Luke 20:17,18 - Born Again or Lost Forever?

Luke 20:17, 18; Born Again or Lost Forever?

Luke 20:17 (KJV)  And he beheld them, and said, What is this
then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same
is become the head of the corner?
Luke 20:18 (KJV)  Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be
broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Luke 20:17 (CWB)  Jesus looked at them and said, "Tell me, what
does the Scripture mean when it says, 'The stone that the builders
first rejected as worthless eventually was seen to be the very one
they needed to hold up the corner of the Temple'?
Luke 20:18 (CWB)  That stone represents the Messiah.  Whoever
falls on this Stone will have his heart broken.  But those who reject
this Stone will someday see it coming toward them, and it will fall
on them and crush them.

This "capstone" actually refers to the cornerstone, the most
important part of the foundation. It was the first and bottom stone placed
when building, the stone which bore the weight of the first two
walls. The metaphor means that the Jewish leadership rejected the very
one whom God had chosen to be the foundation of his kingdom.
[College Press NIV Commentary]

The "cornerstone" was either the key stone in the foundation, on
which a structure rests, or the key stone in an arch, which binds the
structure together. Each image beautifully reflects the role of Christ in
God's plan of salvation. Everything rests on Him, and He holds all
things together. Those who launch themselves against this stone will be
crushed, along with all their hopes. [Victor Bible Reader's Companion]

The stone is a symbol of Jesus Christ.... Christ is the Head or
Chief Cornerstone, the Foundation Stone. He is the Foundation, the
Stone upon which every man must build his life. There is no other
Foundation upon which man can build and be secure. Similarly, He is the
Foundation and Cornerstone of the church. [Preacher's  Outline & Sermon
Bible]

To those who believe, Christ is the sure foundation. These are
they who fall upon the Rock and are broken. Submission to Christ and
faith in Him are here represented. To fall upon the Rock and be broken
is to give up our self-righteousness and to go to Christ with the
humility of a child, repenting of our transgressions, and believing in
His forgiving love. And so also it is by faith and obedience that we
build on Christ as our foundation.... And by connection with Christ, the
living stone, all who build upon this foundation become living stones.
Many persons are by their own endeavors hewn, polished, and
beautified; but they cannot become "living stones," because they are not
connected with Christ. Without this connection, no man can be saved.
Without the life of Christ in us, we cannot withstand the storms of
temptation. Our eternal safety depends upon our building upon the sure
foundation.... And on "whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."
The people who rejected Christ were soon to see their city and their
nation destroyed. Their glory would be broken, and scattered as the
dust before the wind.... So it will be in the great final day, when
judgment shall fall upon the rejecters of God's grace. Christ, their rock
of offense, will then appear to them as an avenging mountain. The
glory of His countenance, which to the righteous is life, will be to
the wicked a consuming fire. Because of love rejected, grace
despised, the sinner will be destroyed. DA599-600

This story is unmistakably blunt. No one likes being confronted
with their denial and blindness. The Pharisees were no exception.
They didn't like the message, so they killed the messenger. That was
true of the farmers in the story, the Pharisees in Jesus' day, and us
while we remain in denial. When we choose to deny the truth, there is
not much God or others can do. Sometimes the truth can penetrate our
denial when someone speaks plainly but indirectly. Nathan did this
effectively with David by telling him a story, which motivated David to
repent of his sin (2 Samuel 12). Yet some people in denial, like these
Pharisees, will resist to their dying day. [Life Recovery SB]

How many resemble the Jews who murdered the prophets and
crucified Christ, in their enmity to God, and aversion to his service,
desiring to live according to their lusts, without control!... Awful will
be the doom, both of those who reject the Son, and of those who
profess to reverence Him, yet render not the fruits in due season.... It
is the folly of sinners, that they persevere in sinful ways, though
they dread the destruction at the end of those ways. [Matthew Henry
Commentary]

They killed the heir to the vineyard, thinking, "Then it will be
ours." The motive for rejecting Christ is the desire to play, and be
our own, God.... Sin in us constantly throbs out the same message: I,
not God, must control..... How empty it is to insist on our own way,
and then discover that apart from Jesus Christ's enablement we can
do nothing! [Victor Teacher's Commentary]

Let Christ be Lord, because He is! [Victor Bible Reader's
Companion]

Have you fallen upon the Rock, Christ Jesus, or are you waiting
to be crushed by His second coming?  Have you given Him your old
life of sin with its selfish and rebellious nature; replacing it with
His peace that passeth all understanding?  Have you turned from your
life of passion, greed and pride and accepted His life of caring
service to the hurting, the lonely and needy (1Jo.2:16; Mat.25:35)?
Have you exchanged your sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish
ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the
like for His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal.5:19-23)?  Have you been
crucified with Christ nevertheless you live; yet not you, but Christ
liveth in you: and the life which you now live in the flesh you live by
the faith of the Son of God, who loved you, and gave himself for you
(Gal.2:20).  Are you denying the things of the old man of sin and following
after the ways of Jesus (Luk.9:23)?  Are you no longer living unto
yourself but unto him who died for you, and rose again (2Co.5:15).  If
not, Why not?  And, if not, is it really worth the loss of eternity?