Behold, I lay in Sion a Stumbling Stone and Rock of Offence ... Believe on Jesus, The Lamb of God For He Shall Save His People From Their Sins - Part 1458

"What shall we say then? That the Gentiles which followed not after righteousness have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the Law. For they stumbled at the stumbling stone. As it is written, "Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offence; and whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed." (Romans 9:30-33)

"And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient: where unto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." (1 Peter 2:8-10)

"And He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem." (Isaiah 8:14)

In other words, the stumbling stone was Jesus. The rock of offence -- even to them which stumble at the Word (being disobedient, where unto also they were appointed) is the Name of Jesus. Apostle Paul in Romans 4 elaborates:

"What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Now to him that works is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that works not, but believes on Him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputes righteousness without works, saying, "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." (Romans 4:1-8)

And then comes the critical question.

"Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision?" (Romans 4:9-10)

Remember, in the scriptures, the "circumcision" refers to the Israelites originally chosen and set aside for the Lord. To be His people. But these (as described by the prophet Hosea) rejected Him, preferring instead to chase after their own gods, even when God Almighty provided them with the fruits wherein to eat and to drink.

"For their mother hath played the harlot; she that conceived them hath done shamefully; for she said, "I will go after my lovers, that give [me] my bread, and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil, and my drink ... and she shall follow after her lovers , but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them, then to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now." (Hosea 2:1-7)

In other words, "that thou, Israel play the harlot ..." (Hosea 4:15)

This is why the answer regarding Abraham can only be -- No, "not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision." (Romans 4:10)

"And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also. And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the Law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect. Because the Law works wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the Law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all. (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before Him whom he believed, even God, who quickens the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were ... who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, "So shall thy seed be." (Romans 4:11-18)

"And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness." (Romans 4:19-21)

Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him, but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." (Romans 4:22-25)

Jesus said to Zacchaeus, "This day is salvation come to this house, for as much as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:9-10)

The Word that was with God and was God was now made flesh. (John 1:1-18) "He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)

Even though God commended His love toward us, in that, while we yet sinners Christ died for us, His chosen people rejected Jesus. (Romans 5:8) But to us who have believed on Jesus by faith, we can joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, because by Him we have now received the atonement. (Romans 5:11) We who were not a people have now become His people - those who are dead indeed unto sin, and now alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:11)

Those who believe in the righteousness of God through faith.

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (II Corinthians 4:6)

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place." (II Corinthians 2:15)

His Name is JESUS and He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23)

This is why we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness, but unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (I Corinthians 1:22-24)

Stand in the offering plate.