Through the Bible - Ezekiel 37-38, 1 Peter 5
Good morning,
Through the ages many, including the Catholic church, have looked at the following statement by Jesus to Peter as evidence that Jesus was appointing Peter as the head of the church, the Rock that the church would be built on.
Matt 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, NKJV
Others, myself included, believe that Jesus was referring to the statement that Peter had just made to Jesus, and that Jesus gave him the name Peter, Rock as a reminder of that statement. That the church would be built on the one Rock, the Cornerstone, Jesus Christ.:
Matt 16:15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered and said,"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." NKJV
For today's verse we'll go to 1 Peter, written late in Peter's life where he refers to Jesus as the "Chief Cornerstone". In these verses he refers to Christians, himself included as living stones, built around the one "chief cornerstone".
1 Peter 2:4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. NKJV
John MacArthur writes, "Christians are so closely identified and united with Christ that the very life that exists in Christ exists in them also. built up a spiritual house - Metaphorically, God is building a spiritual house, putting all believers in place, integrating each one with others, and each one with the life of Christ."
Read the passage below. You'll notice that three times (in the NKJV at least) that the word "precious" is used. First, believers in the sight of God, and then Jesus, the Cornerstone, described by Peter, by God as being precious.
Is Jesus precious to you today? If so, you will be following Him obediently, serving Him wherever He has placed you and will lead you.
Today's New Testament reading is from 1 Peter 5, where he gives some encouragement in closing out this letter.
He Gets the Last Word
1 Peter 5:8-12 Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ — eternal and glorious plans they are! — will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does. (from THE MESSAGE)
In today's tough times, keep a cool head and keep a firm grip on the faith, He will see you through.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
1 Peter 2:1-13
2:1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People
4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
"Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."
7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
"The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,"
8 and
"A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense."
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Living Before the World
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
NKJV
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