Sermon Tone Analysis

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2:4–10 The Living Stone and a Chosen People.

2:4–8 The Father’s House.

The Greek word translated “house” provides a wonderful play on words.

It can refer to a physical building or (in reference to a deity) a temple, as well as a household or family.

Christian believers constitute the family of God by virtue of their new birth (1:3).

Peter refers to “living stones” (see v. 5 and note) to evoke the image of a building in which God dwells, with each believer taking their place in it.

2:4 the living Stone.

The resurrected Christ, who is himself alive forevermore and the giver of life to those who believe that he is the Son of God who atoned for sin.

After describing the new birth and the moral transformation of character necessary to sustain the new life in Christ,

2:5 living stones … being built into a spiritual house.

An image of Christian believers taking their places in God’s great project of redemption.

The placement of the living stones with the living Stone shows the close relationship between believers and Jesus Christ and their shared nature as human beings.

The living stones are not isolated, heaped in a pile, or scattered across a field; each stone takes its place in the design of the Father’s spiritual house.

As living stones within a spiritual house, believers are unified, each is significant, and each has a purpose.

The Holy Spirit, who has given life to the living stones, also indwells the spiritual house.

The OT temple is the background for this metaphor, for the temple was the place of God’s presence and of proper worship.

Animals were sacrificed in the OT temple, but in this spiritual house, believers form a priesthood that offers “spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God” (cf. ).

priesthood.

The priesthood of all believers is not a reference to ecclesial authority.

Rather, believers are to (1) reflect the holiness of God and that of their high priest (1:15; ; ), (2) offer spiritual sacrifices (here; ; ; the NT also refers to offerings that include money or material goods [; ]), (3) intercede for others before God (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ), and (4) represent God to others (2:12; ; , ).

2:4–10 Jesus is called the living stone and the cornerstone, but also the rejected stone and the stone to stumble over.

Peter assured his readers that they are God’s valuable possession—living stones built into a spiritual house.

They are part of a living temple that is the corporate people of God, his unique possession.

A chosen race (v.

9; cp.

vv. 4, 6; ) seems to refer to the corporate unity of believers.

In Christ, believers of all races are unified.

They are also a royal priesthood—a collective company of priests—who offer up spiritual sacrifices to God (v. 5).

Believers have been called out of darkness and into his marvelous light.

The transfer from darkness to light is a common NT description of conversion (; ; ).

Peter presents an image of a spiritual house, or temple, with Jesus Christ

as the foundational cornerstone into which believers are being built.

Moo, D. J. (2015).

The Letters and Revelation.

In D. A. Carson (Ed.), NIV Zondervan Study Bible: Built on the Truth of Scripture and Centered on the Gospel Message (pp.

2541–2542).

Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Peter takes the stone imagery from the OT (; ; ),

applies it to Jesus (cf.

1:11), and uses terms that previously described the OT people of God to refer to Christians (v.

9).

2:4–10

Jesus is called the living stone (v4) and the cornerstone, but also the rejected stone and a stone to stumble over (v8)

Peter assured his readers that they are God’s valuable possession—living stones (v5) built into a spiritual house (v5).

They are part of a living temple that is the corporate people of God, his unique possession.

A chosen race (v.

9; cp.

vv. 4, 6; ) seems to refer to the corporate unity of believers.

In Christ, believers of all races are unified.

They are also a royal priesthood—a collective company of priests—who offer up spiritual sacrifices to God (v. 5).

Believers have been called out of darkness and into his marvelous light.

The transfer from darkness to light is a common NT description of conversion (; ; ).

"For it stands in Scripture: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

()

See, I lay a stone in Zion

The passage before us is a very favorite quotation with the apostles.

If you turn to the Epistle to the Romans you will find Paul quoting it again and again in rapid succession.

The last verse of the ninth chapter is,

“The one who believes in him will not be put to shame” (), and in 10:11 he repeats the quotation.

It is a quotation from , where we find it written thus: "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.”

()

It must be a very important part of God’s word that even the Holy Spirit Himself has quoted so frequently.

He is rich in thought and is ever able to create new ideas.

He abounds in language and cannot be confused by expression, and yet He quotes Himself

in these three instances that I have given you.

Therefore we may be quite sure it is because no other expression would be more suitable.

a chosen and honored cornerstone

We can most naturally understand the laying of a stone upon the foundation to be suggested as a description of faith.

If, then, you want to know what it is to believe in Jesus,

it is to lie upon Him as a stone lies upon a foundation when the mason puts it there.

There is the foundation firm and strong, a precious cornerstone, tried and sure.

A stone thrown about from hand to hand is self-contained and independent, but when the mason puts it on the foundation it is dependent.

It leans on the cornerstone upon which it is placed.

If you’re a poor tempted soul, that is just what you have to do.

You must not be a loose stone resting on yourself and

tossed here and there upon the earth,

but you must lie still upon Christ and let Him bear your whole weight upon Himself.

and the one who believes in him

The foundation of the believer’s faith is Christ Jesus Himself.

The believer receives doctrine because Christ has taught it, but still it is not a doctrine that is the foundation of his confidence.

It is a person: “The one who believes in him.”

The Lord Jesus Himself, as the Son of God, is the object of our faith: it is upon Him that we lean.

The apostle does not say in 2 Timothy, “I know what I have believed,” though that would be true, but “I know in whom I have believed, and I am confident that he is able to guard what I have entrusted until that day” (2 Tim 1:12).

The faith that saves the soul is confidence in a person, reliance upon one who will certainly effect the salvation of those who trust Him.

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him, for your expectation is from Him.

There is plenty for you to do for your Lord, to show your love to Him and to glorify His name.

But you cannot add to the foundation of your confidence, nor should you dream of doing so.

How could you improve what your Lord declares to be finished?

Is not His work all-sufficient?

Do you want to move the foundation?

Does it not stand fast forever?

Lean on it steadily and let this be your chief concern.

The foundation of the believer’s faith is Christ Jesus Himself.

The believer receives doctrine because Christ has taught it, but still it is not a doctrine that is the foundation of his confidence.

The foundation of the believer’s faith is Christ Jesus Himself.

The believer receives doctrine because Christ has taught it, but still it is not a doctrine that is the foundation of his confidence.

It is a person: “The one who believes in him.”

The Lord Jesus Himself, as the Son of God, is the object of our faith: it is upon Him that we lean.

The apostle does not say in 2 Timothy, “I know what I have believed,” though that would be true, but “I know in whom I have believed, and I am confident that he is able to guard what I have entrusted until that day” ().

The faith that saves the soul is confidence in a person, reliance upon one who will certainly effect the salvation of those who trust Him.

It is a person: “The one who believes in him.”

The Lord Jesus Himself, as the Son of God,

is the object of our faith: it is upon Him that we lean.