The Cornerstone Of The Living Stones

THE CORNERSTONE OF THE LIVING STONES

I Peter 2:4-8

READING THE TEXT

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 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 capstone," and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

INTRODUCTION

This is a picture of the great house that God is building, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are three pictures painted.

MAJOR POINTS OF THE TEXT

1. Picture 1: Christ is the Living Stone; He was rejected by men, but chosen by God (v.4).

2. Picture 2: believers are living stones (v.5-6).

3. Picture 3: unbelievers are disobedient builders (v.7-8).

PICTURE NUMBER ONE

There is the first picture—Jesus Christ is the Living Stone. How can a stone be living? It cannot. This is simply a picture of how God looks at Christ and His followers: they are like a building that is being built by God Himself. The foundation of God’s building is His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. If a person wants to be a part of God’s building, he has to place his life upon the foundation Stone, Christ Himself. But note what this verse says: the living stone was rejected by men. When men looked at the Stone (Christ)...

· it was not wanted.

· it did not fit in with their plans.

· it was useless and unsuitable for what they were building.

· it was not worth the price.

Men rejected Christ because they wanted to build their lives like they wanted. They wanted to do their own thing. Therefore, they cast the Stone of God aside. But note: the stone has been chosen of God. It is the very stone that God has chosen to be the foundation stone for life. It is the only stone that can support and bear the weight of life. And note: the stone chosen by God is a living stone. What does this mean? God is eternal; hence, the building of God will last forever and ever. Therefore, the cornerstone laid by God is bound to be eternal; it shall never deteriorate or waste away. The cornerstone is living and shall exist forever and ever.

The symbolism of the living cornerstone says three significant things.

The living cornerstone is the first stone laid. All other stones are placed after it. It is the preeminent stone in time. So it is with Christ; He is the first of God’s new movement.

= Christ is the captain of salvation. All others are crew members who follow Him.

"For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings" (Hebrews 2:10).

= Christ is the author of eternal salvation, of our faith. All others are the readers of the story.

"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:9).

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).

= Christ is the beginning and the ending. All others come after Him and are under Him.

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty" (Rev. 1:8; cp. Rev. 21:6; Rev. 22:13).

= Christ is the forerunner into the very presence of God. All others enter God’s presence after Him.

"Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec" (Hebrews 6:19-20).

The cornerstone is the supportive stone. All other stones are placed upon it and held up by it. They all rest upon it. It is the preeminent stone in position and power. So it is with Christ; He is the support and power, the Foundation of God’s new movement.

= Christ is the Head cornerstone, the only true foundation upon which man can build. All crumble who are not laid upon Him.