Author: Charlie Garrett

Sunday, 20 October 2019

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,” 1 Peter 2:7

Peter now expands on what he just said. He cited Isaiah with the words, “And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” The result of that is that, “Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious.” The NKJV translation is not reflective of the Greek. The word to describe Him is a noun, and it is preceded by an article, and the verb is present and active. It more correctly reads, “For to you that are believing is the preciousness.”

The word “preciousness,” signifies honor, and it contrasts the “shame” just referred to. Instead of being put to shame, there is honor for those who believe. Faith in Christ bears its own preciousness before God. However, Peter then speaks of “those who are disobedient.” Again, the verb is present and active. It reads, “those who are disbelieving.” The word signifies a refusal to be persuaded, and it is exactly what the leaders of Israel did. They hardened their hearts to the truth of God in Christ. Peter is showing a contrast between the two in order to show the results of their ongoing disbelief.

In that state, they are included among those of whom the psalmist spoke, and also of whom Christ referred to during His earthly ministry. He cited the words of Psalm 118:22 as is recorded in all three synoptic gospels. In Acts 4, Peter also cited them, and here again he cites them. It is obviously a very important concept for the Jews to understand then.

Jesus spoke to them under the law, Peter spoke to them in the Sanhedrin attempting to show them the contrast between the law and the grace which came through Christ’s work, and now he continues to show the importance of what Christ did. And so, once again, he cites the psalm, beginning with, “The stone which the builders rejected.”

It is referring to Christ Jesus being the one rejected by the leaders of Israel. The idea of the leaders being the builders is that they were responsible for the spiritual lives of the people. The law was given to provide life to the man who did the things of the law (Leviticus 18:5). In Christ, who was born without sin, and who lived without sin, He accomplished those things. He became the necessary stone to begin the foundation of a true temple which would be based on eternal life, but they rejected Him.

However, God did not. Instead, He was chosen of God and “Has become the chief cornerstone.” The Greek reads, “the head of the corner.” It signifies the place where the very corner, meaning the cornerstone, sits. Everything in the foundation is dependent upon that point. Thus, everything in the building itself is dependent upon it. The true temple, where eternal life is found, is dependent upon the Stone who is Jesus.

There was no need for Paul to cite this set of words, because Paul’s ministry is to the Gentiles. However, the same gospel is found for both. The difference is that there is individual salvation for Jews, and there is collective salvation for Israel. Until the leadership of Israel acknowledges Christ as this true Stone and call out for Him, Israel as a collective whole will continue to be kept from the promises to them which have been anticipated since their inception as the people of God.

Life application: Psalm 118 is known as a messianic psalm because of its predictions of the coming Messiah. Each time it is cited in the New Testament, it is specifically applied to Jesus, His work, and His rejection by the nation of Israel. Despite His rejection and their attempts to nullify His work, He prevailed and has become the chief cornerstone. It is on Him that the church is established, and from Him all else proceeds, properly aligned and both level and plumb. Any congregation or body of believers which is properly grounded in Him will be successful – not particularly in numbers or wealth, but in right doctrine and sound faith.

Peter says, “…to you who believe, He is precious.” How do you care for your home? Do you treat it as a comfortable place to live, keep clean, properly maintain, and enjoy? Is your home dirty and not well maintained? We have an eternal home that is built on the precious Person of Jesus, and we are all being built into a living temple where God will reside, illuminated by His splendor through Jesus.

If you know that this is true, and that our position in this home is given to us because of what Jesus did, shouldn’t we be pursuing Him, His word, and His glory? Let us endeavor to keep our spiritual house clean and free from fault, and let us further ensure that we are being built properly by reading and applying the Bible to our lives. Rather than being careless about our eternal dwelling, let us give it the attention is rightly deserves. And let us do it in a way that others will see our works and give God the glory He is due.

Yes, O God! Jesus is the precious cornerstone of our eternal dwelling. Because You have given such attention to us in the giving of Your Son, please remind us of our responsibility to you – working to become an acceptable living stone in Your glorious temple. Give us the strong urge and desire to pursue You and Your word, so that we will be properly trained in righteousness. Amen.

Saturday, 19 October 2019

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.” 1 Peter 2:6

For the previous two verses, Peter has been speaking of Christ in a metaphor, as a living stone. He then equated believers to living stones as well, and notes that believers are being built into a spiritual house. To build upon this, he says “Therefore.” In essence, “Because of this, let me explain further.” And so, he continues by showing that this is a concept already established by God, by saying, “it is also contained in the Scripture.”

