Firm Foundation (v.4-8)
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house c to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 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.”
7 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,”
8 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. 1 Peter 2:4–8.
As we get into our passage today, I want to make sure that we have a proper base to build on so let’s get into a quick construction lesson.
The context in which Peter is writing here is to the newly formed Church which was fresh in their faith as it related to Jesus Christ. So Peter, like a skilled worker, didn’t try to teach his audience about healing, preaching, or even prayer. No, Peter started out as simple as you possibly could, at the foundation. He knew that in order to help these young believers overcome whatever this world could throw at them, they couldn’t rely on only looking the part.
Has anyone ever met a Christian like that?
They talk a good game because they have grown up in church or maybe they have some mountain-shaking prayers when you are in the prayer group. But as soon as things become difficult, they are some of the first people out the door. Why is that? They don’t have a solid base so it is easy to shake them.
Verse 4:
When it comes to this passage, that is the point that Peter is trying to get across. He writes in verse 4 about Jesus being the Living Stone that was rejected by people, yet chosen by God. It is important to realize that as Peter writes this letter, especially in the passage that we are learning from today, he consistently refers back to the Old Testament to drive the point home that Jesus is the Messiah and the only one worth building our whole life on.
Another lesson that we can take away from verse 4 is that rejection by people does not reflect a person’s true worth. It is nearly impossible to measure up to the moving mark of culture today, but take heart because we serve a God that is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Verse 5:
Those of us who call Jesus the King of our life are labeled as living stones as well. This means that as we connect our lives in community the way that God intends for us to do, we are being built up into a spiritual house. This is a good church, listen up. The address of the building that we are gathered in currently is 4717 E. Michigan St. There is nothing special at all about this building. We have some beautiful windows that a few bullets have flown through, and we have a great greenspace to host events for our community, but at the end of the day, there is NOTHING special about this place or this space.
YOU are what makes this place special. Listen Peter uses all of this temple language from Exodus 19 to drive home the fact that the presence of God has moved from the temple to the people.
READ VERSE 5 AGAIN. Church, if you know Jesus as your savior, you have the Holy Ghost in you. You received at the moment you were saved, not before, not after it.
Verse 6-8:
This is where Peter drops a little bit of knowledge to his audience as he makes a few callbacks to the Old Testament:
First, he paints the picture that the prophet Isaiah was making when he prophesized about the coming Messiah.
Isaiah 28:16
16 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who relies on it
will never be stricken with panic.
Secondly, Peter makes a connection to Psalm 118:22 which is a key messianic Psalm that Jesus himself quoted in Matthew 21:42.
Psalm 118:22
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
Thirdly and lastly, Peter makes a connection to Isaiah 8:14
Isaiah 8:14
14 He will be a holy place;
for both Israel and Judah he will be
a stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.
And for the people of Jerusalem he will be
a trap and a snare.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 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. 1 Peter 2:9–10
Peter references Exodus 19 to draw attention to the fact that it is no longer Israel alone that able to receive the gift of salvation, but whoever calls upon the name of the Lord.
Exodus 19:5–6
5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
