THE STONE REJECTED BY THE BUILDERS
Study Text: Acts 4: 11-12
Introduction:
- The context of this statement was in a speech made by Peter, who was defending himself in an interrogation by the local authorities, who were asking him how it was that he and John had apparently healed a man who had been previously unable to walk all his life.
- The miracle that had taken place did not result in people celebrating and giving thanks, but rather in people feeling threatened and wanting reassurance that nothing in their little world was going to change.
- Rather than placate his questioners though, Peter goes on the attack, and says to the whole assembled group of ecclesiastical thought police:
"if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead - by him this man is standing before you well!” (Act 4:8-10)
And then he adds: “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.”
- This saying also turns up in other places. It was indeed used by Jesus Himself at the conclusion of a story He told about a vineyard with some violent tenants (Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17)
Further more, Jesus Himself was quoting, from Psalm 118 (verse 22):
“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.”
- The statement also turns up again later in Peter’s first letter, which makes it certainly one of the most often repeated texts in the whole of the Scriptures!
Why is this saying so significant, and what does it mean? We shall discuss the topic under three sub-headings:
1. The Significance of the Cornertone
2. The Signs of Rejection of the Cornerstone
3. The Security Provided by the Cornerstone
1. The Significance of the Cornertone
- This is not simply a decorative stone used to finish off the corners of a building with a bit of architectural flair.
- No, rather it is that fundamental stone that structurally holds the entire building together!
- The Roman arches arched and met in the middle at a cornerstone. And if you removed that stone, the whole thing would fall to pieces.
- This is a wonderful image of the Lord Jesus. At one level, He appears to be just another stone in the building - made of the same stuff as the rest of us stones. - And yet He is more central to the building than any of the other stones because He occupies that place in the structure, such that if He is removed, the entire building collapses!
- He is a part of the building along with the rest of us stones. He is like us, and yet he is different from us because He is more central to the building, and also because He looks different, which may explain why he would be rejected!
- Jesus was different. He was the odd-shaped stone on the slab. He was different! And for that reason He was rejected.
- We do know that Jesus was different of course, and we know that we who follow Him are supposed to be different too.
- Our point of distinctiveness in this world should not be because we are perceived as being more self-righteous than everybody else.
- We know that we are supposed to be different but we’ve forgotten how we are supposed to be different. And I think the problem starts with the fact that we have forgotten what made Jesus different.
- The New Testament tells us where Jesus was most obviously different:
1. He is the Good Shepherd - not like the others who are out to fleece the flock. This shepherd is ready to lay down His life for the sheep.
2. He’s not in it for the money. He’s not in it for the glory. He’s the shepherd who is in it for the sheep.
3. He is different in the way He redefines love for us in terms of self-sacrifice.
4. He is different in the way He forgives those who damage him.
5. He is different because He is honest, frank, real, imaginative, focused, compassionate, caring and powerful.
- This is the stone that the builders rejected - wrong shape, wrong colour, too difficult, too demanding.
- But the opinion of the builders was subject to the review of the chief architect, who has made this stone, Jesus, the Cornerstone to the entire operation.
2. The Signs of Rejection of the Cornerstone:
- From the Bible days, many people have rejected Jesus and the free gift of salvation He offered mankind.
- Joh 1:11 He came to His own, and His own received Him not.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name,
Joh 1:13 who were born, not of bloods, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but were born of God. (John 1:11-13).
- Even today, many are rejecting Him either consciously or unconsciously. Rejecting Jesus here on earth has great and eternal consequences. (John 3: 16-20).
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.
Joh 3:18 He who believes on Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light, because their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20 For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
- The signs of rejecting Him includes:
1. Hearing the Gospel of salvation without believing, confessing of sins and returning to God. (Acts 2: 36-38).
Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God made this same Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Act 2:37 And hearing this, they were stabbed in the heart, and said to Peter and to the other apostles, Men, brothers, what shall we do?
Act 2:38 Then Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ to remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2. Resisting the preaching of the Gospel and the teaching of sound doctrine. (Acts 13: 6-8).
Act 13:6 And when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain conjurer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-jesus;
Act 13:7 who was with the proconsul of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man. He called for Barnabas and Saul and asked to hear the Word of God.
Act 13:8 But Elymas the conjurer (for so his name is, if translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
3. Claiming to know but walking in disobedience to His words, instructions and His perfectly revealed will. (Matt 7: 20-23).
Mat 7:20 Therefore by their fruits you shall know them.
Mat 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord! Lord! shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord! Lord! Did we not prophesy in Your name, and through Your name throw out demons, and through Your name do many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then I will say to them I never knew you! Depart from Me, those working lawlessness!
4. Forsaking the assemblying of the saints or haphazard attendance in Church meetings. (Heb 10: 23-25).
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for He is faithful who promised),
Heb 10:24 and let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works,
Heb 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
5. Not preaching the gospel and not releasing oneself for necessary services in the kingdom of God. (Matt 28: 18-20)
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority is given to Me in Heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the world. Amen.
6. Not living in peace with others, and not demonstrating love as commanded by God. (1 John 2: 8-11).
1Jo 2:8 Again, I write a new commandment to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true Light now shines.
1Jo 2:9 He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in darkness until now.
1Jo 2:10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no offense in him.
1Jo 2:11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because darkness has blinded his eyes.
3. The Security Provided by the Cornerstone:
- The sacrifice of Jesus, the rejected one, was made for our salvation. With the apostles they were to be built with him into spiritual temple based upon his sacrifice, the building of the fellowship of believers, the household of God, was based upon the rejected stone, the son who was killed:
• (Ephesians 2:19-22) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, {20} built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. {21} In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; {22} in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
- All may benefit, if only they will enter the house and consent to be joined with him into that holy dwelling place of God.
- There are benefit and eternal security both in this world and the world to come, for all those that receive Jesus.
1. They are protected from all machinations and manipulations of the enemy. (Isaiah 54:17).
Isa 54:17 No weapon that is formed against you shall be blessed; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment, you shall condemn. This is the inheritance of the servants of Jehovah, and their righteousness is from Me, says Jehovah.
2. They are entitled to all-round blessings here on earth. (Psalms 1: 1-3).
Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of the scornful.
Psa 1:2 But his delight is only in the Law of Jehovah; and in His Law he meditates day and night.
Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivulets of water that brings forth its fruit in its seasons, and its leaf shall not wither, and all which he does shall be blessed.
3. The priviledge of prayer and overflowing peace from God. (Phil 4: 6-7).
Phi 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Phi 4:7 And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
4. Heavenly mansion and eternal rest in God’s kingdom. (John 14: 1-3).
Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me.
Joh 14:2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also.
Conclusion:
- If a person comes to Jesus for salvation, they are giving evidence that He is calling them to come. When they come, He will not turn them away.
- That is His promise, John 6:37. No one who wants to go to Heaven will die and go to Hell. No one who wants to be saved will die lost.
- So, instead rising to attack the doctrine of election, you should thank God in Heaven above that He has chosen you in Jesus.
- If you have never been saved, and He is calling you to come to Him, you should come. Be saved today. If you are saved, you should rejoice in what the Lord has done for you. If you are saved, He has showered you with His grace and power.