Here, Peter uses a rare word, periechó, to explain that what he is going to convey is found in a particular part of Scripture. It is contained, or enclosed, there. It is, therefore, something which is given as a divinely inspired precept and worthy of note in the present context.

Scripture at the time of Peter was our Hebrew Old Testament. It is true that apostolic writings were already being considered on the same level of authority (see 2 Peter 3:15), but Peter is specifically referring to the Hebrew writings. In this case, he cites Isaiah 28:16 –

“Therefore thus says the Lord God:
‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation,
A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;
Whoever believes will not act hastily.’”

The words Peter quotes more closely follow the Greek translation of Isaiah, rather than this Hebrew translation. It is a passage also cited by Paul in Romans 9:33. In Paul’s citation, he shows that the prophecy was referring to Jesus, and that the Jews, for the most part, missed the significance of what Christ did. Christ’s work was a work which led to grace, not further law observance. Because of this, the Jews – ever intent on relying on their own works under the law – tripped over what Christ did.

Peter, speaking to the Jews, shows that this is the case. He is confirming Paul’s words that there is one gospel for both Jew and for Gentile. It is that God has laid the foundation for faith in the sending of His Son, the Messiah. The words, “Behold, I lay in Zion,” mean that the message was first given to the people of Israel. Christ came to them, and He accomplished His work among them. God was in Christ, bringing about His redemptive plans for Israel. In this, He was laying out His foundation upon which man would be restored to Him.

Peter then continues with, “A chief cornerstone.” This is speaking of Messiah. The cornerstone is the first and most important stone of a building. From it, everything else extends. The word used by Peter for “chief cornerstone” is the Greek word akrogoniaion. It is a special word, unique to the Bible, and is used only twice in its pages. The other use is by Paul in Ephesians 2:20 –

“…having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.”

Because of the importance of this stone, Peter then describes it by saying “elect.” The word signifies “chosen out,” or “select.” Humanity is the source from which the election is made, but only one Human would be chosen out of humanity. This speaks of Christ’s human nature.

God wove together the stream of humanity, recording it all the way from Adam. It wove through various people throughout history, being carefully detailed concerning who they were. This was often in stories that otherwise seem irrelevant to the narrative. But each story was selected to reveal the line from which this One would come. He is the Elect of humanity.

He is also “precious.” The word signifies “highly honored.” It is a state of high personal respect. Obviously, this is God’s perception of Him because it is the Lord who is being cited by Isaiah, and who Peter then quotes. The Lord God has a personal high regard for this One who would be the Cornerstone. This is so much so that the quote finishes with, “And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

There is to be found in this One, that Isaiah speaks of, a point of trust and directed-faith. In other words, the Lord God indicates that by placing faith in this Cornerstone, they will not later be disgraced, frustrated, or ashamed. The faith placed in Him will be properly directed faith. As Peter now cites this as referring to Jesus (as did Paul), it is showing – without any doubt, vagueness, or ambiguity – that Christ is the end of the law.

This is because the law is a body of works. In essence, “Do these things and you will be considered righteous before Me.” However, the Lord says that this is no longer the case in the coming Cornerstone. In essence, “Believe on Jesus and you will be considered righteous before Me.” It shows that the law, under which Christ came, merely anticipated the coming of Christ. True righteousness is not of the law, but in acceptance of the fulfillment of the law as accomplished by Christ Jesus. He provides the justification of the law for any who will trust in Him. It is the exact same gospel message which Paul speaks of. There is one gospel by which man is saved – Jew or Gentile – and it is found by simply trusting in the work of Jesus Christ.

Life application: As noted, the cornerstone is the first stone laid when starting a building and is, therefore, the most important for ensuring that the building will be plumb and level. If this stone is faulty in material, the building will fail. Likewise, if it is placed incorrectly, the building will fail. Because of this, the cornerstone must be very carefully chosen; it must be flawless. It must also be laid by the most skilled builder of all. In the case of Christ, the Cornerstone, the Builder is God Himself.

God is building a temple and He began with His own Son, Jesus Christ. From this starting point, believers from all ages are being built into a spiritual temple. If you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you have crossed from death to life, and have been selected as a stone in the living temple where God will reside for all eternity. This has been guaranteed by the sealing of His Holy Spirit and can never be taken away. You will never be put to shame.

