By
Shelby G. Floyd
In the New Testament Christ is pictured as a Living Stone in God’s spiritual building:
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious…Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “ Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame” (1 Peter 2:4, 6).
The scripture that Peter quotes is found in Isaiah 28:16, Isaiah 8:14, and Psalms 118:22. In these readings, Christ is like a stone being put into a building. He is the most important stone—the preeminent stone, on which all other stones are dependent. The chief cornerstone is laid in the building or house and is the church of Christ (1 Timothy 3:15). He is what gives the building stability and strength and permanence. Accordingly Christ is,
- A living stone
- A tested stone
- A precious cornerstone
- A sure foundation stone
Paul also as well as Peter used this imagery in writing to the church at Ephesus:
“Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord (Ephesians 2:20-21).
Jesus Christ is the only sure foundation of the church: “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11).
We build on the Christ foundation when we hear and obey his sayings. When we hear and do not do what Christ taught we are building on the destructive foundation of sand:
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall”( Matthew 7:24-27).
The church is built on the deity of Christ that Peter confessed, and upon which Christ said he would build his church (Matthew 16:13-19).
Unbelievers have repudiated and rejected this stone, but to God and his people he is precious and loved. Copyright © 2019 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved
Shelby Floyd
Heartland Church of Christ
1693 West Main Street
Greenwood, Indiana 46142
shelby@thefloyds.net