From Dead Rocks to Living Stones: A Miracle Story
The Future of History • Sermon • Submitted
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· 331 viewsChrist our Cornerstone transforms us from dead rocks to living stones in His house
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Introduction
If you decided to have a brand new house built, one of the first things you would need is a design— a blueprint. If you pay a contractor, with your hard earned money, to build a house and he decides to toss out the blueprint and wing it, you would be furious. Who knows what kind of house you would end up with. At the very least, you need to begin with a well-built foundation - everything level and square. If you have a good foundation, you will be able to build a solid home that should stand the test of time and the elements. In Jesus is referred to as the Living Stone and as the cornerstone…some translations say “chief cornerstone”.
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
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.”
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans 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.”
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
and
“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
PRAYER
1 Peter 2
PRAYER
In verse 4, Jesus is referred to as “a living stone”. That doesn’t make sense. A stone, boulder, rock, etc., is by definition, dead. It is an inanimate object. “Living Stone” is an oxymoron. Living and Stone are not words normally used together like that. Peter used metaphors to describe Jesus and those that follow Him. We are a spiritual house…he is the cornerstone - a living stone. We are living stones in His house. He is the source that holds everything in its places…that keeps the house from crumbling. When we are built upon Christ the solid rock, the living stone — the cornerstone…let the storms come - rain, snow, hail, hurricanes…nothing can cause His house to fall.
Jesus used the term “cornerstone” to speak of himself in the parable of the wicked tenants who were caring for the vineyard (). He told this parable shortly after He had cleansed the Temple. The Jewish leaders questioned him about his actions and part of His reply included this parable. The tenants in the parable who were caring for the Master’s vineyard represented the Jewish leaders— the vineyard symbolized God’s people. The tenants dishonored the master (owner), who represented God - ultimately they put the owner’s son to death. Jesus’ words (quoting from ) pointed to his upcoming death.
The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
“ ‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
Psalm 118:
His point was that He would be rejected, but that the Father would exalt Him. The Jewish leaders rejected Him…but God exalted Him as the chief cornerstone. How did they reject Him? They killed Him. But God raised Jesus from the dead, our chief cornerstone - a Living Stone.
Peter’s metaphor points to Jesus’ followers as “living stones” — a spiritual house — being developed into a holy priesthood. Before we experienced new birth in Christ, we were dead in our sins…we were dead rock. Now, as part of God’s house, we also experience rejection from the world. But His hand is upon those that follow Him…making us a royal priesthood, His own people, created to praise Him from the rooftops. Jesus brought us from death to life through His sacrifice on the Cross and His resurrection.
Big Idea: Christ our Cornerstone transforms us from dead rocks to living stones in His house
Transitional: Since we have an eternal inheritance in Christ and he has transformed us into a new creation, let us...
Connect with the Living Stone
Connect with the Living Stone
Exposition:
In chapter 1, Peter established that we have an inheritance that is eternal because of the life we have in Christ
He encourages us with the fact that God is guarding us until our salvation is made complete
He speaks a message of hope: that, in the midst of seasons of trials, God will grow us up in Him and make us strong people of faith
Peter encourages believers to live in a state of readiness - sober and alert, obedient and uncompromising, made holy because He is holy
He reminds believers to live in reverence, realizing we are pilgrims and strangers.
Believers are exhorted to love one another deeply and constantly, enabled by the truth of the Living Word
now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans 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 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.
Peter continues...
now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—
now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans 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.
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—
1 Peter 2:4
…in view of the fact that you have tasted that the Lord is excellent; toward whom we are constantly drawing near, Himself in character a Living Stone, indeed by men repudiated after they had tested Him for the purpose of approving Him, in which investigation they found Him to be that which did not meet their specifications, but in the sight of God a chosen-out One and held in honor. (Wuest’s Expanded Translation)
…in view of the fact that you have tasted that the Lord is excellent; toward whom we are constantly drawing near, Himself in character a Living Stone, indeed by men repudiated after they had tested Him for the purpose of approving Him, in which investigation they found Him to be that which did not meet their specifications, but in the sight of God a chosen-out One and held in honor. (Wuest’s Expanded Translation)
The Living Stone is
Chosen & Precious
Chosen & Precious
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.”
The Living Stone is
Rejected (7)
Rejected (7)
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,”
The Living Stone is
The Cornerstone (7)
The Cornerstone (7)
our reference point
The Living Stone is
A Stumbling-block (8)
A Stumbling-block (8)
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.
“If it were a snake, it would have bit you”
The hear of Jesus - maybe even claim to worship Him - but He becomes a stumbling block b/c He doesn’t’ fit the mold they want Him to fit
Transition: Our life in Christ is meant to be one of constant contact and communion…as “living stones”
Become “living stones” in His House
Become “living stones” in His House
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—
…as you continuously come to Him
Living stones in His house are..
Honored
Honored
honor will come to those who believe
7a …so honor will come to you who believe
The most important honor we can receive is from the Lord and His People
Living stones in His house are..
Chosen
Chosen
But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.
Remember, this as a wide array of people Peter wrote to in this letter — a reminder that any and all that call upon Him fall under that umbrella — chosen
chosen generation
Priesthood
Holy people
God’s instruments
Witnesses
Rejected
Rejected
If they rejected Christ, they will reject us — expect it — use it to bring honor and praise to the Lord
Challenge
Christ our Cornerstone transforms us from dead rocks to living stones in His house
Only God can bring life into something that is dead and lifeless — our miracle story
How can we be living stones in His house?
Constantly come to Jesus in humble praise, worship, and fellowship
Evangelical Commentary on the Bible C. The Hidden Spiritual House (2:4–10)
A stone can look most unimpressive—but it can perform a vital function if made the cornerstone of a large building; or it can bring a person tumbling to the ground if he or she stumbles over it. Jesus has become the cornerstone of God’s spiritual temple, and there are two possible responses. We can either take our own angle and position from the Cornerstone, and line ourselves up on him; or we can refuse to live by reference to him, and stumble over him instead. It is a vivid picture.
Peter urges his readers to see that they are being built in line with Christ: sharing all the angles of his life, experiencing his rejection as well as the glory. His opponents stumble fatally, but those joined to Christ are a chosen people, a royal priesthood (v. 9), contrary to all appearances. In verses 9 and 10 Peter piles up phrases from the Old Testament (Exod. 19:6; Isa. 42:12; 43:20f.; Hos. 1:10; 2:23) to show how all that is true of God’s chosen covenant people is true for those who believe in Jesus, however rejected and weak they may seem.
Evangelical Commentary on the Bible C. The Hidden Spiritual House (2:4–10)
A stone can look most unimpressive—but it can perform a vital function if made the cornerstone of a large building; or it can bring a person tumbling to the ground if he or she stumbles over it. Jesus has become the cornerstone of God’s spiritual temple, and there are two possible responses. We can either take our own angle and position from the Cornerstone, and line ourselves up on him; or we can refuse to live by reference to him, and stumble over him instead. It is a vivid picture.
Let your life be built in alignment with Christ
Follow His angles and lines
Expect rejection as well as rewards
Live as His own possession
As chosen people
As priests in God’s house