1 Peter Series Part 9
Sub Series C: Second teaching section (2:4-10).
A description of the people of God
Title: “Built on the Foundation of Christ.”
Text: 1 Peter 2:6-8
INTRO: A home is built on a foundation. When one starts a home, after the pouring of a base of cement. One starts with the first primary cement block. This first block is what all the other blocks or bricks aligns itself to. IF this block is off center, or crooked, then the rest will be impacted.
Today, we will continue to discover Apostle Peter’s first epistle regarding the description of the people of God as referenced to the Chief Cornerstone, or Head stone who is the Rock of our salvation into His eternal kingdom.
Transition: Previously we looked at:
1. First teaching section (1:3-12). The method and nature of salvation
a. A salvation based on the hope inspired by Christ’s resurrection (1:3-5)
b. A salvation secured through a faith deepened in trial (1:6-9)
c. A salvation reported by the prophets who described its grace and glory (1:10-12)
2. First preaching section (1:13-2:3). A demand for holiness
a. A holiness demanded by God’s own character (1:13-16)
b. A holiness demanded by the costly experience of Christ’s passion (1:17-21)
c. A holiness expressed in genuine love responding to the gospel (1:22-25)
d. A holiness expressed by the new life received from a gracious God (2:1-3)
3. Second teaching section (2:4-10). A description of the people of God
1. A living spiritual body serving God sacrificially (2:4-5)
2. A building founded on Christ as the foundation stone (2:6-8)
3. A chosen group reflecting the excellencies of their deliverer (2:9-10)
TEXT:
1 Peter 2:6–8 (ESV)
6For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
7So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
8and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
I. There is No Shame in Believing in Christ.
a. Have you ever been ashamed of something or someone?
i. How about the expression: “You should be ashamed of yourself!”
b. Isaiah 28:16 (ESV)
i. 16therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
1. Psalm 118:20–23 (ESV)
2. 20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
3. 21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
4. 22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
5. 23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
ii.
c. Shame: ‘to humiliate, to disgrace, to put to shame.
d. Haste: In the Hebrew text of Isaiah 28:16; “haste” - To be dismayed, stricken to panic. Not be disturbed or in a hurry.
e. So, Peter references Isaiah to establish a premise of wisdom that whoever believes in Christ, the Cornerstone will not be dismayed, hurried with panic, not disturbed.
f. Why?
g. Because the Lord Jesus is chosen and precious by God the Father!
h. Believers can rest assured on the Chief Cornerstone of the Lord’s drawn and chosen people. Whoever believes has no reason to be dismayed, no shame in being a disciple of Jesus.
i. Romans 1:16 (ESV)
ii. 16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
iii. Romans 9:33 (ESV)
iv. 33 as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
II. There is Honor for Those Who Believe in Christ.
a. How many of us understand what it is to honor?
i. Integrity, decency, morality, uprightness.
b. 7So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
c. Honor: worth—‘valuable, precious.’
i. Peter tells the believers in Christ they are worthy, valuable, and precious as well because of Jesus!
d. Because of Jesus, His sheep, His sheepfold is worthy, valuable, not of our own merits, but the merits of Jesus!
III. There is Only Stumbling for Those who Disbelieve.
a. How many of us have friends, even family who are not believers of Christ?
b. A rejection of truth of Crist?
c. How many times have you mentioned Jesus or brought up your faith and a person or group becomes offended and they stumble over the truth of Christ?
d. So if honor, value, precious, are for those who believe, what about those who do not believe in Christ?
i. Dishonor, unvaluable, not precious.
e. In context Peter continues to use the analogy of the stone, Christ as the stone, even the Cornerstone.
f. The builders in verse 7 is referring to the Jewish religious system leaders of the historical prophetic words that the Jewish Religious Leaders rejected the evidence of the Christ, Jesus.
g. Peter references Psalm 118:22
i. Psalm 118:22 (ESV)
ii. 22The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
h. Jesus Himself referred and quoted Psalm 118:22:
i. Matthew 21:42–44 (ESV)
ii. 42Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
iii. 43Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.
iv. 44And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”
i. Who were these “Builders” that Peter, Dr Luke, and Jesus quoted from David in Psalm 118:22?
j. They were the Jewish religious builders, the chief priests, Scribes, and Pharisees, who built the people, or directed them to build on their carnal privileges, the traditions of the elders, and their own legal righteousness.
k. These refused to receive Jesus as the Messiah, and to believe in him; they refused to own and honor him as King of Zion; they refused his doctrines and ordinances; they refused to hear him preach, or suffer others to hear him; they refused to make use of him in the spiritual building, either to preach him themselves, or allow others to do it; they rejected him with contempt; they set him aside, and preferred a thief and a robber Barrabas.
Jesus alone is the head [stone] of the corner; Christ is the corner stone.
l. Christ is exalted above all; he is the head of principalities and powers, the angels; he is made higher than the kings of the earth; and is the head of the body, the church.
m. So Christ is the Head Stone for the believers of God’s elect.
n. But for those who do not believe Christ is a stone of stumbling a rock of offense!
o. Apostle Paul affirmed this premise in is epistle to the Roman Church declaring ow the Jewish leadership aspiring to achieve self-righteousness, did not succeed in their works, stumbled over Jesus, refused to hear the truth:
i. Romans 9:31–33 (ESV)
ii. 31but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law.
iii. 32Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,
iv. 33as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
p. Why did they reject Jesus?
i. 8and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
q. First, They disobeyed the Word, the Truth, they disobeyed God and the Messiah, the Christ!
r. Secondly these who disobeyed were destined to do so.
i. God knows all things!
1. He knew that these religious leaders and people blinded by the god of this world were destined to disobey Christ, and His word, yes, even the prophetic words of the OT and in particular the prophetic words of Isaiah and David.
s. In God’s sovereignty, His plan, was these religious Jewish leaders and people would reject the truth that Jesus is the Christ.
t. This was their destiny per Apostle Peter
u. The word “destined” in Greek is: “Tithemy” defined as: to assign someone to a particular task, function, or role—‘to appoint, to designate, to assign, to give a task to.’
v. God assigned, designated these Jewish leaders to their destiny for His purpose and plan in rejecting the truth of the Rock, the Head Stone, that is only Jesus.
w. Illustration:
i. A certain courthouse in Ohio stands in a unique location. Raindrops that fall on the north side of the building go into Lake Ontario and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, while those falling on the south side go into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. At precisely the point of the peak of the roof, just a gentle puff of wind can determine the destiny of many raindrops. It will make a difference of more than 2,000 miles as to their final destination. The spiritual application is clear. By the smallest deed or choice of words we might set in motion influences that could change the course of others' lives here and now and could also affect their eternal destiny.
ii. Our Daily Bread, June 12, 1994.
iii.
x. Application: What is your destiny? Are you destined to enter into the heavenly realm of the Lord?
