Journey Through Acts lesson 24

Notes
Transcript
Journey Through Acts
Lesson 24
Acts 4:11-12

Cornerstone

1. Cornerstone
a. A thing to describe Jesus.
i. Play movie
ii. Term used in the NT to describe the exalted position of Jesus.
iii. Acts 4:11 (ESV) — 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.
Acts 4:11 ESV
11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.

Parable of the Evil Farmers

i. Matthew 21:33-46
Matthew 21:33–46 NLT
33 “Now listen to another story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. 34 At the time of the grape harvest, he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop. 35 But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same. 37 “Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’ 38 “But when the tenant farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ 39 So they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him. 40 “When the owner of the vineyard returns,” Jesus asked, “what do you think he will do to those farmers?” 41 The religious leaders replied, “He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest.” 42 Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.’ 43 I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. 44 Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.” 45 When the leading priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. 46 They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet.
ii. The setting for this parable was his final ministry in Jerusalem after he had cleansed the temple.
iii. In the parable the farmers are the Jewish Leaders.
iv. Those farmers wickedly refused to honor the owner, who represented God, ultimately putting his son to death.
v. The parable speaks of the coming death of Jesus in symbolic terms.

The OId Testament Reference

i. Matthew 21:42 (NLT) — 42 Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.’
Matthew 21:42 NLT
42 Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.’
ii. Jesus concluded it by referring the Jewish leaders back to their own Scriptures…
iii. Psalm 118:22–23 (NASB95) — 22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. 23 This is the LORD’S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
Psalm 118:22–23 NASB95
22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. 23 This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
iv. Isaiah 28:16 (CSB) — 16 Therefore the Lord GOD said: “Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.
Isaiah 28:16 CSB
16 Therefore the Lord God said: “Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.
v. Jesus made this clear that he was speaking of his rejection and exaltation.
vi. That is, the Jewish leaders rejected Jesus, but God will exalt him as the cornerstone.

Peter’s Defense

a. As Jesus predicted
i. I am sure Peter was aware the parable that Jesus told to these same leaders.
ii. Here Peter quotes Ps 118:22 again point out that the Sanhedrin are the murders of the Messiah God own Son.
iii. Peter backs this with the healing of the lame beggar sitting at the temple gate.
iv. This healing told place at the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene.
v. The stone that you rejected.
vi. The stone became the chief cornerstone place there by Yahweh (Father).
vii. The that Yahweh (Father) exalted.

Peter’s bold statement.

i. It’s the gospel.
ii. It’s why the gospel is hated.
iii. Acts 4:12 (ESV) — 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12 ESV
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
iv. Jesus said this about himself
v. John 14:6 (NLT) — 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
John 14:6 NLT
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
vi. There is no other name.

A picture of the church.

a. A firm foundation
i. I love the symbolism
ii. A house built on a sturdy foundation
iii. Ephesians 2:19–22 (NLT) — 19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19–22 NLT
19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
iv. The universal church is here to stay.

What is the foundation of the church?

i. No longer strangers, you are citizens along with all of God’s holy people.
ii. Think about all the barriers that divide us.
iii. Age, appearance, intelligence, political persuasion, economic status, race, theological perspective.
iv. One of the surest ways to stifle Christ’s love is to be friendly only with those people who are similar to us.
v. In Christ we are one family.
vi. All those things are set aside.
vii. It’s the cross that is the focus of our unity.
viii. Guided by God’s Holy Spirit.

We are God’s holy temple.

i. This is such a powerful passage.
ii. Hebrews 9:11–14 (NIV) — 11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
Hebrews 9:11–14 NIV
11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
iii. It is amazing to think about.
iv. We get the doctrine of the Priesthood of the Believer from this idea.
v. Hebrews 4:14–16 (NIV) — 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:14–16 NIV
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
4. The bible is simple but complex.

Jesus as the cornerstone.

i. Simple that a child can understand. “By grace through faith”
ii. Complex that plunges into deeps of the mind of God.
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