The Ministry of the Rock

1 Peter 2:4-8
P. G. Mathew | Sunday, March 12, 2017
Copyright © 2017, P. G. Mathew
Language [Japanese]

First Peter 2:4–8 speaks about Jesus Christ as a living Stone, as prophesied in the Old Testament (Ps. 118:22; Isa. 8:14; 28:16). There are two specific ministries of this Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ, who has received all authority in heaven and on earth.

The first ministry is that he will save all who believe in him—he who was “delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Rom. 4:25). He alone is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25). He alone is the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through him (John 14:6). Peter said, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Eternal life is in God’s Son. John writes, “He who has the Son has life” (1 John 5:12). Jesus himself said, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish” (John 10:28).

The congregations Peter was writing to had tasted the Lord and found out that he is kind, gracious, and good. They were born again by the imperishable seed of the living and life-giving word of the gospel. They repented of their sins, trusted in Jesus Christ alone, and were saved forever. They were growing fast in the knowledge of their salvation as they were voraciously drinking the spiritual pure milk of the word of God.

But not only does the Lord save elect sinners, he also judges and condemns the vast majority of wicked people who refuse to repent of their sins and trust in Christ. When wicked sinners harden their hearts as did Pharaoh of old, who asked, “Who is the Lord, that I should believe and obey him?” so the Lord hardens their hearts and condemns them in judgment. So we read, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (John 3:36).

If we do not taste Jesus as Savior, we will certainly experience him as righteous Judge. We may rest on this Rock, or this Rock will fall on us and crush us.

That is the choice that we face today. My prayer is that all who hear his gracious invitation will come to Jesus. He tells us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28–30). He also says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Let us, then, consider three points from this passage: Jesus Christ, the living Stone; Jesus Christ, the saving Stone; and Jesus Christ, the crushing Stone.

 

Jesus Christ, the Living Stone       

Peter begins, “As you come to him, the living Stone” (v. 4). Sin-weary sinners are invited, not only at conversion, but all of life to come to the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, and worship him. Jesus is the living Stone who makes those who are dead in their sins alive. He is the living word that raised up the entombed Lazarus. He himself is the resurrection and the life.

But how can spiritually dead people come to Jesus? He said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44). When he draws, we will come to him. This is effectual calling. He also said, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself” (John 12:32). The Father will draw us, the Son will draw us, and the Holy Spirit will regenerate us and give us the gifts of repentance and saving faith. And we will repent and believe in Jesus Christ and be saved.

Come to the living Stone, who makes every elect dead stone eternally alive. Jesus Christ is the living Stone. God the Father raised him from the dead and he will live forever. He died for our sins and he lives for us now. He is the vine, and we are the branches. His life flows into the branches, and the branches produce fruit, more fruit, and much fruit. And with Christ’s life in us, we can do all the will of God. We can do all things through him who continually strengthens us (Phil. 4:13). We are living stones made alive by Jesus the risen one. We are stones, not playdough. We are strong in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit regenerated us, giving us a new heart, a new nature. The Holy Spirit indwells us, empowering us and enlightening us. It is he who will come upon us and lead us in the narrow way of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Peter says this living Stone was “rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him” (v. 4). Jesus was rejected by non-elect wicked men. Such people read the Bible and heard the gospel. They heard of Jesus and went to God’s holy church to hear the living word preached by godly ministers. They examined his person, his miraculous works, and his gracious teachings. Yet these non-elect people—the elders of Israel, the priests, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the kings, and Pilate—finally rejected and crucified him. They later learned that Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day, as he had predicted. Yet they still rejected him, refusing to believe on him and confess him as Lord.

But this living Stone was chosen by God the Father. The Son of God was chosen by God in God’s eternal council to accomplish redemption by his death and resurrection. So we read, “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations” (Isa. 42:1). We also read, “While [Jesus] was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’” (Matt. 17:5). We listen to everyone else. Jesus Christ is the only person we must listen to and hear, believe, and follow. Listen to him! Peter says, “He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake” (1 Pet. 1:20), for our salvation. Therefore we are also chosen in Jesus Christ. Peter writes, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God’s elect [God’s chosen ones]” (1 Pet. 1:1). Paul says, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Eph. 1:4). We are chosen in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is precious to the Father. He is highly honored. Do you honor Jesus Christ by obeying him? He is the hidden treasure and the pearl of the highest value. Jesus himself said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it” (Matt. 13:44–46). This is speaking about Jesus Christ. He is our treasure.

