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(Gen 49:24 KJV) "But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)"

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head (Psa 118:22-23), Chief (1 Pet 2:6) Corner Stone. God is building a holy temple (Eph 2:19-22), a spiritual house that is made up of living stones (1 Pet 2:3-5). The Stone, which the builders rejected (Mat 21:42) and set at nought (Acts 4:11), has become the head of the corner (Mark 12:10-11).

The Stone Which the Builders Rejected ²

(Psa 118:22-23 KJV) "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. {23} This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes."

(Mat 21:42 KJV) "Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?"

(1 Pet 2:7 KJV) "Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed [rejected], the same is made the head of the corner,"

Stone Which Was Set at Nought (Acts 4:10-12)

(Acts 4:10-12 KJV) "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. {11} This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. {12} Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

A Sure Foundation (Isa 28:16)

This precious corner stone is a sure foundation.

(Isa 28:16 KJV) "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."

(1 Pet 2:6 KJV) "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded."

Fall on This Stone (Mat 21:43-44)

Jesus said, "...whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder" (Luke 20:18 KJV).

(Mat 21:43-44 KJV) "Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. {44} And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."

Stone...Became a Great Mountain (Dan 2:31-35)

The stone that was cut out of the mountain without hands that smote the image, that break in pieces the kingdoms of the earth, became a great mountain.

(Dan 2:35 KJV) "Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth."

Stone...Brake in Pieces (Dan 2:44-45)

(Dan 2:44-45 KJV) "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. {45} Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it break in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure."

Stumbled at That Stumblingstone (Rom 9:32-33)

Many have stumbled at that stumbling stone. I am not going to cause any more grief by naming and dishonoring those who have stumbled and fallen (Isa 8:13-15) and been broken (Luke 20:18). By godly sorrow, repentance (2 Cor 7:9-10) and the goodness of God (Rom 2:4), salvation is at their door.

(Rom 9:32-33 KJV) "Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; {33} As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."

A Stone of Stumbling

Note: Who is a stone and a rock but the LORD of hosts.

(Isa 8:13 KJV) "Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread."

(Isa 8:14-15 KJV) "And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. {15} And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken."

(1 Pet 2:8 KJV) "And a stone [lithos] of stumbling, and a rock [petra] of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed."

Upon This Rock (Petra) I Will Build My Church (Mat 16:13-19)

Many have put their faith in governments, leaders, institutions, organizations, establishments, traditions, or whatever that can be seen with the human eyes and appear reasonable with the natural mind. Many believe Peter was the rock that Christ built His Church upon. Why would Jesus want us to put our faith in mortal man when He knows all men (John 2:24-25), and knew that Peter would fail and deny Him (Mat 26:34) after He was arrested and before His crucifixion? When Jesus said, "thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church," I believe He was talking about Himself being the Rock (1 Cor 10:4), and Simon's belief and faith that made Simon a stone (1 Pet 2:5) and a rock (Petros).

(Mat 16:13-19 KJV) "When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? {14} And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. {15} He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? {16} And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. {17} And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. {18} And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. {19} And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Shalt Be Called Cephas (John 1:42)

Simon, who was called Peter (Petros, a rock) and Cephas (a stone) by Jesus, was not the Rock (Petra) that Jesus built His Church upon, or the Corner Stone.

(John 1:42 KJV) "And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone."

Not just to point out more failures and shortcomings of Peter in the following passages, who "...walked not uprightly, according to the truth of the gospel," I want to show that we should not put our faith in him or any other Saint.

"And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision" (Gal 2:9 KJV).

"But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?" (Gal 2:11-14 KJV).

Living Stone...Lively Stones (1 Pet 2:1-8)

Jesus is the Living Stone (lithos) and we become as lively (living) stones (lithos).

(1 Pet 2:3-5 KJV) "If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. {4} To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, {5} Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."

