*CHRIST — THE STUMBLING BLOCK TO THE JEWS* > But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. > 1 Corinthians 1:23–25 --- 🕊️ Paul’s Message and the Offense of the Gospel Paul, a servant of God, together with all witnesses of the Living God, preached the Word that greatly offended the Jews — the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was hung upon a tree for the lost. The Jews are those who refuse to accept the Word of Faith and the Grace of God; they reject the Son as the Messiah. They cling to the Law of Moses without true understanding. Moses preached about faith and grace through the Messiah, Christ. In his writings, Moses spoke of Christ: > “If you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?” (John 5:46–47) --- 📖 The Stumbling Block The Jews insist that salvation comes through keeping the Law of Moses — avoiding unclean foods, observing feasts like Passover — yet all these things were written concerning Christ, who fulfills the Scriptures (Matthew 5:17). In their own way of righteousness, God placed a stumbling block — Christ Himself — to expose and destroy their false doctrine. > “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” Jesus replied, “Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:12–14) --- 🐍 Children of the Serpent The Pharisees and Sadducees were called brood of vipers: > “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Matthew 3:7) That same serpent appeared to Eve (Genesis 3:1) and is revealed again in Revelation 12:9 as Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. Jesus said to the Jews: > “You are of your father the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.” (John 8:44) The children of Satan — the serpent — are those who stumble at the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the stumbling block to the lost. --- ⚠️ The Leaven of False Doctrine The Jews, the Pharisees, and Sadducees teach doctrines that are dead and without the Spirit of God — pure lies from Satan (John 8:44). > “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that He was not speaking of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Matthew 16:11–12) They sit on Moses’ seat (Matthew 23:1–2), but they have corrupted the Gospel. Their teachings have become poison — the foundation of what many call Christianity, which is deception before God. --- 💔 Israel’s Lost Zeal Paul speaks of his brothers, the Israelites: > “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they, being ignorant of God’s righteousness, sought to establish their own righteousness and did not submit to the righteousness of God.” (Romans 10:1–3) They are zealous but blind — deceived by Satan, the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). Their blindness can only be removed in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:14–16). --- 🔥 The Pit of Destruction Those who reject the Gospel are blind, led by Satan, the great blind leader — and all will fall into the pit. > “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:14–15) --- 💖 The Love and Mercy of God Listen, you who stumble at the Gospel of Jesus Christ — God the Father is merciful and loving. He gave His Son so that you might be saved through Him. > “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) > “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24) This Word is preached so that you may turn to the Living God and your souls be saved through faith in Jesus Christ. Amen. 🌱 *Let’s Grow Together in Faith, Wisdom, and the Grace of Jesus Christ* 👉 *Join & follow us on our social platforms now:* *WhatsApp* 1. *Channel – Shoko RaMwari *: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAU9dB1t90jjJSstw3E 2. *Channel – English*: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaEKxaVG3R3exEJg2b1D 3. *Group – Shona*: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HG0p8rCPnVnBLyWs1WdVfO *Facebook* 4. *Group – English & Shona*: https://www.facebook.com/groups/249458357101873/ 5. *Page*: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CJVbv8NXD