From Dead Rocks to Living Stones: A Miracle Story

Introduction

If you decided to have a brand new house built, one of the first things you would need is a design— a blueprint. If you pay a contractor, with your hard earned money, to build a house and he decides to toss out the blueprint and wing it, you would be furious. Who knows what kind of house you would end up with. At the very least, you need to begin with a well-built foundation - everything level and square. If you have a good foundation, you will be able to build a solid home that should stand the test of time and the elements. In Jesus is referred to as the Living Stone and as the cornerstone…some translations say “chief cornerstone”.

Scripture Reading

Scripture Reading

1 Peter 2:6 NIV

For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

1 Peter 2:4–6 NIV

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

1 Peter 2:4–10 ESV

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

PRAYER

1 Peter 2

PRAYER

In verse 4, Jesus is referred to as “a living stone”. That doesn’t make sense. A stone, boulder, rock, etc., is by definition, dead. It is an inanimate object. “Living Stone” is an oxymoron. Living and Stone are not words normally used together like that. Peter used metaphors to describe Jesus and those that follow Him. We are a spiritual house…he is the cornerstone - a living stone. We are living stones in His house. He is the source that holds everything in its places…that keeps the house from crumbling. When we are built upon Christ the solid rock, the living stone — the cornerstone…let the storms come - rain, snow, hail, hurricanes…nothing can cause His house to fall.

Jesus used the term “cornerstone” to speak of himself in the parable of the wicked tenants who were caring for the vineyard (). He told this parable shortly after He had cleansed the Temple. The Jewish leaders questioned him about his actions and part of His reply included this parable. The tenants in the parable who were caring for the Master’s vineyard represented the Jewish leaders— the vineyard symbolized God’s people. The tenants dishonored the master (owner), who represented God - ultimately they put the owner’s son to death. Jesus’ words (quoting from ) pointed to his upcoming death.

Psalm 118:22–23 NIV

The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Matthew 21:42 NIV

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Psalm 118:

His point was that He would be rejected, but that the Father would exalt Him. The Jewish leaders rejected Him…but God exalted Him as the chief cornerstone. How did they reject Him? They killed Him. But God raised Jesus from the dead, our chief cornerstone - a Living Stone.

Peter’s metaphor points to Jesus’ followers as “living stones” — a spiritual house — being developed into a holy priesthood. Before we experienced new birth in Christ, we were dead in our sins…we were dead rock. Now, as part of God’s house, we also experience rejection from the world. But His hand is upon those that follow Him…making us a royal priesthood, His own people, created to praise Him from the rooftops. Jesus brought us from death to life through His sacrifice on the Cross and His resurrection.

Big Idea: Christ our Cornerstone transforms us from dead rocks to living stones in His house

Transitional: Since we have an eternal inheritance in Christ and he has transformed us into a new creation, let us...

Connect with the Living Stone

Exposition:

In chapter 1, Peter established that we have an inheritance that is eternal because of the life we have in Christ

He encourages us with the fact that God is guarding us until our salvation is made complete

He speaks a message of hope: that, in the midst of seasons of trials, God will grow us up in Him and make us strong people of faith

Peter encourages believers to live in a state of readiness - sober and alert, obedient and uncompromising, made holy because He is holy

He reminds believers to live in reverence, realizing we are pilgrims and strangers.

Believers are exhorted to love one another deeply and constantly, enabled by the truth of the Living Word

1 Peter 2:3–8 NIV

now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

Peter continues...

1 Peter 2:3–4 NIV

now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—

1 Peter 2:3–5 NIV

now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:4 NIV

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—

1 Peter 2:4

…in view of the fact that you have tasted that the Lord is excellent; toward whom we are constantly drawing near, Himself in character a Living Stone, indeed by men repudiated after they had tested Him for the purpose of approving Him, in which investigation they found Him to be that which did not meet their specifications, but in the sight of God a chosen-out One and held in honor. (Wuest’s Expanded Translation)

…in view of the fact that you have tasted that the Lord is excellent; toward whom we are constantly drawing near, Himself in character a Living Stone, indeed by men repudiated after they had tested Him for the purpose of approving Him, in which investigation they found Him to be that which did not meet their specifications, but in the sight of God a chosen-out One and held in honor. (Wuest’s Expanded Translation)

The Living Stone is

Chosen & Precious

1 Peter 2:5–6 NIV

you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

The Living Stone is

Rejected (7)

1 Peter 2:7 NIV

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

The Living Stone is

The Cornerstone (7)

our reference point

The Living Stone is

A Stumbling-block (8)

1 Peter 2:8 NIV

and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

“If it were a snake, it would have bit you”

The hear of Jesus - maybe even claim to worship Him - but He becomes a stumbling block b/c He doesn’t’ fit the mold they want Him to fit

Transition: Our life in Christ is meant to be one of constant contact and communion…as “living stones”

Become “living stones” in His House

1 Peter 2:4 NIV

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—

…as you continuously come to Him

Living stones in His house are..

Honored

honor will come to those who believe

7a …so honor will come to you who believe

The most important honor we can receive is from the Lord and His People

Living stones in His house are..

Chosen

1 Peter 2:9–10 The Message

But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

Remember, this as a wide array of people Peter wrote to in this letter — a reminder that any and all that call upon Him fall under that umbrella — chosen

chosen generation

Priesthood

Holy people

God’s instruments

Witnesses

Rejected

If they rejected Christ, they will reject us — expect it — use it to bring honor and praise to the Lord

Challenge

Christ our Cornerstone transforms us from dead rocks to living stones in His house

Only God can bring life into something that is dead and lifeless — our miracle story

How can we be living stones in His house?

Constantly come to Jesus in humble praise, worship, and fellowship

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible C. The Hidden Spiritual House (2:4–10)

A stone can look most unimpressive—but it can perform a vital function if made the cornerstone of a large building; or it can bring a person tumbling to the ground if he or she stumbles over it. Jesus has become the cornerstone of God’s spiritual temple, and there are two possible responses. We can either take our own angle and position from the Cornerstone, and line ourselves up on him; or we can refuse to live by reference to him, and stumble over him instead. It is a vivid picture.

Peter urges his readers to see that they are being built in line with Christ: sharing all the angles of his life, experiencing his rejection as well as the glory. His opponents stumble fatally, but those joined to Christ are a chosen people, a royal priesthood (v. 9), contrary to all appearances. In verses 9 and 10 Peter piles up phrases from the Old Testament (Exod. 19:6; Isa. 42:12; 43:20f.; Hos. 1:10; 2:23) to show how all that is true of God’s chosen covenant people is true for those who believe in Jesus, however rejected and weak they may seem.

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible C. The Hidden Spiritual House (2:4–10)

A stone can look most unimpressive—but it can perform a vital function if made the cornerstone of a large building; or it can bring a person tumbling to the ground if he or she stumbles over it. Jesus has become the cornerstone of God’s spiritual temple, and there are two possible responses. We can either take our own angle and position from the Cornerstone, and line ourselves up on him; or we can refuse to live by reference to him, and stumble over him instead. It is a vivid picture.

Let your life be built in alignment with Christ

Follow His angles and lines

Expect rejection as well as rewards

Live as His own possession

As chosen people

As priests in God’s house