CHOSEN AND PRECIOUS STONES
Rev. Bernt P. Tweit
Old Testament Lesson; Acts 17:1-15
Gospel Lesson; John 14:1-12
Sermon Text; I Peter 2:4-10
Did you know the Bible has a lot to say about stones?
Perhaps the most interesting use of stones in the Bible is found in our text for today. It says that Jesus is the living Stone, and we are living stones. Jesus is the precious cornerstone and we are the stones (or bricks) that makeup a building.
Today when we hear the word cornerstone, we think of a special stone, with a year chiseled on it, containing special items inside. But a cornerstone in Jesus' day was even more significant than that. A cornerstone was a stone placed at the corner, or the intersecting angle where two walls of a building came together. In biblical times, buildings were often made of cut, squared stone. By uniting two intersecting walls, a cornerstone helped align the whole building and tie it together. The precision in building can be seen in the temple that was built during the reign of King Solomon. The Bible says, "In building the temple, only cut stones dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built." I Kings 6:7.
Josephus, an early Jewish historian said that the stones lie together so harmoniously and smoothly that there appeared to the spectators no need for hammer or chisel or other instruments of architecture.
In the days of Jesus and the apostles, the Jews told the story of a massive stone that was brought to the temple site that would not fit into any of the rising walls, so the builders rejected it, placed it aside and forgot it. The builders kept stumbling over it as they were trying to build Solomon’s temple. It was very much in the way until some prophet came along to point out to the builders that this particular stone would serve as a solid cornerstone. It was then quickly put into place. It fit, and the building of the temple could proceed. And, so it is fitting for Peter to say, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone or cornerstone." Therefore the stone that was chosen as the cornerstone was precious, because the whole building was aligned with it.
An attempt has been made by scientists to recreate a small model of the old stone buildings – to learn the importance of the cornerstone and how the ancients had accomplished the feat. They measured and cut the giant stone – which would serve as the guide and cornerstone. And, as they raised the other stones on top, it became clear that their original calculations were wrong and their stone building would remain eternally flawed.
When we try to come up with our own cornerstone to build faith on, we fail (just as the scientists did). Other religions have tried doing this and are constantly having to "patch" their building to make up for their flawed cornerstone. Consider the Mormon religion, for one. Their leaders discuss new "revelations", to make up for the old ones that have failed.
In our text for today, Peter uses the illustration of a stone. Jesus is a chosen and precious stone. And we are also chosen and precious stones.
Jesus is a chosen and precious stone.
Jesus is a chosen and precious stone. Jesus is the cornerstone of our salvation. In our gospel reading for today Jesus said,
"I
am
the way and
the truth and
the life.
No one
comes to the Father
except through
me."
John 14:6
He is "the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through" him.
After the fall into sin, we were like a building that didn’t have a solid foundation. We were like the tower of Pisa. Without a solid foundation, we are sure to fall.
But God promised to send a Savior. God made a plan to build us on the foundation that Jesus would win for us. And by believing in him, we share in the victory he won for us over sin, death and Satan. We then are "living stones" that have been built upon Him. The Bible says that we are "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone."
Ephesians 2:20
Yes, Jesus is the chosen and precious cornerstone of our salvation. If the cornerstone is crooked, then the entire building is crooked. But when the cornerstone is perfect, then the entire building is solid.
It is interesting to note that people can look at Jesus in two different ways. One group of people can look at Jesus as the cornerstone, the precious and most important stone. Another group of people can look at Jesus as a worthless stone, and they stumble over Him, because they think that believing in Him is foolishness.
To those who reject Him because He is not what they expected, He becomes a stumbling stone. Our text says, "They stumble because they disobey the message - which is also what they were destined for." I Peter 2:8.
Through unbelief, they rejected Jesus and are destined for Hell.
According to human ways of thinking, Jesus is regarded as useless and of no value whatsoever. But how wrong a person can be.
Jesus is the "living Stone."
He is not some lifeless monument.
He is risen!
Just as the rejected stone became the most important and most precious stone in all the building, likewise He is the most precious and valuable foundation stone on which we build our lives.
We are chosen and precious stones.
We are chosen and precious stones. God selected us! We didn’t seek Him. He sought us!
We are chosen and precious stones because of what Jesus has done for us. He gave His life for us on the cross so that we might be free, free of the punishment we deserve because of our sinfulness.
We are chosen and precious stones because he has made us fresh and new through the forgiveness he has won for us.
We are chosen and precious stones because he has given us a life beyond the grave, a glorious life with Him in heaven forever.
We are chosen and precious stones!
And because we are chosen and precious stones, we should have a whole new outlook on life. Paul in addressing the Christians in Rome said, "I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1
We are to offer spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God, through Jesus Christ. How can I give to my church? How can I help others who are of the household of faith? What can I do for others, since Jesus has done so much for me?
This summer the evangelism committee is going to be doing a survey/canvass, during the months of June, July and August, one night a week, less than one hour each night. Would you be able to share the chosen and precious Stone with others?
Why should we do this? We should do this because,
"You
are a chosen people,
a royal priesthood,
a holy nation,
a people belonging to God, that
you
may declare the praises of Him who called
you
out of darkness into
His wonderful light.
Once you were not a people, but now
you
are the people of God;
once you had not received mercy, but now
you
have received mercy."
Amen.
Top of Page
|| Church Sermons || Return to Home Page