As Christians, we are richer than the richest unbelievers in the world. Why? Because we have God. The poorest person in the world is the one who has not trusted in Jesus Christ alone for his eternal salvation. And not only is God our treasure, but we also are God’s treasure. The Hebrew word for “treasure” is segullah. The Lord said, “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession [segullah]. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exod. 19:5–6).  Elsewhere we read, “‘They will be mine,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘in the day when I make up my treasured possession’” (Mal. 3:17), his treasured jewels. God is our treasure, and we are God’s treasure.

When Christ invites us, we will come to him, energized by the triune God. He came to us as the life-giving spirit to seek and to save what was lost. He came to the publican and, in his mercy, he justified him. He came seeking the legion-demon man, and he saved him. He is coming to save you now. Come to him, and be saved from your sins and from his wrath. Come to him, and he will make you living stones.

Then Peter says, “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (v. 5). He will build you up, first, into a spiritual house. Jesus said, “On this [massive] Rock, I will build my church,” referring to Christ himself. Peter is a living stone, but not the foundation stone. Christ gives life to stones and builds his church with himself as the sure foundation.

He builds his spiritual house with many spiritual stones from both Jews and Gentiles. That is why we do not discriminate in God’s holy church. Paul writes, “Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all” (Col. 3:11).  The Holy Spirit dwells in this spiritual house. Paul says, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16). Every living stone of true believers is built into this church. Therefore, he or she will relate to Christ as the sure foundation and to every other living stone of true believers. In other words, a believer in the church is not an autonomous being. He loves Christ and he loves every fellow believer in the church. If one member suffers, all suffer, and if one rejoices, all rejoice, as is true of a human body.

There are no loose living stones in the spiritual house Christ is building. Loose spiritual stones are people who roam and float at will, one day here and one day there, and then they just float away. Of such people John writes, “They went out from us but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us” (1 John 2:19). But those who belong will be built into God’s church. Paul says Christ’s church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Eph. 2:20–22).

This living stone building is also a holy priesthood. This means all believers are priests to God, whether men or women, masters or slaves, rich or poor, old or young. They are a holy priesthood. They are holy because God is holy.

Antinomianism is the dominant theology in the evangelical world and even in the Reformed, world today. Most ministers never speak about holy living. But if the Holy Spirit is dwelling in his church, we must be a holy priesthood and live holy lives. “Be ye holy,” God said, “because I am holy.” Antinomians and “one-way-love” people will hear from Jesus on that day, “Depart from me; I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matt. 7:23).

There are no popes or cardinals in the church that Christ is building. Every believer is a priest having equal access to the throne of grace. So the Hebrew writer says, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Heb. 4:16). He also says, “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Heb. 7:25).

We are priests. Everyone who trusts in Christ is a priest. So we read, “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God” (Rev. 5:10). This does not negate Christ’s gifts to the church, especially of pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for the work of service.

What is the purpose of this holy priesthood? It is to offer spiritual sacrifices. We do not need to offer bloody sacrifices in worship today. The Hebrews writer tells us the reason: “Unlike the other high priests, [Jesus Christ] does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself” (Heb. 7:27). Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice is all-sufficient. But we must offer spiritual sacrifices. What are they?

