A Spiritual house for a royal priesthood
Andre South
Building on the perfect cornerstone
Building on the Perfect Cornerstone
On August 9, 1173, work began on a tower in a small city. This tower was to be a bell tower for the local church, with seven bells at the top to communicate messages to the people in the area and inspire them with their beautiful sounds.
However, shortly after construction began, a severe issue arose. As the workers started building the second floor, the foundation began to sink—not just a few inches, but one side sank by about nine feet into the earth! This didn’t deter the workers, though. Instead of correcting the problem, they just kept building. Work continued over the next 200 years until it was finally completed. The tower’s final height was over 183 feet, sporting a substantial four-degree lean.
As you might have guessed, this tower is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. What began as a would-be great piece of human achievement quickly became a serious danger due to the misplacement of the most important aspect of its construction—the foundation stones.
- Setting the Stage
In 1 Peter 2:4-10, Peter writes to churches on the outskirts of the Roman Empire in the 1st century. Hostilities against Christians have been rising and spreading all over the empire, and it was likely that religious persecution was imminent for these churches.
Peter begins this letter by setting the temporal nature of life in juxtaposition with the glory of eternity. He says, “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
This brings us to the main text:
1 Peter 2:4-10 (NASB95):
"And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture: 'BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNERSTONE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.' This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, 'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNERSTONE,' and, 'A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE'; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY."
The goal is to highlight the importance of setting Christ as the foundation of faith. Not everyone has set this firm foundation on which all eternity is built.
The Living Stones
- A Spiritual House for a Holy Priesthood
Verse 5 says, “You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood.” What does it mean—a spiritual house for a holy priesthood?
**Holy Priesthood**
God is telling us through Peter that all believers in Christ are made priests. Priesthood isn’t reserved for the Levites or clergy but is extended to all who believe. So, as priests, what are we to do?
The roles of a priest historically were to offer sacrifices to God and teach in the temple, or, as our text says, to proclaim the excellencies of God.
- Sacrifices
Obviously, animal sacrifices are no longer performed, so what sacrifices is Peter referring to? The scriptures surrounding our text provide insight:
1 Peter 2:1-2 (NASB95):
"Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,"
1 Peter 2:11 (NASB95):
"Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul."
In essence, we are to sacrifice the lusts of our flesh. The text says that these “fleshly lusts” wage war against the soul. James 1:15 says, “Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” These lusts are not just sexual in nature, but any desire or affection that is contrary to the word of God. Peter lists a few: put aside all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. These, and others found in scripture, war against souls and will bring death to all who indulge them. But we are to sacrifice them to God.
- Presenting Our Bodies as a Living Sacrifice
Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” George Whitfield said, “Real Christians will give up the heart, their understandings, their wills, their affections, to be guided by the word, providence, and the Spirit of the Lord.” Daily laying down at the feet of Jesus, sacrificing every part of oneself as true worship to the Living God, is essential.
- Longing for the Word
Another sacrifice that can be offered is a longing for the word. The analogy used here is: like a newborn baby is totally dependent on his mother’s milk, so are believers to depend on the word of God. Also, like mother’s milk causes a child to grow, the word causes believers to grow up in salvation. This picture doesn’t suggest merely “liking” the word. Believers are to “long” for it. The Greek word for “long” means to desire, to pursue with love.
In today’s age, people often explain away their ignorance of God’s word by saying things like: “Well, I’m just not a reader,” “I just fall asleep when I start reading,” or “The Bible is too confusing.” These excuses are given no quarter by the text here. Believers are to pursue the word of God with love, desiring it and longing after it as if their very lives depended on it. A faithful priest of God would never ignore the words of the Master he is called to serve. If believers are made priests through the blood of Christ, then ignoring His word is not an option. Any aversion to or temptation to ignore the word of God must be sacrificed to be effective priests.
- Proclaiming the Excellencies of God
Priests also taught the scriptures in the temple. There is also a duty to herald the eternal truths of God. Continuing with the importance of scripture, how can one proclaim the excellencies of a God whom they do not know? God has revealed Himself in the Bible, and believers have but to search Him out and discover who He is.