Out of gratitude, awe, and joy, we should, therefore, endeavor to be acceptable to God in all we do. If you are struggling with this today, as we all do from time to time, let’s pray about it…

Lord God, as living stones in Your glorious temple, we know we need to be holy and acceptable to You. O, but we fail so often. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit as we honor you through the study of Your word, through praising You, and through praying to You. Do this, so that we might live rightly, act appropriately, and conduct our affairs wisely, thus bringing honor to You. This we pray that You will receive the glory You are due through our life and actions. Amen.

Friday, 18 October 2019

… 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 2:5

Peter just compared the Lord to a living stone in the previous verse. He now uses the same metaphor concerning believers in Christ by saying, “you also, as living stones.” The comparison is to show that just as Christ is, so we are now as well. As Christ was chosen by God, so God has chosen us. This is to be contrasted with those who have rejected Him. He stated this in the previous verse, and he will continue to show it in the coming verses.

As living stones, Peter next says that believers “are being built up a spiritual house.” The Greek can be formed in one of two ways. The first is passive as translated here (you are being built up). It could also be active and imperative – “you also, as living stones, be built up.” This would go along with what he said in the previous verse. Believers are to come to Christ, and they are to be built up. If this is correct, it is more understandable when being applied to the Jews (his addressees) as a collective group of believers. In other words, “You all need to build yourselves up into a spiritual house.”

What seems more likely, based on the words of Paul elsewhere, is that the passive is being referred to. Christ is not only the Cornerstone, but He is also the Builder. This would then fit with Paul’s use of the same metaphor in Ephesians 2 –

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

Paul is clear that Jew and Gentile are being built into the same temple, the spiritual house of God. Therefore, Peter’s words should probably also be taken in this way. The “spiritual house” is that house which is contrasted to the earthly temple made of stone, and which is temporary and can be ransacked and destroyed (as the Jews know all too well, having had their temple destroyed by Babylon and by Rome). Rather, the temple of which we are a part is constructed of living stones which Paul elsewhere speaks of as being “eternal in the heavens” (see 2 Corinthians 5:1).

As our bodies will be eternal, so will the temple, which is comprised of our bodies, be eternal. Peter then continues with, “a holy priesthood.” The idea here is that in a temple, there are priests. Those who form the temple also perform the priestly functions. Teachers of a false gospel will point to this verse and say that the idea of conducting these priestly duties only belongs to Jews, but that Paul never speaks of Gentiles in this manner. This is false. Paul speaks of exactly this in Romans 15:16 –

“…to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”

What Paul is saying is that sharing the gospel is a priestly duty. Paul was not of the tribe of Levi, and yet he was given the priestly duty of the New Covenant, sharing the gospel. As this is a privilege of any – Jew or Gentile – it shows that the priesthood is that of any believer who performs this service. And the purpose of this is “to offer up spiritual sacrifices.”

The idea here comes from the Old Covenant where sacrifices were literally brought up to the altar to be presented. They were brought from a lower to a high place. They were then lifted or waved before the Lord by the attending priest, being offered up to Him. The picture that one should consider is that of Christ bearing His cross up to Calvary. He is the Living Stone, and we are to emulate Him bearing ourselves up as spiritual sacrifices and living stones, conducting the priestly duties of sharing the gospel, and of bringing these offerings which are acceptable “to God through Jesus Christ.”

The implication is that despite being set apart, and despite being acceptable to offer up sacrifices to God, they are truly only acceptable because they are presented to God through Jesus. He is the One who covers the sins of His people. He is the One in whom they dwell, and it is only through Him that our imperfect offerings can be acceptable to God. One can see in Peter’s words that everything comes back to Christ. Without Him, nothing the believer does is acceptable to God.

Life application: Concerning the spiritual house which both Peter and Paul refer to, no competent architect would ever start a project without knowing exactly how much material was needed to complete the task. When building a home, they will account for how much piping, electric wire, roof shingle, framing wood, etc. is needed. This can and will be calculated exactly so that budgets of time and money are met.

Likewise, God – who is infinitely wise – knows exactly what is needed to build His temple. In a pre-shadowing of this heavenly temple, He gave exact details for the earthy tabernacle (and later the temple) for the people of Israel. Here is an example of this care –

“Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat; ¹² and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things;” 1 Chronicles 28:11, 12

These plans included all of the materials, but David also set apart detailed numbers of priests, Levites, and others who would do the work – during and after the construction of the temple. Just as these were taken care of by the Holy Spirit, so is the eternal temple being carefully constructed by God.

