CHIEF CORNER STONE. 1st Peter 2:6
The Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation stone, and from Him every other living stone is placed in the right place in the spiritual house, the church. In ancient stone houses, great care was taken to lay the cornerstone, perfectly formed and perfectly set, so that from it two walls would extend in different directions, each rightly formed, measured, and laid in place to make a suitable structure. The alignment of the building and its strength depended on the strength of the material, the perfection of the form, and the levelness of the cornerstone. The design and positioning of the cornerstone was the most important act in building, and the cornerstone was the most important stone in the building. “If the foundation be destroyed, what shall the righteous do?”
It is obvious to those who know building practices that the building we see on top depends on what is below. The testimony of apostles and prophets, even though they’re gone, forms the foundation of the walls on which the Church is built. But foundation stones could be crooked, not made of the right stuff – so something else is needed long before a finished roof. The very first stone laid is the Chief Corner Stone of the Church, and that Stone has to be so perfect that earthquakes won’t make it lurch.
A cornerstone is positioned where two walls meet. Other important stones in stone buildings include the keystone, used when an arch is complete, which spreads the weight equally to each side while tying them together, forming a single, complete whole. There is also the capstone, the last stone that completes the structure when it is placed. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and Omega, and He is the one who binds together Jews and Gentiles, people of every color, culture, and clime, into one cohesive unit, which is His body, His dwelling place, His church! The whole building takes its shape and strength from Him who “the builders rejected,” but who is chosen by God and precious to Him.
Our Lord Jesus is the “elect,” the chosen one, who, in His perfection, is uniquely precious because He is one-of-a-kind, God’s “begotten” (unique) Son. There is no other person like Him, nothing or no one who can compare with Him in the whole universe. He is the God-Man, precious to God, whom God has selected to be in the place of highest honor. When we put our faith in Him, we will never regret it: in life, in death, and in eternity.
The Chief Corner Stone was scrutinized, but the “experts” passed it by. They wanted what they wanted, not the One whom the Holy God saw as perfect and suitable. That Stone was completely solid; in it was found no flaw – the shape and form were perfect – this building could not fall. God laid it out in its perfection so that every stone could fit easily. The foundation stones of the apostles and prophets were added, and other stones came out from it. In every direction, the walls made of living stones each know the Chief Corner Stone personally; He is the “Faithful and True.”
Of particular interest is that this teaching was “contained in scripture.” Peter quoted Psalm 118:22 in his defense before the Sanhedrin in Acts 4 and, after this quotation, said, “There is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” The Lord Jesus referred to this passage of scripture when speaking directly to those who rejected Him. Paul also cited this passage to the assembly at Rome when he was explaining the unbelief of the Jews in their rejection of their Messiah.
Peter again applies this to the Jews who had become believers in Christ, showing the contrast between their Judaistic past rejection of Him who was chosen and precious to God. He is precious to all believers now. He is not just valuable and important to us, but He embodies all that is valuable and important. He is “the preciousness” in His person to those who believe in Him.
The building is almost done now. There has been no deterioration. Though there have been challenges and wars, the saints from every nation are part of this sound structure. Never again will there be one like the one that is securely built and will always stand on Christ, the Corner Stone.