Stumbling Block

For in Scripture it says"See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame. Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,"and, "A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. I Peter 2:6-8

What causes unbelievers to stumble, brethren, regarding the gospel of Jesus Christ? What is it that turns them off? Especially the religious ones. You've probably been told it is your personal sins, or your lack of friendliness, or your seeming lack of concern for the unsaved. Not so. The stumbling block you've been nagged about for so long is Jesus Christ Himself. They simply refuse to believe in His perfect atonement. It is too simple. He was too common. Besides, it is rather gruesome, the Blood and all that. This is not the way it was supposed to be. He was supposed to be a great political and military hero, who would overthrow Rome and restore the Jews to their glory. He offered them eternal life and spiritual freedom instead, and He paid the full penalty for all their sins. That was not the package they were hoping for. Therefore, He cannot be the Promised One. Can He? All unbelievers stumble at unlimited atonement. People think they must earn salvation, prove their worthiness in some way. Knowing they cannot, or don't even really want to, they reject the free gift of eternal life provided by our sinless Lord. That cross we're supposed to carry? It is HIS cross. It is OFFENSIVE to the legalistic, religious unbeliever. There is ONE WAY of salvation, and the world hates and rejects that doctrine. That is the rock that makes them fall.