Living Stones

Text: 1 Peter 2:4-10

In this lesson, we are going to consider how Jesus and His followers are living stones and what that means in terms of how we are to serve Him.

Jesus Is a Living Stone (v. 4)

We come to Him – not by some direct operation of the Spirit on our hearts, but by our choice; He offers the invitation (Matthew 11:28-30); the gospel message persuades us (2 Corinthians 5:11); but we must make the decision for ourselves
As a living stone – Jesus has been raised from the dead (1 Peter 1:21); proof that He is the Son of God (Romans 1:4), which is the foundation of the church (Matthew 16:16, 18)
Jesus is either precious or rejected – He does not change (Hebrews 13:8), but people react differently; rejected by men (Isaiah 53:3; John 1:11); precious in the sight of God (Matthew 3:17); we have to choose which it will be for us (cf. Joshua 24:15)

Being Built Up as a Spiritual House (v. 5-8)

This spiritual house is the church (1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:19-22) – where we “offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ“; worship (John 4:24)
We are living stones – made alive by God through Christ (Ephesians 2:5), so we are to be active in serving Him (Ephesians 2:10; James 2:26); put in place by the Lord (Acts 2:47; Ephesians 2:6), so we need to recognize our place (1 Corinthians 12:27, 19-23)
Jesus is the cornerstone – the perfect standard (1 Peter 2:21-22; John 12:48); precious for those who believe (1 Corinthians 1:18); offensive for those who are disobedient (John 3:36, 19-21)

We Are God’s Special People (v. 9-10)

We are a chosen race – not physical descendants of Abraham (Matthew 3:9); descendants by faith (Galatians 3:26-29)
We are a royal priesthood – offer sacrifices to God (1 Peter 2:5); including our own lives (Romans 12:1)
We are a holy nation – a kingdom not of this world (John 18:36; Philippians 3:20); from every nation (Acts 10:35)
We are a people for God’s own possession – redeemed by the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19); now we are to be “zealous for good deeds” (Titus 2:14)
We were not a people, but are now the people of God – those who are born again (1 Peter 1:3, 23); “He is not ashamed to call [us] brethren” (Hebrews 2:11)
What we do as God’s special people – proclaim the excellencies of God (cf. 1 Peter 3:15); because He called us out of darkness into light (cf. Colossians 1:13)

We Have Received Mercy (v. 10)

At the end of this series of verses, Peter made a statement designed to keep us humble – as Paul had many reasons to boast (Philippians 3:4-6), we could do the same from the things that Peter said (we came to Christ, we believe, we are living stones, we are God’s special people)
We have received mercy – God has not given us what we deserve
We have not “earned” a place in this spiritual house – this is by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9)
What we have earned are the wages of sin (Romans 6:23) – in God’s mercy, He gives us a chance to avoid this (1 Peter 1:2-3); we must not “think lightly” of this (Romans 2:4-6)

Conclusion