A spiritual house

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. Therefore 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.”

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,

“The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone,”

And “A stone of stumbling

And a rock of offence.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. – 1 Peter 2.4-8

I like the mental pictures God uses for the church and for His people. This is one of my favourites.

Here we are called a ‘spiritual house.’ From the very beginning the whole church, of all ages and nations are all a part of the one great spiritual house. I like this image because we have what we call an ‘open house’ policy in our family home. Our house is a place of openness and fun and fellowship. It is a special place to us, and I hope, others. The church too is a house, open to anyone who will come in. 

It all starts with Jesus – the living stone. It is an image which runs all through the scriptures. Jesus is the rock that moved with the Jews through the wilderness. He is the rock the psalmist wrote about. Here He is the elect, precious, chief cornerstone.  Without this cornerstone there would be no spiritual house.

But the house is made up of living stones as well. What are these living stones? They are us- those who have put their faith in Christ. It is a wonderful house with a great diversity of stones from every nation and people and race and ethnicity. The whole house is ‘fitly put together’ as Paul describes it in another place.

The problem is that this house, though open to everyone, has not been accessed by all.

To those of us who believe Jesus is our cornerstone. I remember a song from long ago that still sticks in my head to this day.

Jesus is the Cornerstone, came for sinners to atone

Though rejected by His own, He became the Cornerstone

Jesus is the Cornerstone

When I am by sin oppressed, on the Stone I am at rest

Where the seeds of truth are sown, he remains the Cornerstone

Jesus is my Cornerstone

Rock of Ages, so secure, For all time it shall endure

'Til His children reach their home, He remains the Cornerstone

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me find my rest in Thee

'Til the breaking of the dawn, 'til all footsteps reach His throne

Ever let this truth be known, Jesus is the Cornerstone

© 1976 Bridge Building Music, Inc. (BMI)

What a blessing it is to have the Rock of Ages as my cornerstone.

But for those who don’t believe Jesus is a stone that they must trip over on their way to destruction. He stands in the path offering them hope, but far too many ignore Him and take offence at the fact that He tells them they can’t make it on their own. He is the door to the house. If anyone knocks He will open. But far too many stumble at the door and never come in.