GETTING TO KNOW JESUS:

Disallowed Stone; Living Cornerstone

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   We will be studying a text in 1 Peter in just a moment that is found at least seven other times in the Bible.

1.    Two times in the Old Testament (Ps. 118:22; Isa. 28:16).

2.    Five times in the New Testament (Matt. 21:42; Mark 12:10; Acts 4:11; Rom. 9:33; Eph. 2:20).

 

B.   Before we look at the passage, however, let’s ask a question:  “Do we have a temple in the churches of Christ?”

1.    Some might quickly answer:  “No.”  By this, they mean that we do not have a physical building located in a particular city in the world that we refer to as our temple.

2.    We can, however, answer:  “Yes, we do have a temple.”

a.    It is not a physical structure.  It is spiritual in nature (1 Cor. 3:16-17).

 

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

 

b.    Our temple is not composed of stones and mortar.  It is composed of the saved, the redeemed (1 Pet. 2:5).

 

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house…

 

C.   The plans for this temple were eternal in nature, that is, they were always in the mind of our eternal God.

 

D.   Years ago, the time to erect this spiritual temple finally came.  When it did, there was a very, very important decision that had to be made.

 

E.   Let’s clear our minds and picture a building site.

1.    All of the preparation work has been made.

2.    The site is completely level and ready for the temple to be built upon it.

3.    A supervisor is on the site.  Too, the builders are there ready to start construction.

4.    On the first day, there is only one stone on the site.  It is called “the chief cornerstone.”

a.    The purpose of the stone:

1)    The is the first stone of the foundation that is set.

2)    It is the stone from which all of the other stones are laid.

b.    The stone must have several qualities:

1)    Perfect dimensions, usually cut at a perfect 45-degree angle

2)    Strong:  outwardly and having inner character

3)    Valuable and costly

4)    A stone that is lasting in nature

5)    A stone that has a nice look and feel to it

c.    The site where the building will begin initially is Sion, that is, the city of Jerusalem (1 Pet. 2:6).

 

…Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone…

 

I.             THE SELECTION OF THE STONE (1 Pet. 2:4, 6)

 

A.   We noted in the introduction that on the site there is a supervisor.

 

B.   The supervisor is none other than God.  It is He who has selected this stone.

1.    I Peter 2:4

 

To whom coming, as unto a living stone…but chosen of God…

 

2.    I Peter 2:6

 

Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious…

 

a.    The word “elect” means “select, picked out, chosen.”

b.    Thayer makes this comment:”  …the Messiah in called ‘elect’, as appointed by God to the most exalted office conceivable” (e-sword).

 

C.   God picked this stone two reasons given in the text.

1.    His is a living stone.

a.    “To whom coming, as unto a living stone…” (1 Pet. 2:4).

b.    He is a human stone similar to the other stones composing the temple.

c.    He is living and not a physical stone like the stones found in various temples of religions scattered throughout the world.

d.    He is living and not dead like the founders of the man-made religions of the world.

e.    He is living in that death and the grave could not contain Him.

1)    He was put to death by the Jews and Romans.

2)    On the third day, He was resurrected from the grave.

a)    He stood again, the definition of resurrection.

b)    God raised Jesus from the dead to die no more (Rom. 6:9).

 

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

 

c)    We sing a song that notes our belief in Jesus’ resurrection:  “I serve a risen Savior.  He’s in the world today.”

2.    He is a precious stone.

a.    Three times in the context of 1 Peter 2:4-8, this stone is called precious.

1)    “…but chosen of God, and precious” (v. 4).

2)    “Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious…” (v. 6).

3)    “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious…” (v. 7).

b.    Precious

1)    There are two Greek words that are translated “precious” in the text.

2)    They both indicate something of value.  Something that is to be honored and esteemed for its worth.

3)    There are several things that make Jesus valuable.

a)    He is the Son of God.

b)    He is perfect in nature, having no sin.

c)    He is strong.

d)    He is enduring.

 

II.           THE REJECTION OF THE STONE BY THE BUILDERS

 

A.   Two important points:

1.    The supervisor, God the Father, has chosen this stone.

2.    The builders, the Jews, should have eagerly accepted this stone when it was presented to them, but…

 

B.   The stone was rejected by the builders.

1.    “…disallowed indeed of men…” (1 Pet. 2:4).

2.    “The stone which the builders refused…” (Ps. 118:22).

3.    “…The stone which the builders rejected…” (Matt. 21:42).

4.    “This is the stone which was set a nought of you builders…” (Acts 4:11).

5.    “…the stone which the builders disallowed…” (1 Pet. 2:7)

 

C.   There were two main reasons this stone was rejected.

1.    He claimed to be the Son of God (John 5:18).

 

Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

 

2.    The kingdom He was going to build was not a physical kingdom (John 18:36).

 

D.   He was not the right material to be a corner stone as far as the Jews were concerned.  Thus, they set Him at nought.

1.    Luke 23:20-21

 

Pilate, therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake unto them.  But they cried, saying Crucify him, crucify him.

 

2.    Luke 23:33a

 

And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him…

 

3.    Luke 23:46

 

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:  and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

 

E.   NOTE:  The rejection by the Jews did not change the Father’s will.

1.    Jesus was raised from the dead by the Father.

2.    On the day of Pentecost, the resurrection was a major part of Peter’s message.  Before being interrupted by a question of the Jews, Peter finished with these words (Acts 2:36).

 

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

 

3.    That day the church was established in Sion.  The building could begin because the foundation had been laid (1 Cor. 3:11; Eph. 2:20).

 

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ…And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.

 

4.    After he healed the lame man at the gate Beautiful, Peter made a powerful declaration (Acts 4:10-12).

 

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.  This is the stone which was set a nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.  Neither is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 

III.         THE REACTIONS MEN CAN HAVE TO THIS STONE

 

A.   There are only two reactions individuals can have to this stone.  We read about both of them in 1 Peter 2:6-8.

 

B.   A person can believe in this stone.

1.    “…and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded” (1 Pet. 2:6).

a.    The word “confounded” means “shall not be put to shame.”

b.    Those who believe will share in the glory of the precious stone.

2.    “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious…” (1 Pet. 2:7).

a.    This stone is precious or valuable to those who believe.

b.    This stone is the one who sacrificed Himself so those who believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

 

C.   A person can refuse to believe and be disobedient to the stone.

1.    “…but unto them which be disobedient…” (1 Pet. 2:7).

2.    “…even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient…” (1 Pet. 2:8).

a.    The word “disobedient” comes from a word that means to disbelieve.

b.    Those who refuse to believe and obey the Christ will not believe and will be disobedient unto him.

c.    Instead of the stone’s being precious unto them, it becomes a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence.

 

D.   The choice regarding this stone will not be forced upon human beings.  Each human must make up his/her mind to believe or to be disobedient.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Peter tells us that the disobedient, “stumble at the word” (1 Pet. 2:8).

1.    The truth about this stone is found in the precious Word of God.

2.    The chief corner stone and the Word of God cannot be separated one from another.

 

B.   Matthew 21:44

 

And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken:  but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.