Jesus Christ: A Living Stone

by: Rev. Leon Aguilera

        I Peter 2:1-8 Therefore laying aside all malice and all guile, and hypocrisy and envy and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby, if so it be that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming to Him as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, ye also as living stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture: “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious; and he that believeth in Him shall not be confounded.” Unto you therefore who believe, He is precious; but unto those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,” and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense,” even to those who stumble at the Word, being disobedient, unto which also they were appointed.”

Jesus Christ is the Rock of Scripture, “a living stone” which cannot be overlooked. He is a tried and true Stone, “a sure foundation” which can never be moved. We see Christ from three differing perspectives in our text, each one related to His characterization as a stone.

First, we see Him from unbelieving man’s perspective as “a stone of stumbling” (v. 8).

Men stumble over Christ in this world because they love “darkness rather than light” (Jn. 3:19). He is the Stone which the builders have rejected (v. 7) and have substituted a stone of their own making, a stone which discards as old-fashioned the blood of Christ and substitutes in its place the supposed goodness of man. To modern man, the preaching of the Cross is “foolish” and offensive (v. 8), yet it is the “power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth” (Rom. 1:16).

Second, we see Him from God’s perspective as “a chief corner stone” (v. 6).

Christ was chosen by God to be the author and finisher of our salvation. The work of salvation has been accomplished and the foundation has already been laid. He is the cornerstone, upon Him rests the superstructure of His body, the church. He is precious to the Father and so are we because of our relationship to Christ as Savior and Lord.

Third, we see Him from the believer’s perspective as “a precious stone” (vv. 4,7).

We found Him to be precious the moment we received Him as our Savior and since that time He has proved Himself to be precious over and over and over again. To every believer Jesus Christ is the precious Son of God and only Savior. We have no reason to be ashamed of our testimony of Christ, but rather we have every reason in heaven and earth to render unto Him our continual praise. Praise Him for salvation; praise Him for His goodness and grace. In this way we will be encouraged to remember that “he is precious.”

As believers we are partakers of His grace, and have thereby received Jesus Christ the Living Stone. Because “He lives,” now we are “lively stones” (v. 5) and have a ministry as believer-priests, “…To offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” As a “spiritual house,” let us put off the deeds of the flesh, and let us put on Christ that we may “shew forth the praises of him who hath called…” [US] out of darkness into his marvelous light” (v. 9). May we not neglect so high a calling.