Christ: A Living Stone by Dr. Johnny O. Trail, LMFT
When I worked with the summer staff at Short Mountain Bible Camp, I became very familiar with laying stone. I had done very minor mason work helping my father to lay cinder blocks in various types of foundations, but stonework was a different type of animal in nature. Much of the stonework that one sees at the camp was done by various individuals, but I had a hand in laying and helping with much of what was done. In many respects, there is an art to laying stone. It is almost like working a giant puzzle putting the sones in place to make some beautiful creation. In doing this work, I obtained a great education that was vocational in nature and learned a few spiritual truths along the way.Stones are mentioned in various places throughout God’s word. Sometimes they were used to establish memorials for the people (Joshua 4.21ff). At times, they were used to build altars for offering sacrifice to God (Joshua 8.31). Sometimes they were used for the construction of walls (Nehemiah 4.3), temples (I Kings 6.7), or other structures. Oftentimes the idea of a “stone” was used symbolically to refer to Christ and the importance of His work. Stones play a very important symbolic purpose in God’s word as they pertain to Christ and His people.
Christ is a precious cornerstone. Prophecy reveals the preeminence of Christ in God’s plan to save humanity. Isaiah 28:16 “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.” This prophecy is mentioned by Peter (I Peter 2.6) and Paul (Romans 9.33) both.
Since it is a “precious cornerstone,” it cannot be discarded in the construction process that was predetermined by God before the foundation of the universe was laid. Ephesians 1:3-4 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” Those who were placed into Christ at the point of baptism (Galatians 3.26-27) are chosen to enjoy spiritual blessings and, one day, eternal life.
Christ is described as the chief cornerstone. Psalm 118:22 says, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.” When one rejects the “chief cornerstone,” he does it to his own ruination. In doing foundation work with cinder blocks, one lays the corners first and the blocks that are betwixt the two points. These cornerstones are extremely important because they determine the squareness and plumbness of the entire structure. If this part of the building process is done haphazardly or in a slipshod manner, the entire structure is off and hard to construct upon.
This was missed by many ancient Israelites who rejected Jesus as the Messiah. The builders had “rejected” Him from their collective history as being God’s only begotten Son just as they had rejected God and His law. When the Logos dwelt among them, they did no better in recognizing and accepting Him as the “Chief cornerstone” that was essential in accomplishing God’s will. John 1:11 says, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.”
If the chief cornerstone is rejected, no meaningful, sound structure can be erected upon it. 1 Corinthians 3:11 says, “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Any church or plan of salvation that is not built upon Christ cannot withstand the examination of God and scripture.
Christ is described as a living stone. 1 Peter 2:4 “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious.” This living stone would become the solid, bedrock foundation upon which the church was to be establish—not Peter. This stands in contradistinction to what many of our Roman Catholic friends believe in error regarding the stone upon which the church was to be built (Matthew 16. 13-18).
Christ is described as a rejected stone. Act 4:11-12 This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." In essence, this stone that was rejected could not be discarded because God’s will would be accomplished (Isaiah 55.11). Humankind could not thwart the ultimate will of God that all people might potentially be saved through his Son (John 3.16).
Christ is described as a stone of stumbling and rock of offense. This most likely has reference to the rejection of the Jews and Gentiles regarding the proclamation of a crucified Christ. The Jews stumbled at the fact thatJesus was crucified. Deuteronomy 21:22-23, says "If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.” The difference between Christ and the one hung upon a tree under the Law of Moses was that the man executed under the law deserved to be hung upon a tree. Christ was not guilty of sin (1 Peter 2.22) and did not deserve any of the things that befell Him.
Gentiles thought that any “god” needed to be a type of conquering hero rather than one who died on a Roman tree. 1 Corinthians 1:22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness.” Christ was a conquering hero, but not in the way that the Jews or Greeks imagined. Jesus was victorious over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15.54-57). This was a victory that no man could have achieved other than Christ, and it is only through Him that we have won this battle. 1Corinthians 15:57 says, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Since we have accepted the chief cornerstone who was rejected by the builders but precious in the sight of God, we are “living stones.” As living stones, God has located our spiritual life in the church which is the blood bought bride of Christ (Acts 20.28). Christ provides life that is eternal in nature. This solid foundation is laid by God, and we rest on His promises. 2 Timothy 2:19 says, “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
