CHRIST - OUR CORNERSTONE
by Wm. Henry Cash, Jr. 1927 - 2012
WHEN A BUILDING IS BUILT, OFTEN "A CORNERSTONE"
IS MEMORIALIZED WITH A SPECIAL CEREMONY TO DEDICATE THAT BUILDING.
WE ARE GOD'S BUILDING - AND JESUS CHRIST IS THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.
BELIEVERS IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO HAVE RECEIVED HIM AS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR, THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER, ARE BUILT UP A SPIRITUAL HOUSE.
BELIEVERS IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO HAVE RECEIVED HIM AS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR, THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER, ARE BUILT UP A SPIRITUAL HOUSE.
JESUS CHRIST IS OUR CORNERSTONE.
First: He is the CHIEF CORNERSTONE.
Matthew 21: 42 - 44
Jesus said 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 marvelous in our eyes." Therefore I say unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on the stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."
Luke 20. 17 - 18 also refers to this.
Psalm 118: v. 22 - 23
The stone which the builders rejected is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD'S doing: it is marvelous in our eyes.
Isaiah 53: v. 12
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors, and he bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.
SECOND - THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS OUR FOUNDATION.
I CORINTHIANS 3: 9 - 11 "FOR WE ARE LABORERS TOGETHER WITH GOD: YE ARE GOD'S HUSBANDRY, YE ARE GOD'S BUILDING, ACCORDING TO THE GRACE OF GOD WHICH IS GIVEN UNTO ME, AS A WISE MASTER-BUILDER, I HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION, AND ANOTHER BUILDETH THEREON, BUT LET EVERY MAN TAKE HEED HOW HE BUILDETH THEREUPON, FOR OTHER FOUNDATION CAN NO MAN LAY THAT IS LAID, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST." 1 CORINTHIANS 1:9 - 11.
We are God's building.
We are to be wise builders so that others can build
upon our work.
The work must be built upon the ONLY FOUNDATION
WHICH IS LAID, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST.
THIRD - OUR LIVES ARE TO BE BUILD ON THE FOUNDATION - JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF.
I CORINTHIANS 3: 12 - 15 NOW IF ANY MAN BUILD UPON THIS FOUNDATION GOLD, SILVER, PRECIOUS STONES, WOOD, HAY, STUBBLE; EVERY MAN'S WORK SHALL BE MADE MANIFEST: FOR THE DAY SHALL DECLARE IT, BECAUSE IT SHALL BE REVEALED BY FIRE; AND THE FIRE SHALL TRY EVERY MAN'S WORK OF WHAT SORT IT IS. IF ANY MAN'S WORK ABIDE WHICH HE HATH BUILT THEREUPON, HE SHALL RECEIVE A REWARD. IF ANY MAN'S WORK SHALL BE BURNED, HE SHALL SUFFER LOSS: BUT HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVE; YET SO AS BY FIRE.
*We must be careful to use the right materials.*Our work shall be tested, tried by fire.
*The work that abides shall be rewarded.
*The work that is burned - we shall suffer loss -
but our soul shall be saved.
*The building must be fitly joined together.
FOURTH - WE ARE LIVING STONES LAID ON THE FOUNDATION STONE - THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
I PETER 2: 1 - 10
WHEREFORE LAYING ASIDE ALL MALICE, AND ALL GUILE, AND HYPOCRISIES, AND ENVIES, AND EVIL SPEAKINGS, AS NEWBORN BABES, DESIRE THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD, THAT YE MAY GROW THEREBY; IF SO BE, YE HAVE TASTED THAT THE LORD IS GRACIOUS.
TO WHOM COMING, AS UNTO A LIVING STONE, DISALLOWED INDEED OF MEN, BUT CHOSEN OF GOD, AND PRECIOUS, YE ALSO, AS LIVELY STONES, ARE BUILT UP AN SPIRITUAL HOUSE, AN HOLY PRIESTHOOD, TO OFFER UP SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES ACCEPTABLE TO GOD BY JESUS CHRIST. WHEREFORE ALSO IT IS CONTAINED IN THE SCRIPTURE, BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHIEF CORNER STONE, ELECT, PRECIOUS, AND HE THAT BELIEVETH ON HIM SHALL NOT BE CONFOUNDED. UNTO YOU THEREFORE THAT BELIEVE, HE IS PRECIOUS: BUT UNTO THEM WHICH BE DISOBEDIENT, THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS DISALLOWED, THE SAME IS MADE HEAD OF THE CORNER. AND A STONE OF STUMBLING, AND A ROCK OF OFFENCE, EVEN TO THEM WHICH STUMBLE AT THE WORD, BEING DISOBEDIENT: WHEREUNTO ALSO THEY WERE APPOINTED. BUT YE ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION, AN ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, AN HOLY NATION, A PECULIAR PEOPLE; THAT YE SHOULD SHEW FORTH THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO HATH CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT, WHICH IN TIME PAST WERE NOT A PEOPLE, BUT ARE NOW THE PEOPLE OF GOD; WHICH HAD NOT OBTAINED MERCY, BUT NOW HAVE OBTAINED MERCY.
Christ was rejected , so that we can become a living stone.
As LIVING STONES 'LIVELY STONES'
We build a spiritual house.
THIS BUILDING IS BASED UPON THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.
TO THE ONE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE
HE IS A STUMBLING STONE.
Luke 20.18
Romans 9.32 - 33
" Wherefore ? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled on that stumbling stone; as it is written Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed."
We are the children of the Living God
by faith in Christ Jesus.
Christ is the Chief Cornerstone.
We must build our lives on this foundation.
We become HIS LIVING STONES.
GALATIANS 3.26
FOR YE ARE ALL THE CHILDREN OF GOD
BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.
JOHN 1.29
BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD
WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD.
