Cornerstone
In Luke 9 Jesus and the disciples went through Samaria to spread the gospel message. When John saw that no one believed, he said, “Do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them like Elijah did?” Jesus said, “you don’t know what spirit you’re asking. I did not come to destroy but to save.” He had said in John 10:10, “The thief cometh not but for to steal and to kill and to destroy. I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”
Jesus confronted the Pharisees who thought that they were righteous because of their own good works. They thought that everyone else was condemned for not keeping the letter of the Old Testament law. However, Jesus said in John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
In Matthew 16, Jesus had returned from Caesarea and asked his disciples, “Whom do men say that I am?” They said, some say that you’re John the Baptist or Elijah or one of the prophets returned from the dead. Then Jesus asked them, “But whom say ye that I am?” This is the central diagnostic question for followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter answered Jesus’ question: “Thou art the Christ, the son of the Living God.” Jesus said, “Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father in heaven.”
He said to Peter, “Thou art Peter, a little stone, but upon this rock, Petra, the foundation stone, I myself will build my church.” Jesus Christ himself, The stone which the builders rejected is the foundation stone to those who believe and a stone of stumbling to those who believe not.
If Jesus said, “Why should I let you into heaven?,” What would you answer? Men look on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart. Like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, Most people think that they will enter heaven because of their good works. They think to themselves, if the good I’ve done outweighs the bad, then God will let me into heaven. However, Jesus said, “there is none good, no not one.” The Apostle Paul said, “In my flesh dwelleth no good thing.” He said that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Therefore the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through his son Jesus Christ. For Jesus Christ who was without sin became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.
In Colossians 1, Jesus Christ holds all things together. He himself is the cornerstone, the foundation and the stone of alignment… the reference point and measuring standard upon which the whole building of God’s church is founded.
Individual believers within the church are living stones, built into God’s temple…the dwelling place of the living God. 1 Peter 2:5-7 says, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner…”
1 Peter 2:9 continues, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
We’ve been called as a chosen generation, a royal priesthood. The priest is the one who speaks to God on behalf of God’s people. The priest is the spokesman for the people whom God has called. According to Romans 12, we’re to offer our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God which is our reasonable call to worship.
The Church is the assembly of believers, the body of Christ. The church is the dwelling place, the temple of the living God. Even though there are many denominations and different congregations, we have been called to the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.
In Mark 9:38, John said to Jesus, we saw someone casting out devils in your name and we told them to stop because they didn’t follow us. Jesus said, “Why did you say that? Ether they are for us or they are against us. If they are casting out devils in my name then they are for us.”
The distractions of the world around us will turn our hearts from the light of the truth of the Word. When we focus on the affairs of this world and the divisiveness and confusion all around us, the devil will ensnare us and pull us into the darkness of strife and contention. The darkness will separate our hearts from our fellowship with God. Where there is strife and division there is confusion and every evil work. However, the word of God says, set your affection on things above, not on things of this world. For that which is seen is temporal but that which is unseen is eternal.
It’s important to remember that Jesus the Christ, the son of the living God, is the foundation of the church and the church is the pillar and ground of the truth. Churches call men to attend regularly, to serve diligently, and to give generously. However, man looks on the deeds, behaviors, works, and outward appearances, whereas God looks upon the heart.
Churches stopped growing about fifty years ago. Churches began competing for members and pulling people from other churches. They stole members from other churches by giving them more entertaining music and more eloquent and appealing “prosperity gospel” preaching. They began preaching a social gospel and appealing to peoples’ pride by focusing on “what’s in it for me.” The church stopped growing by converting unbelievers to the church of the living God by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
In the Old Testament, God judged Israel when they turned their hearts away from God’s commandments. When they intermarried with pagans and pursued other gods, the true God gave them up to their vanity and their own devices. They became prey for the devil and his purpose… to steal, kill and to destroy.
The church in the time of Peter like today’s church was struggling though hard times. The church was persecuted and the believers were marked out as deviant from the norms of the politically correct culture. However, the darker the night the brighter the light shines.
There can be no victory without a battle…. Our battle is not against flesh and blood. Our battle is a spiritual battle for the hearts and minds of God’s elect. Men say that the recent election was the most important election of our times. However, from God’s perspective, the most important election is our election of God.
Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:10, ““Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”
What are “these things?” These are the things in 2 Peter 1:4-7: “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6. And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7. And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.”
As the church, the called out, the elect of God, our Father has given us his gracious gift of Holy Spirit. In Christ our cornerstone, He has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness. His ultimate purpose is that we would be blessed by blessing Him….
…that as living stones, we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
