1 Peter 2:4-12 (ESV) "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; but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against you soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."
I. Jesus is cornerstone
What is the point of a cornerstone? In older church buildings the first large stone "the cornerstone" was used to list important information and dates about the building. The cornerstone was the principle stone...the first stone...the largest stone. Structurally it supported the bulk of the weight of the structure and it set the standard for the rest of the building. The cornerstone ensures that the walls were straight and the angles correct. If the cornerstone is off the whole structure is off and unstable.
II. Jesus supports it all
-All of creation
-By him, through him and for him were all things made. Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV) "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers of authorities-all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."
-Everything is held together by Christ. Romans 11:36 (ESV) "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen."
-The Church, his people, the new covenant. Ephesians 5:25-30 (ESV) "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body."
This is a tough assignment for husbands because we all fall short. Without Jesus the church would have fallen apart. We are nothing without Jesus.
III. Jesus is the standard
-like the cornerstone sets the standard for the whole structure, Jesus sets the standard for us.
-WWJD bracelets from the '90s This was a great question. Hebrews 12:1-3 (ESV) "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted."
It is good to be ecouraged by the life of those who have gone before us. Jesus is our ultimate example.
IV. We (Christians) are being built up into a spiritual house
Peter was probably thinking about his conversation with Christ when he wrote this scripture.
Matthew 16:15-18 (ESV) "He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter replied, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' And Jesus answered him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.'"
What does this mean? We do not hold to the Catholic position that Jesus was making Peter as the authority for the early church. Peter did have a voice in the early church but not the ultimate authority, but Jesus is saying something was important about Peter. His confession that Jesus was the Christ was important to Jesus. and his teaching and ministry. The church is built upon Jesus, it's cornerstone and also the foundation is the teaching of the apostles who received their teaching from Jesus.
Ephesians 2:18-21 (ESV) "For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in thee Lord."
Paul and Peter and John in Revelations 21:14 say basically the same thing about a spiritual house being built up with Christ as the cornerstone. It is almost as if God is the author of all scripture. Because even though Paul is not Peter and Peter is not Paul they are saying the same thing, that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone and upon him this church, this kingdom, his people are being built up into a temple. He calls us
-a chosen race
-a royal priesthood
-a holy nation
- a people for his own possession
We are chosen by God, we are loved by God, we are his people and we are set apart for special service. We have each been gifted to serve and we each have a special place in this spiritual house.
What are we do do with this responsibility? What are we supposed to do with this calling? To share the good news!
1 Peter 2:9-10 (ESV) "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 the 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."
Peter was pulling from Old Testament ideas of Israel being called to be set apart and be holy as God's chosen people. They were supposed to display the goodness of God. They were supposed to be a light to all nations. We are now called to display the goodness of God. We are called to proclaim the "excellencies" of God. We have been called out of darkness to share the good news. We were not "a people", but now we are and we are now supposed to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
We are to offer up a spiritual sacrifice through prayer, worship and our bodies. We are to bring our will, our mind, and our actions into submission to Jesus Christ to honor God. Out of love for him and also as a testimony to the lost.
1 Peter 2:11-12 (ESV) "Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against you soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."
Peter is speaking about evangelism and he is remembering Jesus's words about being a "light" before men.
Matthew 5:16 (ESV) "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Let your life be an example to the world a testimony.
We are too have confidence. We need to make our "walk" match our "talk" But you have to talk! We are supposed to let God work through us. God is going to build his church and build his kingdom and he will use us.
Challenge...try to have a spiritual conversation with somebody this week. We are called to do it.
Psalms 67 (ESV) "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!
No comments:
Post a Comment