26. The Centrality of Jesus Building the Church

The Centrality of Jesus in Building the Church

1Pe 2:4-10  And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God,  (5)  you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  (6)  For this is contained in Scripture: "BEHOLD I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."  (7)  This precious value, then, is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,"  (8)  and, "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.  (9)  But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  (10)  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

There are several observations we see in this text. There are the building material-living stones, there is the architect and builder which is implied in ‘are being built’, there is the building – spiritual house, a holy priesthood, there is the function – offer up spiritual sacrifices, there is a standard – acceptable to God, and the means of making them acceptable – through Jesus Christ. We can group in two major points. The First is the Form with includes the living stones, the architect and builder, and the building. The second point is Its Function which includes the holy priesthood, the function – spiritual sacrifices, the standard, and the means of attaining the standard – through Jesus Christ.

I. It’s Form

1. Living Stones – you also, as living stones. Peter uses the ‘you also’ as inclusive language. It points not only to being inclusive in this spiritual house being built but also to what has been said about Christ, ‘rejected by men but choice and precious in the sight of God.” We have already seen these brethren who probably lived in their communities all their lives being referred to as pilgrims, aliens, or exiles depending on what version you are using. The literal meaning is resident foreigner.

1Pe 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

1Pe 2:12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1 Pet 3:9, 16; 4:3,4

Choice and precious in that we are elect 1Pe 1:2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. God has caused us to be born again. (1 Peter 1:3) Precious in the sight of God because He would not spare anything or anyone to secure our salvation. Rom 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? We have been made inherently valuable because of what Christ has done for us. You, believer are choice and precious in the sight of God. With the same love the Father has for the Son, He has for all the children of God. Jesus did not come so that God would love us, He was sent by God the Father, because of the Father’s love for us. Like Jesus we not only have inherent value as revealed in God sending His Son to redeem us but as Jesus is precious as the chief corner stone, you, child of God, are precious as living stones being built into a spiritual house.

Peter’s use of ‘living stones’ still amazes me. We have all seen stones, large and small, all shapes and sizes. The one thing they all have in common is they are lifeless. But Peter through the inspiration of the Spirit says living stones. We are transformed from dead rock into living, useful stones. How? By redemption? Yes, but if we limit redemption only to salvation from judgement only then we do not go far enough. The text implies something more. When we consider building a house the foundation is laid first. Then the stones are placed for the outside and inside structure. They are secured to the foundation. Paul sheds more light in Eph 2:19-22  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,  (20)  built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,  (21)  in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.  (22)  In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

We are alive because we are united to Christ. It is our union and communion with Him that transforms us from dead, lifeless, rock to living stone. It is in Him that we were elected, it is in Him that we are redeemed, it is in Him we are justified, it is in Him that we are made righteous, it is in Him we are glorified and as it was stated in the verse we just read, in Him we are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Just like the foundation stones the stones being placed in the building of this spiritual house are also cut and shaped to fit their unique place in this structure. Cutting and shaping stone is a violent process using a hammer and chisels. Though we have been freed from the dominion of sin we still wrestle with its power. And this is where the violence takes place. God uses our trials and tribulations; He uses His loving discipline in forming us according to His good pleasure for our place in His spiritual house. Removing from us our confidence in the world and in our flesh. Just as the refining fires remove impurities from gold. The fires of affliction remove our impurities. Heb 12:7-11 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?  (8)  But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.  (9)  Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?  (10)  For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.  (11)  Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

This is important because we are a holy priesthood, and we will speak more on this later.

2. The Architect and Builder – are being built up

It is the stones that are being built not the stones forming a building themselves. There is One who designs and builds this spiritual building of living stones. As we read in 1 Kings 6 Solomon built the temple and in 1Ki 5:12 it says “So the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as He had promised him; “ Solomons wisdom was world renown and people traveled long distances to see him and what he had build, And yet Jesus said Mat 12:42  The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

Solomon in all wisdom in designing and building the temple is merely a type of the Christ who was to come who in infinite wisdom and discernment would build the spiritual temple that would outshine the glory of Solomon’s temple as the light of the Sun outshines that of the distant stars.

Mat 16:18  And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Christ is the architect and builder of this spiritual home. And how is He doing this? Eph 4:11-12  And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,  (12)  for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

Christ gifts the church for equipping the saints for works of ministry. There are no passive participants. We are all to be active in the ministry of the church. Ministering and serving those within and those on the outside. Peter expands on this later in the letter. 1Pe 4:7-11  But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.  (8)  And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "LOVE WILL COVER A MULTITUDE OF SINS."  (9)  Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.  (10)  As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  (11)  If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

But Christ in His infinite wisdom through the Spirit gifts all His people for the work and service of the body of Christ. 1Co 12:4-7  There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  (5)  There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.  (6)  And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.  (7)  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

So brethren, you are a stone, a living stone, with form and function within this spiritual home being built.