 

1. We must offer our bodies. Paul writes, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship” (Rom. 12:1). We have no right to do what we want to do with our bodies. Our bodies were bought with a price—the blood of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:19).
2. We must evangelize. This is also an act of worship. Paul said he was “a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God” (Rom. 15:16). All believers have a responsibility to share the gospel with others. How can we dare to experience salvation and never speak the gospel to anyone? We must speak to those in our homes, in our neighborhoods, and beyond. Filled with the Spirit, and power and authority, we must point people to Jesus Christ, who alone saves sinners.
3. We must give gifts to spread the gospel. Paul writes, “I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God” (Phil. 4:18).
4. We must worship God. The Hebrews writer says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name” (Heb. 13:15).
5. We must pray. The Hebrews writer says, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Heb. 4:16). Consider this vision of heaven: “Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand” (Rev. 8:3–4).
6. We must do good and share with needy people. Again, the Hebrews writer exhorts, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Heb. 13:16). How can we walk away when our sister or brother does not have anything to eat?
7. We must come before God with a broken spirit and contrite heart. The psalmist says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Ps. 51:17). Authentic repentance is a sacrifice, and God will accept it.

 

We are to offer sacrifices acceptable to God. Most worship in most Christian churches in the world is not acceptable to God. (PGM) Their sacrifices are unbiblical, offered by unconverted people. They are like Cain’s sacrifice, which was rejected by God, not like Abel’s sacrifice, which was accepted by God.

Are your prayers accepted by God? Or are they hindered by sin? Jesus said, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift” (Matt. 5:23–24). He also said, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11:25). And Peter instructs, “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers” (1 Pet. 3:7).

Unconfessed sin renders our worship unacceptable to our holy God. So we must get right with our spouses, our children, or any others before we come to church. If we do not do this, God will not accept our worship. Christ’s sacrifice was fully acceptable to God, so God raised him from the dead.

Finally, Peter says we are to offer our spiritual sacrifices through Jesus Christ. It is through Christ alone that we can offer this acceptable worship. He is our high priest, the only mediator between God and man. We come to the Father in the name of Jesus to worship. No one may approach the throne of grace in his own name. Paul writes, “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:1–2). By Christ’s death, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, giving us access to the presence of God. So we do not need a pope, a cardinal, or a priest. We are priests.

 

Jesus Christ, the Saving Stone

Peter writes, “For in Scripture it says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious” (vv. 6–7a).

True believers come to Jesus and taste him as kind, gracious, and good. He is our Savior and Lord (Ps. 34:5, 8). Yet he is Savior only to those who come to him, only to those who repent and believe in Jesus, our Redeemer. Such believers can come to him. The weary will find rest in him. The Scripture speaks of our Lord Jesus Christ as a massive stone upon whom the sin-weary soul can rest forever.

Let us examine this text that Peter quotes: “So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed’” (Isa. 28:16).

 

1. It is God the Father who is laying this salvation stone, this living Stone, in Zion. He planned our salvation in eternity. He loves his elect sinners.
2. The Lord says, “See!” “Behold!” “Surprise!” Instead of destroying sinners, God will save them through the incarnational life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. So Peter was also saying, “Behold! Be surprised, you elect sinners. Be surprised of your Savior, God/man, Jesus Christ. Look at him, fix your eyes on him, and grow up in knowledge of him.”
3. He is a tested stone. The Father thoroughly examined this living Stone, Jesus Christ, and found him perfect. He is without sin. The Father was well-pleased with him. He has been tested and approved by God. Yet the non-elect sinners rejected him. They tested him also, and they rejected him.
4. This living Stone is strong, and no one can defeat him. He defeats all his enemies, and he gives eternal security to his people who trust in him.
5. This living Stone is precious to us. He is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6). He is the Sun of Righteousness who rises with healing in his wings (Mal. 4:2). He is the radiance of God’s glory (Heb. 1:1–4). In him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:9).
6. This living Stone is the cornerstone for a sure foundation. The cornerstone was a great stone laid for the foundation at the place where two walls came together. It provided stability for the whole building. The foundation of the church is established on the prophets and the apostles, held all together by our Lord Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone, which was the most magnificent stone. Every living stone relates to this cornerstone, and to every other living stone of the building. The church is not built on sand, but on the Rock, Jesus Christ; thus, it cannot be shaken. The gates of hell shall never prevail against the church of Jesus Christ.

 

The psalmist says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea” (Ps. 46:1–2). The psalmist also says, “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever” (Ps. 125:1). This living Stone is the bedrock of our faith. The one who trusts in this Stone/Savior Jesus Christ will never be put to shame. True believers will surely be saved forever. They are eternally secure. Paul writes, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). Paul also says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:37–39).

