Celebrating the Past, Serving the Future | Christ: The Cornerstone
Celebrating the Past, Serving the Future: (Part I)
Christ: The Cornerstone
1 Peter 2:4-10 (ESV)
4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,
5 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.
6 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.”
7 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,”
8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
9 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.
10 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.
On November 3, exactly two days from today, the majority of Americans will choose the next President who will lead this country for another four years. Whoever he is, I know that he will be in his office because God has placed him there. As a believer, I also know that my responsibility is to faithfully pray that he would seek God’s guidance in leading this great country towards true righteousness and justice. Why? It is because God’s Word has plainly declared:
Proverbs 14:34 (ESV)
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
The truth of the matter is that it is not the President, Republican or Democrat, who will make this nation great. But clearly, it is the nation’s commitment to seek after God and live in a way that honors Him. This truth was basically conveyed in Psalm 146:3-5 (ESV):
3 Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,
Here, the Psalmist was warning the nation of Israel in putting their trust in the king’s sons (“princes”) about their future because they don’t last. It is still much better to always put our hope in God.
This challenge provides a perfect transition for me as I talk about Jesus Christ as the Cornerstone of our lives as believers. During the Bible times, the concept of a cornerstone was very prominent in construction projects. If you are going to build a building, the largest and most solid stone was chosen and carefully set in place as the main foundation. Once this was established, it will be the basis for determining all the measurements in the rest of the construction because the strength of the cornerstone will determine the size of the building.
So, if you and I are going to build our lives, where are we building it? Or, to be more specific, do we have the right “cornerstone”? The month of November is always a special month for our church because every second Sunday of the month, we celebrate our church anniversary. So, whenever this month comes around, we would always choose a theme directly related to the church. This year our theme is: Celebrating the Past, Serving the Future.” Now, with this theme, we want to be able to praise God’s goodness to our church as we celebrate our 38th year and, at the same time, set our eyes on faithfully serving Him in the future. Now, for the first sermon, we want to go back to the basic, which is Jesus Christ, our Cornerstone. For us, as individuals and as a church, it is so important that we make sure that we continually build ourselves on the right foundation. The apostle Peter clearly communicated this truth to the believers who were being subjected to severe persecutions when he wrote his letter. I’m sure that if there was a good time to re-evaluate whether or not you have the right foundation in life, is not when life is good, but when life is tough. Why? It is because, in those times that the strength of the foundation is strong, it is enough to withstand or resist the elements; or else, it can cause the building to crumble. Calamities such as earthquakes, tornadoes, or hurricanes are just some of these elements that threaten the building. But if there is the right foundation, there’s no need to worry. Obviously, this is the main reason why the apostle Peter talked about Christ as our Cornerstone. In our study this morning, allow me to share at least three significant aspects of this doctrine that we should take to heart:
I OUR STRATEGIC CONNECTION TO CHRIST (v. 4)
As you begin to read our main text, it opens up with a phrase that I believe should really be emphasized – “As you come to him.” When you examine these words, it is quite clear that Peter is calling our attention, not on our initial encounter with Jesus Christ for salvation but for our continuous effort to draw ourselves to Him for daily sustenance. So, the more accurate rendering of this phrase should be “As you keep coming to him.” Of course, this reading would be more consistent within the text, since Peter, in the earlier verses, was writing to those who already believed in Christ:
1 Peter 2:2 (ESV)
2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—
Why is there a need to establish this distinction? Well, if you already have this strategic connection with Jesus Christ, hopefully, you know exactly who He is and what He is can do for you. And since you know who He is and what He is able to do, you will take advantage of your connection with Him and constantly go to Him for your sustenance in life.
Speaking of who Jesus Christ is, Peter, in verse 4, specifically mentions Him as the “Living Stone.” If you jump to verses 6 to 8, you will find a direct quote from the Old Testament Scriptures with regards to the Messiah:
Isaiah 28:16 (ESV)
16 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
Psalm 118:22 (ESV)
22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
These quotes from the Old Testament validate the claim that the Messiah was destined by God to be the Cornerstone of our lives. Now, being referred to as “living,” simply stresses His resurrection that demonstrated “victory.” Again, if you will build your life on someone or something, it would really be more advantageous to build it on what God has “chosen” as “precious,” and what has already been proven as victorious because of His resurrection.
Unfortunately, as verse 4 has noted, the same “Living Stone” has been rejected by many. Isn’t this tragic! There are so many people who have failed to make the right choice just as Jesus Himself has conveyed in the Parable of the Wise Builder:
Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV)
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
So, who are you between the two builders – The foolish or the wise? It’s supposed to be a no brainer – Jesus must be our foundation in life. If you already know Him, take advantage of your strategic connection and constantly go to Him to guide and sustain you in this life.
II OUR SACRED CALLING FROM CHRIST (v. 5)
The next aspect of Christ, being our Cornerstone, is found in these words – “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.”
