What does 1 Peter 2:7 reveal about the value of faith in Jesus Christ? Canonical Text “To you who believe, then, this stone is precious; but to those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.’” — 1 Peter 2:7 Immediate Literary Context (2:4–10) Peter has just called Christ a “living stone” and believers “living stones” being built into a spiritual house. Verse 7 pivots: acceptance of the Stone brings honor; rejection brings ruin. The honor theme ties to verse 9 (“royal priesthood… so that you may proclaim the excellencies”) and verse 10 (“once not a people, but now the people of God”). Theological Focus: Christ The Cornerstone A cornerstone in first-century construction set both foundation and alignment. Archaeologists excavating Herod’s Temple platform have measured a single dressed cornerstone at c. 13 × 3 × 3 m (≈ 570 t). Such imagery underscores Christ’s indispensability. Faith unites the believer to the only stone that can bear the entire superstructure of redemption. Value Of Faith For The Believer 1. Honor now: God esteems the believer with the same verdict He gave the resurrected Son (Acts 2:32–36). 2. Secure identity: united to the cornerstone, believers become God’s “chosen,” reversing earthly marginalization. 3. Access to God: as part of the priestly house (2:5), the faithful enjoy continual approach through Christ’s atoning work. 4. Eschatological vindication: Revelation 21:14 portrays twelve foundation stones inscribed with apostolic names—proof that faith’s honor endures into the New Jerusalem. Contrast: Consequences Of Unbelief Those rejecting the Stone fulfill Psalm 118:22 and Isaiah 8:14. Disbelief leads to stumbling—Greek προσκόμμα (proskomma), an obstacle causing ruin. The verse functions evangelistically: neutrality toward Christ is impossible; rejection becomes self-judgment (John 3:18). Old Testament Integration Psalm 118:22 foretells the chief builders (religious leaders) discarding Messiah. Isaiah 28:16 predicts a tested stone giving “sure foundation” to the one who “believes” (LXX pisteuōn). Peter shows typological and prophetic unity of Scripture: faith in every age is the divinely appointed response. Honor–Shame Cultural Reversal In the Mediterranean world, honor equaled social capital. Believers—often slaves, women, resident aliens—were scorned. Peter subverts the system: honor is not determined horizontally but vertically. Faith redefines status by aligning with God’s verdict rather than human appraisal. Experiential Dimension: Transformation By Faith Countless testimonies illustrate faith’s value. Documented case studies of former addicts who, upon trusting Christ, exhibit statistically significant decreases in relapse (Journal of Psychology & Theology, 36:3) showcase the behavioral fruit of placing honor in the Cornerstone. Ecclesiological Implications Because honor is corporate as well as individual, each believer contributes to the temple’s integrity. Removal of any living stone mars the visible expression of divine glory. Therefore, faith’s value includes vocational purpose within the body. Practical Exhortations • Treasure Christ daily; meditate on His value (Philippians 3:8). • Reject worldly honor economies; seek the “well done” of God (Matthew 25:21). • Evangelize—unbelievers must confront the Stone; silent avoidance is cruelty. Evangelistic Appeal If the cornerstone truly rose, honor is offered today. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). Lay your life-plans against this Cornerstone; receive the incomparable honor God delights to give all who trust His Son. Summary 1 Peter 2:7 reveals that faith in Jesus is not mere assent but the gateway to inestimable honor, secured by the historically risen Christ, witnessed by Scripture’s unified voice, and experienced through transformative fellowship with God. Reject Him and the very foundation of life becomes a stumbling block; believe, and you share the glory of the Cornerstone forever. |
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