Living Stones – The Building of a Spiritual House
1 Peter 2:1-12
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [1 Peter 2:4-5]
Two powerful times in Israel’s history are the building of the Tabernacle and Temple. The former was in Moses’ time; the latter Solomon’s. Both structures required expert craftsmanship, focused commitment, and attention to detail. Finally when the buildings were completed there was a similar reaction: and the glory of the Lord filled the place [ref. Exod 40:34-35; 2 Chron 7:1]. When you read this you can’t help but get pumped up: The glory of God filled the place! This describes the presence of God [His Shakinah Glory] in the midst of His people, at the center of Israel.
Peter used similar imagery to describe our New Covenant relationship with God. Because of the grace of God, through the free gift of His Son Jesus Christ, we are being built into a spiritual house: Living stones built one upon another with Jesus Christ as the Chief Cornerstone. Paul put it like this:
“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” [Eph 2:19-22]
In these latter days, God is building His Church to dwell in; living stone upon living stone, all resting upon Jesus, the Chief Cornerstone, in Whom the whole structure rests. Just as the glory of God filled the Temple in Solomon’s time, so the glory of God fills His Church in this time through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God comes into the believers very being, a living stone that is placed into that corporate building called the Church. Every tribe, tongue, and people are represented in His Church, which the Scriptures refer to as the bride of Christ. And there will be a day when the Bridegroom will come for His bride and the two will be united in the fullness of His glory!
Be encouraged this morning! Because of the grace of God you have been given a wonderful privilege of being a living stone, a chosen part of a larger corporate building called the Church. As with physical stones we are different shapes and sizes but with one thing in common: Resting on Jesus, the Chief Cornerstone. He is the one in whom the whole structure rests. And it is God’s unmerited favor that enters us into that rest.
