Pastor Chris’ Corona Quarantine Epistles to the Flock of AIC Ngong Road, in Dispersion and Isolation. 121st. Edition.
Dear People of the New Covenant,
We continue with our theme of building stones in today’s passage (1 Peter 2:6-8). From the idea of a living stone, we are introduced to the idea of a cornerstone.
First Stone (v. 6). In ancient times, there were two important stones in a building, the foundation stone, and the cornerstone. Both stones were important for the actual construction, as well as for ceremonial purposes. The foundation stone was usually laid ceremonially, akin to modern-day “groundbreaking.” But that stone also was the orientation for the whole building. All other stones were aligned to that stone. The passage quoted here (Isaiah 28:16) seems to speak of both a foundation stone and a cornerstone as one. This should not surprise us. Paul speaks of Christ as the foundation (1 Corinthians 3:10-17) and us as the temple. The writer of Hebrews speaks of Jesus as “the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
So Christ is definitely the first stone, on whom our faith begins and rests. But he is also the Final Stone (v. 7). The cornerstone was usually the last stone of an arch or a building. The idea is that the cornerstone both completes a structure and also holds the masonry together. The passage quoted here (Psalm 118:22) was part of the legend of the temple. The story is that the materials for building the temple of Solomon were prepared off-site, to the last stone, so no chiseling was done at the building site.
The masons simply took the ready stones and placed them along the walls. The legend goes that there was a particular stone that the builders kept picking up, then throwing back to the pile, because it would not fit anywhere.
When the building was complete, it needed a cornerstone, also called a capstone. There was only one stone left, the one that the builders kept rejecting. When it was tried at the corner, it fit perfectly! Whether this story is literally true or not, the point is made – Jesus is the stone that the builders rejected, which turned out to be the capstone. Jesus is the foundation of our faith and the cornerstone of it. Nothing needs to be added to our faith to make it complete.
Unfortunately, for some, he is the Felling Stone (v. 8). Some people stumble and fall on Christ because instead of believing in and teaching about the Christ taught in the scriptures, they manufacture their own Christ to fit their desires. Peter says that this also should not surprise us. This is the end to which they were appointed. While I do not want to open a can of worms, this is what the scriptures say. Those who abandon the truth for manufactured lies are not surprising God. He saw their apostasy and has appointed them to it.
What a fearful thing! Are you tempted to twist what the Bible says for your advantage? You have been warned!
Your Loving Pastor Chris.