“This stone is of great value for you that believe; but for those who do not believe: "The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most important of all." (1Peter 2:7)
Many may be asking, what is this stone? Why is it valuable? Who are the builders that rejected the stone and called it worthless? This is a beautiful analogy written by Peter.
Verse 7 tells us that this stone turned out to be the most important of all. That’s because it’s the corner stone. The corner stone as the name indicates is placed in the corner of a building joining two walls. It’s the foundation of that corner. It’s the first stone placed and all the other stones are placed in reference to it. It determines the direction of the whole building. This analogy is meaningless unless we get more information. To understand this analogy, we need to read the preceding Scriptures.
“Come to the Lord, the living stone rejected by people as worthless but chosen by God as valuable. Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. For the scripture says, "I chose a valuable stone, which I am placing as the cornerstone in Zion; and whoever believes in Him will never be disappointed." (1Peter 2:4-6)
In these verses, we find that the corner stone is a living stone. That word “living” is important. We cannot but see that it’s referring to Jesus. Jesus is living. He’s the foundation of the church (church universal), establishing the direction it should go. The leaders rejected Him and considered Him worthless. But He is precious in the sight of God and His children. Verse 7 tells us that Jesus turned out to be the most important stone, the foundation and reference of the church. And in verses 4 and 7 we learn that He is the most valuable stone, meaning the foundation and direction of the church.
I keep insisting that these verses are about the church because it gives us insight as to why the church is so important to God. The church universal is not a particular denomination. It’s not a building. It’s the believers universal; those who believe in Jesus, those He has called, those who have made Him Lord and Savior and those who are saved. That is the church. Our church in Mexico had a slogan, “We are the church.” This was not an egotistical slogan about our church building, but a slogan that we the people are included in the universal group of believers in Jesus, the church universal.
Peter then calls out for the living stones to be used to build a spiritual temple. He calls out for the believers to build that spiritual temple. He is calling for the believers to meet together and take our places as holy priests offering spiritual and acceptable sacrifices. Before going further, we have to understand what he’s referring to. In the Old Testament, the priests made sacrifices for the people. There were voluntary sacrifices and mandatory sacrifices like for sin. They all involved either animal sacrifice or burning of produce of the field which were divided into two or three portions. God’s portion was burned. The second portion was for the priest. If there was a third, it was given to the person for whom the sacrifice was being made. This information is important to know because Peter is calling the believers holy priests making sacrifices to God. Now believers will not be slaughtering animals and burning the products of the field. But as holy priests we offer the sacrifice of praise. Paul writes: “Let us, then, always offer praise to God as our sacrifice through Jesus, which is the offering presented by lips that confess Him as Lord.” (Hebrews 13:15)
Peter sees believers acting as holy priests when we gather together and offer sacrifices of praise, erecting a holy temple. The stones (believers) building a temple (habitation) for the Lord. The King James Version of the Bible says it best. “But Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” (Psalms 22:3 KJV) That word “inhabitest” in Hebrew means to come sit down and dwell.
These Scriptures emphasize the importance of attending church. When we are all together, praising God, we are acting as holy priests offering holy and spiritual sacrifices which are so acceptable to God that He comes and dwells with us, manifesting His glory. That’s the anointing many feel in worship services. So, I urge you fellow believers to gather together. Let’s erect that temple, that habitation that holds God in our midst so tangibly we can reach out and feel His touch. That’s when we see His healing, spirit, soul (mind, will and emotions) and body.
Comments