Quoting from the O.T., Peter says in 1 Peter 2:7, "...the stone which the builders disallowed [rejected], the same is made the head of the corner." Upon the foundation (Isa 28:16), Jesus Christ being the Chief Corner Stone (Mat 21:42), God is building a holy temple (Eph 2:19-22), a spiritual house that is made up of living stones (1 Pet 2:3-5).

Able of These Stones (Isa 51:1-2) to Raise Up Children ³

What John the Baptist said, "...God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham" (Mat 3:9 KJV), makes it is easier to believe that God can do the impossible (Mat 19:26). Jesus said in Luke 19:40, "I tell you that, if these [disciples] should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." What God could have done with those stones, He surely, we as lively (living) stones, can build up a spiritual house in spite of all of our failures and shortcomings.

(Mat 3:8-9 KJV) "Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: {9} And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."

(Luke 19:40 KJV) "And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out."

Built His House upon a [petra] Rock ⁴

As we dig deep into the Word and gather together all the relevant passages, we can find out Who is the true Rock and lay a sure foundation before building (Mat 7:24-25). Repentance and doing what Jesus said is very important to building a house that will stand.

(Mat 7:24-25 KJV) "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: {25} And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock."

That Rock [Petra] Was Christ (1 Cor 10:1-4)

While in the wilderness, the Israelites drank of the spiritual Rock...that was Christ.

(1 Cor 10:1-4 KJV) "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; {2} And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; {3} And did all eat the same spiritual meat; {4} And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ."

Chief Corner Stone

A temple (Zec 6:11-13) is now being built, "...Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord..." (Eph 2:19-22 KJV).

(Eph 2:19-22 KJV) "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; {20} And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; {21} In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: {22} In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

Not Be Left Here One Stone upon Another ⁵

Solomon's temple was only symbolic of what the Lord was to do. Those temples that were built with hands were destroyed (2 Chr 36:16-21; Mat 24:1-2), and the veil of the temple was rent (Mat 27:50-53).

(Mat 24:1-2 KJV ⁵) "And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple. {2} And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."

Reconsider Who Is Your Rock ¹

The Lord is the true Rock (1 Sam 2:2) in whom you can always put your trust (2 Sam 22:2-4). Without Jesus there would not be life (John 1:1-5). He is the One who holds all things together (Col 1:15-17).

Reconsider who is your Rock. Like the Psalmist said, "For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?" (Psa 18:31 KJV). The earth seems to stand upon nothing in space. God has put it there, and it depends on Him to stay in its place. We need to step out, even if it means our little world has nothing to hang on to, and put our faith in Jesus Christ, the true Rock, and Him alone to keep and sustain us. We will find our world will still continue to turn when we let go of those ungodly things that we believe holds our life together and keeps us from crashing down. When we are physically born, we do not have all the additional ungodly attachments or excess baggage that becomes part of our life as we become older. When we are born again by God, we start a new life letting go of everything and depending (Mat 6:30-34) on God our Father (Mat 6:9-15) and Sustainer (Neh 9:21; Psa 55:22), and putting on Christ (Gal 3:27).

(Gal 3:27 KJV) "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

Put off the old man and put on the new man (Eph 4:17-32 ⁶).

References:

1) Deu 32:3-4; 32:15-18; 1 Sam 2:2; 2 Sam 22:2-4, 32, 47; 23:2-3; Neh 9:15; Psa 18:2-3, 31, 46; 28:1; 31:2-3; 42:9; 61:2-3; 62:1-2, 5-8; 71:3; 78:35; 89:26; 92:13-15; 94:20-23; 95:1-2; Isa 17:10
2) Psa 118:22-23; Mat 21:42; Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1 Pet 2:7
3) Mat 3:8-9; Luke 3:8
4) Mat 7:24-25; Luke 6:47-49
5) Mat 24:1-2; Mark 13:1-2; Luke 21:5-6
6) Eph 4:17-32; Col 3:1-10