Why is recognizing Jesus as the cornerstone crucial for our faith's foundation? Snapshot of the Scene Luke 20:17: “But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”?’” • Jesus is speaking during His final week in Jerusalem, addressing religious leaders who question His authority. • He quotes Psalm 118:22 word-for-word, affirming the prophecy as literally fulfilled in Himself. What a Cornerstone Does • Sets the alignment: every wall, angle, and measurement takes its cue from that single stone. • Bears the weight: structural integrity depends on it. • Unites the structure: joins intersecting walls into one stable whole. Jesus, the Ultimate Cornerstone • Psalm 118:22-23 foretells a rejected yet God-chosen stone. • Isaiah 28:16: “Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.” • Acts 4:11 delivers the apostolic witness: “Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’” • 1 Peter 2:4-6 invites us to come to the “living Stone—rejected by men but chosen and precious to God.” Literal fulfillment spans prophecy, Gospel, and epistle, underscoring God’s unbroken plan. Why Our Faith Crumbles Without Him 1. Only His perfection can align fallen hearts with God’s holiness. 2. No other foundation remains after judgment—“For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). 3. Rejecting Him guarantees collision: “Everyone on whom that stone falls will be crushed” (Luke 20:18). 4. Accepting Him secures permanence: building on sand collapses, but building on rock stands firm (Matthew 7:24-27). Cornerstone Benefits We Stand On • Unshakable Identity: Ephesians 2:19-22—He joins Jew and Gentile into “one new man,” forming a holy temple. • Constant Alignment: His Word measures every doctrine, practice, and moral choice. • Load-Bearing Grace: He absorbs wrath and guilt, freeing us to live unburdened. • Covenant Unity: All believers, living stones, are cemented together by His Spirit. Practical Responses to Stay Plumb with the Cornerstone • Measure beliefs and decisions by Scripture instead of culture. • Confess areas where self-rule has rejected His rule; realign quickly. • Participate in a local congregation—living stones belong in a temple, not scattered quarries. • Speak of Christ openly; builders still reject Him, but God still exalts Him. |
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