Compiled By: Lisa K Gonzales
Source: The Life Application Study Bible
5 “And now GOD is building you, as living stones, into His spiritual temple. More than that, you are GOD’s holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifices that please HIM because of Jesus Christ. 6 As the Scriptures express it, ‘I am placing a stone in Jerusalem, a chosen cornerstone, and anyone who believes in Him will never be disappointed.’ 7 Yes, He is very precious to you who believe. But for those who reject Him, ‘The stone that was rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone.’ 8 And the Scriptures also say, ‘He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that will make them fall.’ They stumble because they do not listen to GOD’s Word or obey it, and so they meet the fate that has been planned for them.” ~ 1 Peter 2:5-8
Peter portrays the church as a living, spiritual temple, with Christ as the foundation and cornerstone and each believer as a stone. Paul portrays the church as a body, with Christ as the head and each believer as a member. – 15 “Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church. 16 Under His direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” – Ephesians 4:15-16 – Both pictures, whether it be Peter’s or Paul’s, emphasize community. One stone is not a temple or even a wall; one body part is useless without the others. In our individualistic society, it is easy to forget our interdependence with other Christians. When GOD calls us to a task, remember that HE is also calling others to work with us. Together our individual efforts will be multiplied. Look for those people and join with them to build a beautiful house for GOD.
Christians will sometimes be put to shame or face disappointment in this life, but their trust in GOD is never misplaced. GOD will not let them down. We can safely put our confidence in HIM because the eternal life HE promises is certain. No doubt Peter often thought of Jesus’ words to him right after he confessed that Jesus was “the Messiah, the Son of the living GOD”: – 16 “Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living GOD.’ 17 Jesus replied, ‘You are blessed, Simon son of John, because My Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.’” – Matthew 16:16-18 – What is the stone that really counts in the building of the church? Peter answers: Christ Himself. What are the characteristics of Christ, the cornerstone? (1) He is completely trustworthy; (2) He is precious to believers; and (3) though rejected by some, He is the most important part of the church.
Jesus Christ is called “the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that will make them fall”. Some will stumble over Christ because they reject Him or refuse to believe that He is who He says HE is. But Psalm 118:22 says that “the stone rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone,” the most important part of GOD’s building, the church. In the same way today, people who refuse to believe in Christ have made the greatest mistake of their lives. They have stumbled over the one person who could save them and give meaning to their lives, and they have fallen into GOD’s hands for judgment.
Jesus You are the Messiah, the Son of the living GOD and we know that we can safely put our confidence in You because the eternal life GOD has promised is certain. We will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church. We know that under His direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. We are living stones in YOUR spiritual temple, LORD. But more than that, we are YOUR holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifices that please YOU because of Jesus Christ.
Photo: Smoky Mountain National Park (Tennessee)
Photographer: Lisa K Gonzales
Click on the photo to enlarge
