Cornerstone
Part 2
Part of Cornerstone—Life With The Cornerstone
April 14, 2024

Cornerstone: Life With The Cornerstone (Part 2) – 1 Peter 2:4-8

April 15th is Tax Day whether we like it or not.

The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax. —Albert Einstein


Jesus’ position as

is not up for debate.

4Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious. —1 Peter 2:4


If you choose Christ as Cornerstone…

5You also, as living stones, are 2being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6Therefore 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. 7Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious… —1 Peter 2:5-7a

Peter quoted Isaiah 28:16 to emphasize the foundation of Christ…

16Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken. —Isaiah 28:16


If you do not choose Christ as Cornerstone…

7The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,” 8and “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. —1 Peter 2:7b-8

Jesus dealt with the religious people extensively in His days. They refused to accept Him as the Cornerstone. Jesus told a story recorded in Matthew 21…

33Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. 34Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. 35And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. 37Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ 39So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.

40“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”

41They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”

42Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

43“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

45Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. 46But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet. —Matthew 21:33-45

Notice what their rejection caused:

They missed out on the

of Christ.

They didn’t have a

.


Jesus is the Cornerstone. It has already been decided.

What are you going to with Jesus? Your answer to this question matters.