Part I & II

PHBC August 24 & 31, 1997

Series: First Peter, Sermon #27

Scripture: I Pet. 1:18-2:8

TEXT: 1 Peter 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious.

INTRO: Peter, affirms in the passage read and in our text that, not he as some claim, but Christ is the foundation stone upon which our salvation and all Christianity are built. Paul declares, 1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. It is true that, in another context, Paul refers to all the apostles as being a foundation but he is careful to point out that Jesus Christ is the chief corner stone. Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. And, in the verse following our text, Peter refers to these to whom he is writing as being lively, or living stones. But, in contrast, Jesus is that great foundation stone, the great and chief corner stone.

THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN BY THE WORD AND HAVE TASTED THAT THE LORD IS GRACIOUS HAVE COME TO CHRIST, THE LIVING STONE

Those coming to Christ come to the one in whom they shall find rest for their souls. Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Those coming to Christ come to the one who will never cast them out. John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Those coming to Christ come to the living stone who gives eternal life.

He assures that those who come shall have living souls. Isaiah 55:3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

He declares that he is the one who gives life and those who do not come will not have life.

This is a power given to the man Christ Jesus by God himself. John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.

Those who do not come to him miss all opportunity to have eternal life. John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.

He is the resurrection and the life. John 11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

He is the life and no one can come to the Father without coming to him. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

He is the Lord and beside him there is no Saviour. Isaiah 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. Hosea 13:4 Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.

He is the living stone and we live because he lives. John 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

He is the living stone and we were reconciled by his death and we are saved by his life. Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

He is our life and when he appears we shall also appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

In God’s holy record, his inspired word, he has set down in irrevocable declaration that eternal life is in his Son. 1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

He has irreversibly proclaimed that the one having his Son has life and the one not having his Son does not have life. 1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

The one not believing this record has said by his unbelief that God is a liar. 1 John 5:10 He that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

THE ONE COMING TO CHRIST COMES TO THE LIVING STONE WHO IS DISALLOWED BY MEN

The word disallowed means "to be refused, repudiated, rejected."

Jesus is the stone whom the builders refused who has become the head of the corner, the chief corner stone. Psalm 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

He is the stone that was despised and rejected of men. Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

His is the stone who is despised and abhorred by many. Isaiah 49:7 Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth.

Jesus reminded the Jews that he was that stone who was being disallowed by them. Matthew 21:42 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?

Peter declared him to be the stone who was set at nought by the builders but who is the only one in whom there is salvation. Acts 4:11-12 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.

This rejection of men is seen in Christ’s ministry as well as his crucifixion and death.

When he cast out demons from a man who was terrorizing the country, the Gadarenes asked him to leave their area. Luke 8:36-37 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. 37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

Men are inconsistent in their actions in their rejection of Christ. Matthew 11:16-19 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

In spite of his many demonstrations of his greatness he was still rejected of men. Matthew 12:38-45 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. 42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. 43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

One reason for this rejection is that God has judicially blinded them lest they hear and receive Christ. Matthew 13:13-15 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

It is no disgrace to be rejected by men, to be falsely accused by men, as long as we know in our hearts that we are standing for truth and that our hearts and hands are clean before God.

THOSE COMING TO CHRIST COME TO THE ELECT, CHOSEN STONE, THE ONE CHOSEN BY GOD

Though disallowed by men he was chosen of God. 1 Peter 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious.

He is the one who is mighty who is chosen out of the people to be the head of his elect people. Psalm 89:19 Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.

He is the one who is chosen of God and is well pleasing to God even though he is disallowed by men. Matthew 12:18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

He is the chosen stone in whom God delights. Isaiah 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

A word of encouragement to this church. It is nothing to be rejected of men if we are sure that we are well-pleasing to God and are doing his will and teaching his whole counsel.

THOSE COMING TO CHRIST HAVE COME TO THE STONE WHO IS PRECIOUS

He is precious to God as revealed in his being his only begotten Son. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

He is God’s servant, God’s elect, and the one who delights the soul of God. Isaiah 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

The term firstborn that is used in reference to Christ is another term that denotes his preciousness. Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.

The fact that it has pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell in the Son shows how precious he is to the Father. Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

To those who have come to him he is very precious. 1 Peter 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner.

He is precious to us because we know that it is he who has the words of eternal life. John 6:68-69 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

Paul found him more precious than anything else in this world. Philippians 3:7-10 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.

He is precious in his redemption. 1 Peter 1:18-20 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

He is precious in his forgiveness of sin. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

David rested in this precious forgiveness of sin. Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Note that John said he is faithful to forgive us our sins.

And he is just to forgive us our sins because he has paid our sin debt and has taken the stripes due our sins upon himself.

He is precious in his preservation of his saints.

We may fall but we will never be utterly cast down for he upholds us. Psalm 37:23-24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

We may stumble but he will present us faultless. Jude 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.

We may fall into a miry pit but he will bring us up out of it. Psalm 40:1-5 <<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

He will not cast us out. John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

No one can pluck us out. John 10:27-30 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and my Father are one.

No charge can be laid on our account be because he has paid it off in full. Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

Nothing and no one can separate us. Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

He is precious in his promises to come again. John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

In the last book of the Bible his second coming is set forth in a number of ways.

Three times in that last book of God’s Holy Word he says, "I come quickly."

Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Revelation 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Then John closes this last book of the precious Word of God out with this declaration and prayer. Revelation 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

The believer never tires of hearing the message of Jesus Christ because to us he is precious.

I never tire of preaching Jesus Christ because to me he is precious.

God is pleased when we magnify his Son for he is precious to him.

 

CONC: Have you come to this living stone, the Lord Jesus Christ?

Or, have you rejected, disallowed, and repudiated him by not believing on him?

Is he precious to you or rejected by you?

If you have truly come to him for salvation, he can only be precious to you. Examine your attitude toward him. How do you feel when he is exalted as the one and only Saviour of sinners? How do you feel when he is set forth as the one and only way to heaven? How do you feel when he is glorified as our only hope, as the only one who has the words of eternal life, as the only one through whom God is pleased to save?

If these things bother you then you need to come to Christ the living stone, the elect stone, the precious stone.