Sermon Tone Analysis
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Addition
Today we have received Natalie into the church, but let’s remember that addition is by the Lord.
The Lord adds to himself by adding to the number of an existing group of baptised believers who have been called out and gathered together (that is what a local church comprises).
This is recognised by the elders of a local church receiving a person into church fellowship.
We’ve delighted in doing so this morning.
As individuals are added, built into a local church, so those local churches of God are being built together to form the spiritual house of God today - one of the collective entities under the New Covenant.
The house of God is the sphere in which priesthood service is enjoyed.
That's what we've been involved in this morning - holy priesthood service.
So, the step of addition is profoundly significant.
In short, the step of addition should be seen as bringing a person in among a worshipping priestly people who have the awesome privilege of participating in the collective spiritual experience of entering heaven.
Cornerstone
The “Stone” is surely a humbling title for the Son of God.
And yet, he is not just a stone but a Living Stone.
Surely the point of this title is that he is the one to be built upon.
Indeed he's the Cornerstone, that is the foundation stone - the one from whom the entire building takes its line.
Yesterday, at Natalie’s baptism, we gave thanks to God that "you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance" (Rom 6:17).
Isn’t this what it means to come to the Cornerstore, by which the pattern of the building is maintained?
As we are laid upon him, we are aligned to him - the pattern of his teaching has claimed our allegiance.
Addition by the Lord is, of course, a one time only action.
But our coming to the Living Stone to be built upon him is a continual process.
So, how do we do it?
Look at where this Stone has been laid.
He has been laid in Zion - that’s heavenly Zion, the dwelling place of God.
Is not our coming to him, the continuation of our priesthood service (holy and royal) in which we draw near to him in heaven as we have this morning?
This then connects back with Acts 2:42.
It's what is represented by the “continuing steadfastly” of that verse: devoting ourselves to the apostles' teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayers.
As we continue in these things, we are coming to him the Living Stone to be built up a spiritual house.
Have you ever consider that this house is an upside down building!
Its foundation stone is in heaven and yet we are being built up on that stone here on earth.
So, this is a building which reaches from heaven to earth.
It's the means by which and (in this dispensation) the sphere in which God's will is done on earth as it is in heaven.
Stones laid down
The Cornerstone has been laid, set, placed (1 Peter 2:6).
It's the same root word as “added” (which is a laying on top of).
The Living Stone is a building stone, a dressed stone, a cut stone.
The Old Testament speaks of him as a tested stone.
He was also a rejected Stone - rejected by those who should have been the builders in God's kingdom in his days on earth.
Our coming to him is a laying down on his foundation.
Bricks aren't usually stood on their ends; they’re more stable laid on their sides.
And, if the Son of God can subject himself to the will of the Father to be laid down in Zion then, surely, I can humble myself to be laid on his foundation!
The Living Stone was rejected by men and shaped by God.
That was a painful process.
It will be no less painful for us at times as we seek to continue steadfastly, coming to him to be dressed, shaped and built up.
But remember God's view of the Stone - “chosen and precious!”
He was laid in Zion in resurrection, having been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
No wonder the result for those who are willing to be built on him is that we will “never be put to shame” (1 Peter 2:6).
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