Identity of a Christian - Pt.5
1 Peter 2:1-10
What a beautiful thing it is to taste that the Lord is gracious. To know that a wicked, lost sinner can come to this gracious God and be forgiven and be saved, be born again. This is a great privilege. To know that the God who created heaven and earth, cares about man whom the Bible describes as a vapour. God demonstrates His great care for man in providing the only means of salvation available to man. Salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. It is not possible to claim to be saved and yet not be changed by that act. Those that have tasted, will desire more of what they have tasted.
v.4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
The apostle Peter is writing to those who have come to God, and been saved through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. These have come because they listened to the voice of God. God is drawing all men to come to Him, but few are coming. Praise God for each one that comes to Him.
Jesus Christ is a living stone.
Isaiah 28:16
“16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.”
The corner stone is a very important part of the building. It is the stone by which all other stones are aligned. If the corner stone is not square, then all other stones will be out as well. Jesus Christ is called the chief corner stone in v.6. He is a living stone. Jesus Christ was not like those stones that needed to be drawn from the quarry and through much labour were brought to the building site. Jesus Christ was chosen of God and he was and is precious. Yet sadly He was disallowed of men.
John 2:19
“19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
Jesus referred to Himself as the temple. The Jews were quite proud of the physical temple that king Herod had invested much time and money into. Yet that temple was just made of stone and wood and other materials. In the day when king Solomon finished that temple and dedicated it to God, God came into that temple and filled it with his glory. No man was able to stand in that temple at that time, because the glory of God filled it.