest somehow this

liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.– Be aware of the danger

– V. 13 - Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

– Romans 14:21 - It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak

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Warning!

Today people use these verses to control what they do not like

I am offended at your tie – so you can’t ever wear that tie again. WRONG!

If I cause a soul to be lost because of my actions, I am wrong.

If others just don’t like my choices – they have a problem.