Made not to Stumble

“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues: yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, 'Where are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see me no more; of judgement, because the ruler of this world is judged. "

(John 16:1-11 NKJV)

'And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble." '(Mark 4:13,14;16,17 NKJV)

Simply put, righteousness is what Jesus did: EVERYTHING that He did! Sin is unawareness of, ignorance of or the departure from what He did. The Helper, the Spirit of truth, convinces those who have begun to believe of these things yet have stumbled in one way or another. The ruler of this world is judged because, as Jesus said, 'he has nothing in Me'. So, also, will those be judged who are persuaded by that 'ruler'. Therefore, be convinced by the Helper, the Spirit of truth, regarding the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you are willing and obedient, you will be made not to stumble as you experience tribulation/persecution, recognizing and rejoicing in the hope of His calling.