Jesus died for us, and Jesus lives for us. Jesus is our treasure and we are his treasure, for whose salvation he died. He will never die again. To us who believe, Jesus is precious. He is our eternal Savior and Lord.

 

Jesus Christ, the Crushing Stone

Peter concludes, “But to those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,’ and, ‘A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.’ They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for” (vv. 7b–8).

There is another ministry for this living Stone, Jesus Christ, who is King of kings and Lord of lords. He has received all authority in heaven and on earth. Listen to what Paul says: “God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church” (Eph. 1:22), for the benefit of the church. Paul also says, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9–11).

Those who will not come to Jesus and trust in him, those who refuse to surrender to him wholly, will experience this massive Stone in a different way: he will fall on them and crush them. Daniel spoke about this: “While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth” (Dan. 2:34–35). Christ’s kingdom abides forever. Daniel also said, “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces” (Dan. 2:44–45a).

All people have to relate to this Stone, either as Savior or as Judge. Suppose you say you will just die and will not have to face God. You will be surprised. The moment you die, you will go to a place of judgment, and then he will raise you up and send you to hell for eternity.

If you treat Christ with contempt, you will be killed. Everyone who will not trust in Jesus, the only heaven-sent Savior, the only one who destroyed death and the devil by his death and resurrection, the only way to the Father, the only high priest and mediator between God and men, will experience Jesus as the Judge of the world. The massive Stone will fall on them and crush them.

But the same Stone will save his people. So we read, “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world’” (Matt. 25:34). But he will judge the wicked, sending them to hell. So we read, “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels’” (Matt. 25:41). Paul writes, “He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power” (2 Thess. 1:8–9).

This massive Stone is the foundation Stone for those who believe in Jesus and are saved. But to the wicked, this Stone will be a stone that causes them to stumble and fall and be destroyed.

Peter heard Jesus speak of himself as the Stone that the leaders of Israel rejected (Matt. 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11). They crucified him and buried him. They thought they had solved this stone problem, this Jesus problem. Then they heard, “Jesus is risen from the dead.” He is coming again to deal with all the wicked.

Listen to Jesus’ own words: “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” Then he said, “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed” (Matt. 21:42–44).

In Revelation 19 we read, “Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19:15–16).

Be saved or be crushed: that is our choice. The rock ministry consists of salvation and damnation. I plead with you to surrender to Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Believe in him and be saved today. Believe the testimony of God himself about his Son. John writes, “We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. . . . He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:9, 12).

Do you have the Son? Do you have life eternal? If not, I urge you to come to him and be saved. Isaiah declares, “The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, and he will be a sanctuary; but for both houses of Israel he will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall” (Isa. 8:13–14).

God says, “Those who honor me, I will honor. Those who despise me, I will despise.” Consider these scriptures if you are still not sure about coming to Jesus Christ:

1. Acts 13:46: “Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: ‘We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.’ . . . When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.” Everyone is appointed, either for eternal life or for eternal damnation.
2. Romans 9:22–23: “What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory.” There are only two appointments.
3. Romans 11:22: “Consider, therefore, the kindness and sternness of God.” The church to which Peter wrote had tasted the Lord as kind and gracious. But Paul says there is another tasting for which they were appointed. “Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.” What does the Lord require of us? To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before our God (Mic. 6:8).
4. 1 Peter 2:8: “They stumble because they disobey the message, which is also what they were appointed to.” We are not surprised when people do not want to believe. It proves that they have been appointed by God from all eternity to stumble and fall, and to experience Christ as a massive stone falling on them.

 

Either we are appointed to eternal life (Acts 13:48) or eternal destruction (1 Pet. 2:8). Never treat Jesus Christ and his offer of salvation lightly. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He has all authority in heaven and on earth. He is the Creator, the Sustainer, and the Redeemer. He is the radiance of God’s glory, in whom dwells all the Godhead bodily. Today I offer to you Jesus Christ. May you believe in him and be saved.