3. Spiritual House/a Holy Priesthood – Old Testament imagery. Old Temple built with dead stones had limited access to God. It was only at the temple that sacrifices were made. It was only in the temple that the priests served in making offerings and sacrifices on behalf of the people. But the spiritual house we have under the new covenant is made of living stones, and all believers, as a new priesthood, have access to the throne of grace. Heb 10:19-22  Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,  (20)  by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,  (21)  and since we have a great priest over the house of God,  (22)  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

NKJV translates the Greek word house, but it might more accurately be translated as home. A home is where a family resides. It is a place of refuge from the onslaught of the world. The main thing here is that we as a church are meant by Christ to be a corporate dwelling of God in the Spirit. It's true that each of us is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). But there is more of God to be known and enjoyed than anyone can know in isolation. We are being fitted together, Paul says, for a temple and for a dwelling of God by his Spirit. There is a presence and power and manifestation of the Spirit of God meant to be known in this gathering of worship that we do not know at any other time in isolation.

It is not a passive house but an active one. This spiritual house is, itself the holy priesthood. Peter qualifies it as holy, that is set apart in function and ministry. Peter has already given us the command to be holy in all our behavior in chapter 1. We are to be holy as our Father in heaven is holy. To be holy is to be set apart, different. The difference is in how we conduct ourselves in the world. We don’t grow our beards out as they did in the OT, we don’t wear phylacteries, we don’t dress differently unless you call modesty different and then by all means we should and do. This holy priesthood is rather inwardly adorned with the gospel of Christ, the wisdom of God, and bearing with us always His purpose. And our God does have a purpose for each one of His people or else there would be no reason to be left in the world at our salvation. There is another aspect of being holy and it has to do with ownership. Look at verse 9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. That phrase ‘a people for God’s own possession’ carried with it the idea of purchased for ownership. This church and every Christ centered church as the visible expression of the body of Christ is chosen, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for God’s own possession.

In this verse you will notice another adjective that Peter uses to describe the priesthood…royal. You may ask yourself how can this be? This goes back to what we touched on earlier in our union and communion with Christ. What is union with Christ? ’Union with Christ is that spiritual reality whereby we as believers are joined to our Lord such that what is true of him becomes true of us. Only as we are “in Christ” are we chosen, called, regenerated, justified, sanctified, redeemed, assured of the resurrection, and given every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:4,7; Rom. 6:5; 8:1; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 1:3). This union with Christ spans space and time—so that Paul can say that the Christian has died with Christ (Rm. 6:1-11; Gal. 2:20); the Christian has been resurrected with Christ (Eph. 2:5f; Col. 3:1f.), the Christian has ascended with Christ to share now in his reign in the heavenly places (Rm. 5:17; Eph. 2:6) and the Christian is destined to share Christ’s coming glory with him (Phil 3:20f; 1 Jn. 3:2)

That is a lot to take in so to simplify it we can say, our spiritual reality is what is true of Christ is true of us.

II. It’s Function

to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. In what ways?

Rom 12:1  I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. – To sacrifice is a complete renunciation of that which is laid upon the alter. All that you are, all that you do is to be done as unto the Lord. 1Co 10:31  Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

What does this mean? It means that there is no distinction between spiritual and non-spiritual. Col 3:17  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. It has been said here before. Calling is not limited to those who are in a position of full time ministry. We are all full time priests offering acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. Dads, moms, children who are in Christ, grandparents, employers, employees, people who are retired, students, you are all called.

And what we bring to our corporate worship Sunday morning is the sum of our spiritual sacrifices through the week. What are those sacrifices?

In praise and thanksgiving - Heb 13:15  Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

In acts of love - Eph 5:2  and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

In giving - Php 4:18  But I have received everything in full, and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.

Heb 13:16  And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

V9 – that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Proclaim means to tell forth, to tell something not otherwise known, to make widely known, to report widely, to proclaim throughout and to tell everywhere. This is the only placed it is used in the New Testament.

Exellencies - the word here refers to consummate excellence. In classical literature it is used to describe preeminence in moral, intellectual, or military; or quality that makes one stand out as excellent.

Darkness – refers to spiritual darkness. Peter is reminding his readers of the living in unbelief, ignorant of God’s provision for salvation, the truth of Christ. They were shrouded in darkness. The darkness of their own soul apart from Jesus, the darkness of ignorance to the Word of God.

His marvelous light – ex. Darkness to Light. My eye surgery. High def vision. God’s light reveals what the darkness has hidden. The glories of the living God are revealed, the perfect of His divine nature, His holiness, His justice, His tender watch care, mercy and grace. Understanding of the sinfulness of sin and the terrifying expectation of judgement to come concerning it. God’s infinite wisdom in reconciling His perfect justice with His perfect love in Jesus Christ. Not just called us out of darkness but into His marvelous light. Not moved from negative to a neutral place but to a positive.

Col 1:13  He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

I like the way the American Standard Version states this verse. Col 1:13  who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;

We are surrounded by and immersed in it. And it is our privilege to proclaim the excellencies of our God who was not constrained to save us but by an act of His free grace called us before the foundation of the world, washed us in the blood of Christ, and sealed us in the Holy Spirit so that not one would be lost.

And just a brief comment on making acceptable sacrifices to God. How are our sacrifices acceptable to the perfectly holy God? It is by virtue of our union and communion with Christ. Christ takes my offerings (the equivalent to stick figure art) and through Him makes it acceptable and pleasing to God (the Mona Lisa)

Let us praise and honor and glorify our Christ. Let us apply ourselves to understanding and doing spiritual sacrifices every day in the calling that God has called us, which may only be one, but probably multiple callings.

Prayer

Please Stand

Benediction

Jud 1:24-25  Now unto him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of his glory without blemish in exceeding joy,  (25)  to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and power, before all time, and now, and for evermore. Amen.