Studies in First Peter Part 10
“4And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For this is contained in Scripture: ‘Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.’ 7This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very cornerstone,’ 8and ‘A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.’ For they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed” (I Peter 2:4-8).
Jesus is the “living stone”, our cornerstone, who was “rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God.” If Jesus is the cornerstone, where is the building built upon Him? The building is us. We are the temple built upon the cornerstone. The church, the bride of Christ, you and I, are His “spiritual house” today. We are called “living stones” (vs 5) just like Jesus is a “living stone” (vs 4) because we are “in Jesus.” These stones are alive in Jesus.
Jesus, our cornerstone, was foretold in the Old Testament. Verse 6 is a quote from the book of Isaiah, “Therefore thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed’ “ (Isaiah 28:16).
The last word translated “disturbed” literally means “in a hurry or frenzy.” “He who believes” in the “costly cornerstone” will be at peace. Jesus fulfilled the prophesy of Isaiah chapter 28, not only by being the costly cornerstone, by also by giving us His promise of peace. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27).
I cannot emphasize enough that this precious cornerstone, Jesus, is “for us who believe.” It is not just a Bible answer to the question of who is this cornerstone. It is not an intellectual answer about the church. He is OUR cornerstone. He is the foundation of our building, the community of His children.
For the unbeliever, Jesus has become “the stone which the builders rejected,” cast aside, and now “a stumbling block and rock of offense.” Those who reject the cornerstone, Jesus, are “disobedient to the word” having rejected the gospel, and their doom is sure.
These final quotes in verses 7 and 8 are also fulfillments of Old Testament prophesies regarding Jesus, our cornerstone. “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone” (Psalm 118:22). And, “Then He shall become a sanctuary; but to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over” (Isaiah 8:14).
First century Israel rejected the cornerstone, rejected their Messiah. And even today, Jesus is still a stumbling block “for those who disbelieve.” Jesus is the rock upon which the whole world must decide. “Am I going to embrace the gospel message of Jesus, accept His death in my place upon a cross, OR am I going to reject the gift of His sacrifice, the gift of His salvation?”
Choose Jesus. Choose life. Choose peace, peace in your heart and peace with God. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Choose your cornerstone. Choose Jesus.