Jesus says in Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Believers are to fill themselves with God’s word to the point where it spills over into every area of their lives! Influence is a powerful tool in proclaiming God’s greatness. Each individual has a sphere of influence where they can make an impact and share the message of Christ.
Family members, friends, acquaintances, co-workers, and even strangers encountered in everyday life provide opportunities to proclaim the excellencies of God. Proclaiming the excellencies of God is not restricted to pastors but is a necessary aspect of the priesthood of all believers. It is both a joyous and essential attribute of a priest of God.
Spurgeon once said, “...never did I know perfect, overflowing, unutterable happiness of the purest and most ennobling order, until I first heard of one who had sought and found a Savior through my means.”
Living Stones in a Spiritual House
- Understanding "Living"
Believers are the “living stones” of this spiritual house. The focus here is on the word “living,” translated as “zao” (zah-o) in Greek. It simply means “life,” but Peter uses it several times in his epistle to communicate the eternal nature of life—what can properly be characterized as real life. He says, “...we are born of a seed … imperishable … through the living and enduring word of God,” and “…for the gospel has…been preached…that they might live in the Spirit.”
- Eternal Life Begins Now
When does eternal life begin? When believers die, or now? Eternal life starts the moment one comes into a saving belief in Christ. As priests, believers are to proclaim the excellencies of God NOW and forever.
- Building a Spiritual House
Not only are believers priests, but they are a collection of priests—living stones building a spiritual house, which is the church of God. These duties are not performed alone; believers are to be in communion with the church, collectively being built together in one Spirit. As living stones within this house, believers are fitted together with the other saints. Sacrifices, proclamation, and worship are done in unity.
The problem with the Leaning Tower of Pisa is that its foundation stones were set in unstable, shifting ground. It sank almost immediately after construction began. But the foundation of believers is set on the cornerstone that will never shift and never sink.
The foundation is Jesus Christ, “a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God.”
- The Cornerstone
- Foundation Stones
Jesus says in Matthew 7:24-27 (NASB95):
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.
- The House Built on the Rock
Jesus is the rock, the foundation stone on which lives must be built if they are to survive. These living stones have their source in Christ, the perfect stone.
- Rejection by Men
Jesus was rejected by men. Isaiah 53:3 (NASB95) says:
"He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him."
Peter quoted Psalm 118:22-23, where it says, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. This is the LORD'S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.” These builders were Israel, who should have been looking for the stone that God would set, but instead, rejected Him. He was rejected and despised, even by those who were supposed to be watching for Him. Jesus is the stone of stumbling and the rock of offense. But this stone is precious and choice in the sight of God.
- Precious Value
To those who believe, Jesus is precious. When one has been born again and filled with the Holy Spirit, they see Jesus for who He is, the marvelous cornerstone of all creation. Jesus must be precious to believers, as there is no salvation outside of Christ. All who are to be saved must be built on this foundation.
- Stumbling Stone for the Disobedient
He is a stumbling stone to the disobedient. Those who reject Jesus stumble because they are disobedient to the word of God. Believers, too, stumbled because they were disobedient to God. They stumble because they will not hear. They want salvation on their terms and reject the plan of God. And because they reject the perfect stone, they fall.
- The Cornerstone of Our Lives
But the good news is that Jesus is alive! He is choice and precious in the sight of God. He rose from the grave and is seated at the right hand of God. He stands ready to be the foundation for any life if they will only believe. Because of Jesus, believers are chosen, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. Once, they were not a people, but now they are the people of God; they had not received mercy, but now they have received mercy.
Conclusion
- God's Mercy
God's mercy is freely offered to all who will believe. He will make believers living stones in His spiritual house. As priests, they will offer spiritual sacrifices to God and proclaim His excellencies to the world.
- Build on the Perfect Cornerstone
Build life on the perfect cornerstone. Set aside all that wars against the soul, and long for the pure milk of the word. Believers are called out of darkness into His marvelous light. Come to Jesus, the living stone, and be built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