When the materials are ready, the temple will be finished. God alone knows when the last “living stone” will be chosen, but when that day comes, this House of God will be complete? Have you accepted Christ as Lord and Savior? Every day that goes by is one day closer to that glorious moment. Until then, let us practice our sacrifice of worship –

Praising You today, O God – Yes! Praising You today.
We come into Your presence, Lord, so hear us when we pray!
Glory to You, O God on High, may our song ever be…
Glory to the Lamb of God, Our Precious Savior is He

Lord God, thank You for the promise of an eternal future in Your presence. And thank You that we need do nothing to earn it, but that the price has been paid already. All we need to do is accept what You have done through Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. May we demonstrate wisdom and simply accept that which You freely offer. Thank You for Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Thursday, 17 October 2019

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 1 Peter 2:4

In the previous verse, it was seen that Peter has directly equated Jesus, of whom he was writing about, to the Lord (meaning Jehovah of the Old Testament). As certain as that was from the context, it continues to be verified with his words now. He says, “Coming to Him.” Is he writing about Jesus or God? The answer is “both.”

It is obviously referring to Jesus, because he says in this same verse, “chosen by God.” But he has just equated the Subject (the Lord) of the previous verse to the Lord of the Old Testament by citing the psalm which was referring to the Lord (Jehovah). The words cannot be misconstrued. To deny the deity of Christ is to deny a fundamental tenant of the Bible, and it is to accept heresy.

Peter uses a present participle in the words, “Coming to Him” As Vincent’s Word Studies explains, “Indicating a close (πρός) and an habitual (present participle) approach and an intimate association.” We are to come near to the Lord at all times, and it is to be in a manner which is as if we were coming to our closest relative or friend.

Peter next describes “Him,” by saying, “as to a living stone.” The words “as to” are inserted and unnecessary. He is describing Jesus. “Coming to Him; a living stone.” It is similar to Peter’s own words of Acts 4 –

“This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’” Acts 4:11

The reason for Peter saying this is because Jesus used the term of Himself, citing Scripture as He did. That is seen in all three synoptic gospels, such as in Luke 20 –

“What then is this that is written:

‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone’?” Luke 20:17

Jesus was citing the 118^th Psalm, which says –

“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.” Psalm 118:22

Jesus was indicating that He was the fulfillment of this messianic psalm. Peter confirms this in Acts 4, and he continues to repeat that now. This will be more fully evident when he cites both the psalm and Isaiah 28 in just a couple verses. Those verses together call out concerning the working of God in Christ. So important is this thought which is seen in the psalms and in Isaiah, that Paul refers to it in Romans 9:32, 33 and Ephesians 2:19-22 as well.

Paul’s words, especially in Ephesians, shows that he and Peter are speaking about the same gospel and the same salvation for Jew and Gentile. This is evident because Peter was speaking to Jews in Acts 4, and he is addressing Jews in this epistle as well. However, Paul is writing to Gentiles in Ephesians 2:19-22 –

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

Both apostles refer to Jesus as the cornerstone, and both refer to what God is doing in Christ with his redeemed. We are (Jew and Gentile) being built into an edifice where God will dwell. The heretical doctrine which teaches that there is one salvation for Jew and another for Gentile is to be rejected because it teaches two gospels, not one. There is one gospel for both. To teach otherwise is to teach a false gospel.

Peter next continues with, “rejected indeed by men.” This is what Psalm 118 prophesied, and it is what came about when the leaders of Israel, fulfilling the very words of the Scriptures they were the stewards of, rejected Christ Jesus.

The word translated as “rejected” signifies “to reject after determining something is useless” (HELPS WORD Studies). The leadership of Israel evaluated Christ Jesus, and they found Him tasteless and not worthy of their consideration. In this, they rejected Him as their Messiah. Peter uses the word “men” here, instead of “builders,” as in the psalm to show the obvious contrast between them and God. This is seen in his final words of the verse which say, “but chosen by God and precious.”

Though He was rejected by mere men who are foolish and without understanding, Christ was chosen by God who is all-glorious and all-knowing. The contrast is obvious, and it is Peter’s way of calling out, “Whose side are you on? God’s, or that of man?” For those he is addressing, meaning believers, he is encouraging them to be bold and to act in accord with their calling (as noted in verse 2:1-3).

The final word, “precious,” speaks of that which is held in honor, as of in personal respect. God has placed Christ Jesus at the highest point of honor, making Him the chief cornerstone in the house that He is building. Peter will continue with this thought over the coming verses, demonstrating fully and completely that Jesus is the Messiah, that Jesus is God, and that there is one gospel for all who believe. The message he proclaims is the same as the message that Paul has already put forth in his epistles.

