PART II - Christ, our Cornerstone

Prayer

In Jesus name, amen!

Welcome

Main Passage:

Acts 4:11–12 NASB 2020

He is the Stone which was Rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”

Title:

PART II - Christ our Cornerstone

Introduction

Story

Foundation, a cornerstone.

Explanation

What is a Cornerstone and why is it important: stability and alignment.

Application

If Christ is not our foundation and reference for our lives, we will not last.

Context

Romans 9:19-21.

God is not the cause of human disobedience.

The clay cannot judge the creator.

We do not have rights over God.

Romans 9:22-33 are Paul’s last 3 responses to the objection, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will.

These are the real answers Paul affirms and gives about God’s purpose and human responsibility.

Bible

Romans 9:22–33 ESV

What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’ ” “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ ” And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” And as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah.” What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Transitional Sentence

Paul will give us 3 reasons why Jesus is the cornerstone.

Response 1: God is patient — v.22

Romans 9:22 NASB 2020

What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with great patience objects of wrath prepared for destruction?

Explanation

God’s patience gives space for repentance. God is patient because he’s gracious in love.

Illustration

Psalm 145:8 ESV

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

2 Peter 3:9 NASB 2020

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.

Application

Response 2: God is merciful and is for all people — v.23–29

Romans 9:23–29 NASB 2020

And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon objects of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, namely us, whom He also called, not only from among Jews, but also from among Gentiles, as He also says in Hosea: “I will call those who were not My people, ‘My people,’ And her who was not beloved, ‘beloved.’ ” “And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘you are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.” Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the sons of israel may be Like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved; for the Lord will execute his word on the earth, thoroughly and quickly.” And just as Isaiah foretold: “If the Lord of armies had not left us Descendants, We would have become like Sodom, and would have Been like Gomorrah.”

Explanation

God has a people who have responded to His mercy and are now objects of His mercy.

Illustration

Romans 9:24 NASB 2020

namely us, whom He also called, not only from among Jews, but also from among Gentiles,

1 Peter 2:10 NASB 2020

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.

Application

Response 3: Jesus is the cornerstone — v.30-33

Romans 9:30–33 NASB 2020

What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, but the righteousness that is by faith; however, Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though they could by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, just as it is written: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, And the one who believes in Him will not be Put to shame.”

Explanation

Salvation is by faith in Christ.

Illustration

Acts 4:11–12 NASB 2020

He is the Stone which was Rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”

Application

So what

Christ is the stability and the reference by which we live our lives.

Now what

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal Christ as the cornerstone.

Look at Jesus.

Prayer

In Jesus name, amen!