January 9, 2012

“Stones”

Blessings Folk!

The Lord in His Word describes Jesus in several ways...Shepherd, Door, Light, Gate, etc.

One of my favorite comes from the following passage.

Give close heed to...

• the use of metaphor…
• how Jesus is described…
• how we are described…
• what we learn about those who Believe
• what we learn about those who do not believe
• the passages in ALL CAPS are quotes from the Old Testament - things prophesied.

1 Peter 2
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For this is contained in Scripture:
   “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,
   “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,”
 8 and,
   “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”;
   for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.
 9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Jesus is…

• Living Stone
• rejected by men
• Choice and Precious in the sight of God

True Believers are…

• living stones in the Lord
• being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood
• to offer up spiritual sacrifices
• will not be disappointed in Him
• chosen race (KJV says “generation”… I like that better)
• royal priesthood
• a holy nation
• a people for God’s own possession (KJV - “a peculiar people&rdquo

Disbelievers…

• rejected the Lord, the Very CornerStone
• stumble because they are disobedient to the word
• they were/are appointed to this doom (interesting...pay attention&hellip

We once were not a people of the Lord.
But, now…
We are the people of God.

We had not received mercy…
But, now…
We have received mercy.

Remember the mercy of the Lord.

Are you not a person of the Lord?
Then call out to Him.

Are you a Believer, yet you have turned away...you have sinned?
Then call out to Him.

His mercy is abundant.

Lamentations 3
 22 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Rest in His mercy.
Rejoice in His forgiveness.
Stand upon the Living Rock of our Salvation.

Blessings!

The local Bible studies resume this week...come join us.
Mondays, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, 9:00 a.m.
Studying Matthew - Part 2. (Part 1 is not a prerequisite.)
Meet at Victory Park.
Contact for more information.