Stumbling Block or Building Block?

"Then He said to the disciples, 'It is impossible that no offenses (stumbling blocks) should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!  It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.' "(cause one of these little ones to stumble) (Luke 17:1,2)

" 'Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.' Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone', and 'a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense'. They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed." (1 Peter 1:6-8) Their stumbling causes others to stumble. They "transgress (or go ahead) and do not abide in the doctrine of Christ (they do not) have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son". (2 John v.9) 

Why would it be better for the offender to physically die than to cause one of these little ones to stumble? It derails the development of a young believer. Their offense is a direct rejection of the chief cornerstone; it is disobedience "to the word, to which they ALSO were appointed". Any builder must be devoted to obedience to the word.

"Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins (transgressing the doctrine of Christ), rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him." (Luke 17:3,4) Remember, after Jesus death, resurrection, and taking away to the Father, the original disciples, other than Judas, were the builders. Jesus taught them and His words teach us now.

“You Are Not Also One Of This Man’s Disciples, Are You?”

"And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known by the high priest, AND WENT WITH JESUS into the courtyard of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door OUTSIDE. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, 'You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?' " (John 18:15-17)

This discussion is in no way an attempt to disparage Peter; we all should be as quick to repent as he was. But, these words are written for our admonishment. I am convinced that Peter would agree. You see, the servant girl who kept the door did not ask John the same question she did Peter. Why? Because she recognized discipleship through John's proximity to Jesus.

"Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. UNTIL NOW YOU HAVE ASKED NOTHING IN MY NAME. ASK, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE, THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL." 

(John 16:22-24)

But some of the disciples (James and John) had asked to sit at "on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory". "And when the other ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John." (Mark 10:35-45)

"Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." (James 4:1-3)

"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory that You gave Me I have given to them, that they may be one just as We are one. I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”  (John 17:20-23)

It seems, up to that time, Peter had a warrior outlook of God's Kingdom. When he saw Jesus being led away quietly, it shook him significantly. The servant girl's question was surely condemning. But John had learned this is a kingdom of servants; he quietly went where his Master led him, by God's grace, as Peter would later. Asking the Father, in His name, renders to that one a discipleship that other servants notice, and the world as well.

How Is A Purchased Possession Redeemed?

"In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who (or which) is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."(Ephesians 1:11-14)

In the index, 'guarantee' (v.14) is noted as 'a down payment', or 'earnest'.

earnest (noun) - a portion of something, given or done in advance as pledge of the remainder; anything that gives pledge, promise, or indication of what is to follow (Webster's)

Most have purchased something with a down payment. Expensive things (cars, houses, etc.) are usually attained this way. When the buyer comes to agreement with the current owner, a down payment is made as an indicator of the ability to complete the purchasing of the item. From that point, payments are made until the redemption is complete.

Paul states that the Ephesian saints "have faith in the Lord Jesus and love for all the saints" (v.15). They have trusted in Christ, having heard the word of truth, the gospel of salvation; in whom having believed were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. These are blessed building blocks, yet not the completion of the work.

Paul states, "WE have obtained an inheritance, that WE who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory". YOU have received the guarantee by the Holy Spirit, the earnest, the down payment and are well positioned to obtain what Paul knows: the mystery of Christ; the fellowship of the mystery.

The guarantee empowers YOU to "run in such a way that you may obtain it". (1 Corinthians 9:24)