What actions demonstrate rejecting or accepting Jesus as the "cornerstone"? Key Passage “For it stands in Scripture: ‘See, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen and precious; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.’ To you who believe, He is precious; but to those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,’ and, ‘A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.’ They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.” (1 Peter 2:6-8) Accepting the Cornerstone—Actions That Reveal Faith • Trusting Jesus’ identity and work, resting on Him as Savior (John 3:16; Acts 4:11-12) • Ordering life by His teaching—the plumb line for morals and doctrine (Matthew 7:24-25) • Obeying His commands promptly and gladly (John 14:21) • Joining with other believers, letting Him fit you into His spiritual house (Ephesians 2:20-22) • Confessing Him openly, unashamed before people (Matthew 10:32) • Offering “spiritual sacrifices”—praise, service, generosity—through Him (Hebrews 13:15-16) • Leaning on grace, not personal merit, for standing with God (Ephesians 2:8-9) Rejecting the Cornerstone—Actions That Reveal Unbelief • Treating Scripture as optional, sidelining or twisting His word (Mark 7:8-9) • Relying on human wisdom or self-righteousness instead of His atonement (Romans 10:3) • Persisting in willful sin without repentance (Hebrews 10:26-29) • Denying His deity, exclusive salvation, or resurrection—stumbling over His claims (John 8:24) • Opposing or belittling His people, the stones He is building together (Acts 9:1-5) • Craving human approval above eternal truth (John 12:42-43) Why the Cornerstone Matters • Alignment: the cornerstone sets every stone in its proper place (Psalm 118:22-23) • Security: “the one who believes will never be put to shame” (1 Peter 2:6) • Consequence: rejection brings stumbling now and judgment later (Luke 20:18) Practical Takeaways • Check your alignment—beliefs, choices, relationships—against His word. • Build daily on the Cornerstone through prayer, Scripture, and obedience. • Strengthen fellow “living stones,” knowing He is fashioning a dwelling for His glory. |
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