Life application: What does it mean to be a “living stone?” The Bible sometimes uses terms which seem contradictory to the sensibilities of the world.

Take the term “living sacrifice” for example. It doesn’t make sense unless one understands what God expects of us. A sacrifice, by its very nature, is something that dies. Likewise, a “living stone” doesn’t make sense on the surface. But when we realize that it is a metaphor for something else, we can more clearly understand the concept. A stone is something unmoving and unshakable; it indicates permanence and stability.

Jesus is like that to us – He doesn’t change. Instead, He is permanent and reliable. When confronted with His doctrine, the rulers of Israel rejected Him because He wouldn’t relent in properly teaching the things of God and the surety of His word. These people were so caught up in legalism and the teachings of man that they spent their time trying to work out issues completely unrelated to what was expected of them. At one time, Jesus remarked –

“The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. ⁴ For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” Matthew 23:2-4

Because of this and a host of other words of condemnation, the leaders of Israel rejected Him. However, He carried out His work, the work of God, faithfully. He remains the unchangeable, glorious, and precious Living Stone. Until the end of the ages, Jesus Christ is our eternal and magnificent Lord.

Lord God, what an honor and a blessing to know that You, O Lord, are with us – firm and unchanging. Help us to likewise be firm in our convictions, resolute in our faith, and acceptable to You in our actions. May we be the same – precious living stones in the heavenly temple to come. Amen.

Wednesday, 16 October 2019

…if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 1 Peter 2:3

In the previous verse, Peter spoke of desiring the “pure milk of the word.” He now shows that this word is what reveals the Lord Jesus, the Subject of his own epistle. In his words, he finishes the whole thought with, “if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

It is an aorist verb, and so it more correctly says, “if indeed you tasted.” It is a specific time that Peter refers to when the appetite of each believer was excited. Further, the idea of “if” here is not indicating Peter is making a supposition that it may or may not be. Rather, it is a way of saying that it is so, and that his words are to be acted upon. It is the same type of thought that is used elsewhere in this manner. The context implies the idea of “since you have tasted.”

With this understanding, a few points can be made. First, this confirms that the word, meaning Scripture, speaks of Jesus. His words do this by having equated the word with milk, and then by encouraging the taking in of that milk (meaning the word) in order to grow. And it is that word by which we “taste” the graciousness of the Lord.

Milk = word
Taste = understanding of the Lord’s gracious nature
Then, desire the milk (continue to get to know and grow in the Lord) through His word

Secondly, the words shout out the divinity of Christ. The reason for this is that Peter is citing Psalm 34:8 –

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”

The psalmist called out for those who seek the workings of the Lord (meaning Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament) to “taste and see” that He is good. Peter uses the idea from that psalm, and he applies it to the working of Jesus, saying, “if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” He is making a one to one comparison between “Jehovah” and “Jesus.” In doing so, he is either blaspheming the name of Jehovah, or he is proclaiming that Jesus is Jehovah, the Lord God.

Life application: Have you ever looked at food coming out of the oven and started to salivate in expectation of the delight to come? Or have you ever heard someone speaking about a meal and all of a sudden, your mouth starts to water? This is the mental picture that both Peter and the psalmist of old are trying to relay to the reader concerning their words.

The Lord is to be desired with a yearning even stronger than that of food when we are hungry. And not just any food, but the most delightful tasting, yummiest feast we could imagine. This is why Peter told us to “desire the pure milk of the word.”  It is so that we can grow in it, be nourished by it, and have our souls satisfied from the delight of it.

If you have never had this yearning to read the Bible, or if you once had it, but now it is faded, then ask the Lord to clear out all the unhealthy diet in your life (too many Gummi Worms?), so that you will again have the time and the desire to seek Him. A diet of TV, Facebook, and shopping can only take away the time you might otherwise have spent in His presence, learning about Him. Like eating sweets, those things don’t nourish, and they only last a moment. But the Bible and its contents will feed you for eternity.

Take time today – yes, even now! – to commit to reading your Bible. May you be blessed as you do – to the glory of God.

O God, let us not squander our few years here on the trivial and temporary. Instead, help us to focus on the eternal and everlasting. We desire to follow You, but far too often we get sidetracked from that set goal. So please Lord, kindly steer us in the right direction and remind us of the greater and eternal blessings that come from seeking You first. Amen.