1 Peter 2:4-8

Introduction

English Standard Version Chapter 2

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 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. 6 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.”

7 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,”

8 and

“A stone of stumbling,

and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

QUESTION:

Explanation and Application

1 Peter 2:4-5 “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.”

A living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious.

Jesus is the living stone.

He was rejected by men.

However, He was chosen and precious in God’s sight.

What is a living stone? _____.

Peter connects Jesus to three “stone prophecies.”

Isaiah 28:16 “therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’”

Ps 118:22 “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

Isaiah 8:14 “And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”

Christ is the living stone, which means that Jesus is better than all of the “nonliving stones” that make the temple.

If every person in the world is against you, but God is for you, then you are in good company.

Has there ever been a time in your life where you had to make an unpopular decision because of your faith, and you felt alone in that decision?

God was building something better in you than the approval of man.

1 Peter 2:6-8 “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.”

A cornerstone was the rocks on the bottom corner of the houses on which the entire weight of the house rests.

Man doesn’t choose the cornerstone. God chooses the cornerstone.

I believe that this ultimately relates to the gospel and Christ, but it also relates to you and me. We can be rejected by men but chosen by God.

Christ is the cornerstone that God chose.

The ultimate meaning of this text is Christ and God’s choosing of Christ to be the cornerstone of our salvation, but it does have an application for us. GOD CHOOSES THE STONE.

You are not the cornerstone, but you have work to do.

If God has chosen you, it does not matter if everyone is against you.

Application

Invitation