DRAWING NEAR
July 11
Security in Christ
"This is contained in Scripture: 'Behold I lay in Zion a choice
stone, a precious corner stone, and he who believes in Him shall
not be disappointed'" (1 Pet. 2:6).
Christ is the fulfillment of all Messianic promises, and in Him you
are eternally secure.
First Peter 2:6 is a paraphrase of Isaiah 28:16, which says, "Thus
says the Lord God, 'Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested
stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who
believes in it will not be disturbed.'" Isaiah was speaking of the
Messiah--the coming Christ of God. Peter, writing under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, applied Isaiah's prophecy to Jesus.
In Isaiah's prophecy, "Zion" refers to Jerusalem, which stands atop
Mount Zion. Mount Zion is sometimes used figuratively in Scripture to
refer to the New Covenant of grace, whereas Mount Sinai represents
the Old Covenant of law. Isaiah was saying that God would establish
the Messiah as the cornerstone of His New Covenant Temple, the
church.
The analogy of believers as stones and Christ as the cornerstone
would have great meaning for the Jewish people. When the Temple in
Jerusalem was built, the stones used in its construction were
selected, cut, and shaped in the stone quarry according to precise
plans (1 Kings 6:7). Only then were they taken to the building site
and set into place. The most important stone was the cornerstone, to
which the various angles of the building had to conform.
God used a similar process to build His New Covenant Temple. Its
stones (individual believers) are elect and shaped by the Holy Spirit
to fit into God's master plan for the church. Jesus Himself is the
precious cornerstone, specially chosen and prepared by the Father to
be the standard to which all others conform. He is the fulfillment of
all Messianic promises, and the One in whom you can trust without
fear of disappointment. That means you are secure in Him!
Live today in the confidence that Christ cannot fail. He will always
accomplish His purposes.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Praise God for keeping His promises and for giving you security in
Christ.
For Further Study:
Read Galatians 4:21-31.
Who was the bondwoman and what did she represent? To whom did Paul
liken believers?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
1 Kings 6:7
7 And the temple, when it was being built, was built with stone
finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any iron tool
was heard in the temple while it was being built.
Galatians 4:21-31
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the
law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a
bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh,
and he of the freewoman through promise,
24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the
one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar;
25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to
Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children;
26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break
forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many
more children Than she who has a husband."
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted
him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.
30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman
and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the
son of the freewoman."
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of
the free.
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://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@wowway.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
http://www.gty.org/Gospel
http://www.gty.org/
http://www.nwbible.org/
There is a living God. He has spoken in His word. He means just what he says, and will do all that He has promised. - Hudson Taylor
.
|
