5
בנה עלי ויקף ראש ותלאה׃
Stone
Stones in the Bible in general represent truths, or things we know concerning the Lord and what He wants from us and for us in life. This is why the people of Israel built altars of stone, and is also why stoning was a principal form of capital punishment (using truth to destroy falsity, or in the negative sense using falsity to destroy truth). It is also why precious stones are described in such detail on Aaron's breastplate and ephod, and also in the New Jerusalem in Revelation; precious stones represent true ideas directly from the Lord with the various colors showing various forms of love. Stones are not alone in representing truth, of course -- it sometimes seems that almost everything in the Bible represents either true ideas or desires for good. But that makes sense, since our thoughts and our desires together are everything we are in life, and the interplay between them is what life is all about. The many ways they are represented in the Bible reflect the incredible variety in our feelings and thoughts, though we can only distantly understand how those representations work. In the case of stones, in their weight, strength and permanence they tend to represent true ideas that come from a desire for good, the understanding we can have if we are truly good and loving -- and in the highest sense the exalted ideas that come from the Lord's love. Those ideas are ones that are not easily moved or changed, and make wonderful foundations for the things we want to build in our spiritual lives.
Romans 4
1
What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4
Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6
Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7
Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9
Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
10
How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11
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:
12
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.
13
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.
14
For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15
Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16
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,
17
(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18
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.
19
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 Sara's womb:
20
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23
Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
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But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