Since the Cornerstone, our Living Stone, has already been set in place, all of us who received life from Him have become “living stones” ourselves. In other words, as we draw our precious life from Him, He is also molding us into a meaningful and sacred existence today. Let me help you understand what I mean by this while highlighting two sacred calling we have received because we are attached to Jesus Christ, our Cornerstone:
A. “Spiritual House”
In order to appreciate the significance of this sacred calling, we need some historical background with regards to Peter’s concept of a “spiritual house.” Without any doubt, when the apostle Peter wrote this letter around 64-65 A.D., the reconstruction of the second Temple in Jerusalem has just been completed. Bible scholars describe this Jerusalem Temple as monumental and magnificent in beauty, considering it took 84 years to rebuild. When King Herod took on this project in 19 B.C., he employed 10,000 skilled workers and appointed 1,000 Levites (Priests) to work on the Holiest of Holies of the Temple specifically. Of course, among the Jews, the main reason why this building had to be the best was because it was meant to be the “dwelling place of the Great Jehovah.”
However, the apostle Peter was fully aware of the fact that after Jesus Christ finished His work at the cross, a radical shift has happened. Today, God no longer dwells in the temple made by hands, but in every heart of a true believer of the Lord Jesus Christ. Meditate on this truth for a minute - If you are a child of God, this concept should really make us feel special knowing that God considers you as a sacred place, beautiful, and magnificent, worthy of being His dwelling place.
Certainly, we should also bear in mind that with this privilege comes a serious responsibility as well. Paul wrote about this truth to the Corinthians believers:
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
In these verses, Paul reminds us that we, being temples of God, should stay away from sins and use our bodies in faithfully honoring and serving God.
B. “Holy Priesthood”B
Besides the privilege of being God’s dwelling place, another sacred calling that Peter emphasizes in the text is the priesthood of all believers. Just as Peter was familiar with the significance of the temple, he was also accustomed to the priesthood ministry as part of His former religion. He knew how special the priests were in the worship life of the people in those times. Primarily, the priests actively helped the people in connecting with God. Basically, they were designated as mediators or “bridges,” so the people can approach God. Without them, people would not have a way to receive the following:
1. The Forgiveness for their Sins – The priests were the ones designated to offer the animal sacrifices of the people and for the people.
2. The Deeper Knowledge of God – The priests were the students of the Old Testament Scriptures, and they were also responsible for teaching them.
3. The Will of God – The priests were also the ones who went to God in prayer in order to help the people determine His direct will for their lives.
However, for the believers today, there’s absolutely no need of mediators or “human bridges” because through the person of Jesus Christ, we had found already our ultimate mediator. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:5 (ESV):
5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Take note, today, there is only one mediator, and He is Jesus Christ. Once you have received Him in your life, He has given you direct access to these three special blessings mentioned above – forgiveness for your sins, deeper knowledge of God, and the will of God. I pray that we will take advantage of these blessings as we continue to connect with God as his holy priests. By the way, you might be wondering why Peter attached the word “holy” to all the believers of Christ when we know for a fact that we still sin and fall short before God. Well, this truth is really another blessing bestowed to us – our positional righteousness in Christ.
The verse that captures this teaching is found in 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV):
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
The best way to explain this verse is through the analogy of the exchanging of clothes. Spiritually speaking, we first need to see Jesus possessing pure and righteous clothes and us as sinners wearing our filthy and unclean clothes. When Jesus went to the cross, He took our filthy and unclean clothes unto Himself, so He can give us His pure and righteous clothes. Therefore, at the day we opened our heart to Him and received Him, He gave us freely his pure and righteous clothes, so that in His eyes, we will always appear as if we have never sinned. What a great blessing!
III OUR SELECTED COMMUNITY IN CHRIST (vs. 9-10)
Lastly, after our two sacred calling, Peter would add another layer of the blessed positions that believers have received in Jesus Christ. Listen specifically to verses 9-10 – “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.”
Since I have already talked about being priests and being holy, I would like to highlight the idea of being a “chosen race.” Most definitely, the apostle Peter is fully aware of the honor of being a Jew or being a part of Israel, God’s “chosen nation.” I’m sure that he is quite familiar with his nation’s history: from the time of Abraham and how they were led to the Promised Land. Although they suffered 400 years of slavery in Egypt, the Lord never failed to demonstrate His providential care to the nation, helping them develop in becoming a great nation in the East. Here is a passage that talks about this great privilege of Israel:
Deuteronomy 7:6-8 (ESV)
6 “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Clearly, they were not chosen because they were extra-special, but because God wanted to demonstrate His unconditional love and faithfulness through them. Fast forward to the New Testament, now, Peter was conscious of the fact that this title of being “chosen” is no longer applied to the Jews alone, but also to the “church” or all those who genuinely believed in Jesus Christ for salvation. What a great privilege, right?
But, with all these wonderful blessings and privileges, everything will have to culminate to our responsibility – “that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
Let me ask you. Would it be a burden for you to boast about someone who has been so good and generous to you? Time and again, I hear some Christians complained how difficult and burdensome it is to share Jesus Christ to others. Honestly, often, we are the ones who are making it so difficult. The Bible simply wants us to begin boasting about the “excellencies of him.” In other words, the key is really maintaining a grateful heart towards Him that we will never stop boasting about His excellent or outstanding qualities. Is this really hard to do? If we are really struggling to share Jesus to others, perhaps, what we really need is a grateful heart. Why? It is because if you are truly grateful to God, you will surely tell others about Him.
-Dr. Jeremiah Lepasana