The Chief Corner Stone

“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.” (1 Peter 2:7)

There is a two-fold message in this Scripture taken from Psalm 118:22 that the apostle Peter quotes here in his epistle. One is addressed to those that God has caused to believe His Word of testimony concerning His Son, the LORD Jesus. The other part is addressed to those of Christ’s generation and all since who have rejected God’s Word concerning His Son and the salvation that He came to accomplish, in the flesh.

First, he wrote to believers: These are those that John says, received Him because they were given the power and authority to believe on Him, John 1:12. To such, when regenerated by the Spirit of God, the LORD Jesus is ‘precious’. That is not some sentimental expression but means ‘honorable’ or ‘priceless’. His glory, both as God and Man, is infinitely beyond measure. Even as our LORD Jesus is honorable in Himself and to the Father, so He is made so to those who by God’s Grace do believe on Him.

The LORD’s people are called ‘believers’ because Faith is the revelation in them of the Savior and His work of redemption. Their believing is the effect of God having elected them in Him before the foundation of the world and having come and redeemed them in His death at the cross. In time His Spirit effectually works in them and causes them to believe on Him. It is one of the prominent characteristics by which God’s children are distinguished from the rest of the world because the Spirit of God has regenerated and made them alive. If any of God’s children are asked why or how they have come to believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, their answer is singular. They do believe because the LORD Jesus Christ has been revealed in their heart and therefore, given Spiritual eyes to see they rest in Him as ALL their salvation, redemption, justification, sanctification and glorification, 1 Corinthians 1:30-31. He is the Author and Finisher of their faith, Hebrews 12:2.

Second, Peter addresses the unbelieving: They are described as disobedient to Christ, refusing God’s Christ (Anointed One) as the appointed Foundation Stone. They willfully continue in their dead works attempting to lay their own foundation. They are not submitted to the ONE Righteousness of God that He came, earned and established and the Father imputed to the Spiritual account of His elect in His unique sacrifice unto death for them, Romans 10:3. There is no other hope of Heaven than that which is founded on the LORD Jesus and His finished work at Calvary on earth. All saved sinners were saved when He died or they will never be saved. To the saved, He is ever precious. To all others, He is only a Stone of Stumbling and a Rock of Offense.