DRAWING NEAR
July 3
Christ: The Living Stone
"Coming to [Christ] as to a living stone" (1 Pet. 2:4).
Jesus is the only source of eternal life and the foundation upon
which the church is built.
Peter's description of Christ as "a living stone" is paradoxical
because stones aren't alive. In fact, we sometimes speak of something
being "stone dead." Yet Peter's symbolism is profound because it
beautifully incorporates three realities about Christ.
First, Jesus is the long-awaited Jewish Messiah. The Old Testament
referred to the Messiah as a stone, and Peter incorporated those
texts into His description of Jesus in 1 Peter 2:6-8: "Behold I lay
in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and he who believes
in Him shall not be disappointed" (Isa. 28:16); "The stone which the
builders rejected, this became the very cornerstone" (Ps. 118:22);
and "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense" (Isa. 8:14). The
parallel is obvious and would be especially meaningful to Peter's
Jewish readers. The expectations of pious Jews throughout history
were realized in Christ. God had kept His promise to send the
Messiah!
Second, Jesus is a stone in that He is the focal point of His
spiritual house, the church. The Greek word translated "stone" in
verse 4 sometimes referred to the stones used in building projects.
They were cut and chiseled to fit perfectly into a specific location,
and were practically immovable. Not only is Jesus a stone; He is the
cornerstone, which is the most important stone in the entire
building. From Him the church draws its spiritual symmetry.
Finally, Jesus is living. That's an appropriate description because
everything Peter said in this epistle is based on the fact that Jesus
is alive. That's the believer's hope and the basis for every
spiritual privilege you have. You "have been born again to a living
hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Pet.
1:3).
Interestingly, the literal rendering of 1 Peter 2:4 is, "Coming to
Him as to living stone." Christ is a unique stone--the stone that
possesses life. All who come to Him receive eternal life (cf. 1 John
5:11).
Suggestions for Prayer:
Praise the Lord for His unchangeable character and irrevocable
promises.
For Further Study:
Read Acts 2:22-47.
What was the central point in Peter's sermon? How did the people
respond to his preaching? How many people were baptized? What were
some of the activities of the early church?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
1 John 5:11
11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life,
and this life is in His Son.
Acts 2:22-47
22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man
attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did
through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know;
23 "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge
of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to
death;
24 "whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it
was not possible that He should be held by it.
25 "For David says concerning Him: 'I foresaw the LORD always before
my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my
flesh also will rest in hope.
27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your
Holy One to see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full
of joy in Your presence.'
29 "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch
David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to
this day.
30 "Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with
an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh,
He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,
31 "he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the
Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see
corruption.
32 "This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.
33 "Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having
received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured
out this which you now see and hear.
34 "For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:
'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand,
35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."'
36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God
has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to
Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we
do?"
38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and
you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who
are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying,
"Be saved from this perverse generation."
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that
day about three thousand souls were added to them.
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and
fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were
done through the apostles.
44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all,
as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking
bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and
simplicity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord
added to the church daily those who were being saved.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
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me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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