Sermon Notes from "A Living Stone Laid in Zion: How Jesus Becomes a Rock of Salvation or Stumbling." Sermon by Mitch Chase.

[From the 10:45AM worship service this morning at Kosmosdale Baptist Church.]

1 Peter 2:4-8.

I. Introduction


A. "It will always cost you more NOT to follow Christ."
1. This may not always be apparent in this present age.
2. Taking the long view, we see that any earthly cost is worth following Christ.

B. Peter calls us to take the long view.

C. Taking the long view, we will not see sin the same way.

D. Coming to Christ is NOT:
1. Walking an aisle;
2. Praying a certain prayer;
3. Being born in a Christian home.

E. Coming to Christ is believing the gospel.


II. Those Who Trust in the Living Stone (vv. 4-6)


A. "Stone" or "rock" should remind us of certain OT texts.

B. The "living stone" is:
1. "Rejected by men;"
2. "Chosen and precious" "in the sight of God."

C. Christ is named the "living stone" in contrast to pagan idols, which are dead stones.

D. The temple of God is no longer a building, but a people.

E. The priesthood now extends to all believers.
1. We do not make sin offerings, as Christ made the ultimate offering.
2. We bring sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving.

F. Isaiah 28:16.
1. Christ is the cornerstone.
2. We will not be put to shame in the Final Judgment, though we may now be ostracized.


III. Those Who Reject the Living Stone (vv. 7-8)


A. Psalm 118:22.
1. The Jews believed that Jesus was not qualified to be the Messiah.
2. "Living stone" should be understood as connected with the "cornerstone;" Christ was manifested as this "stone" in the resurrection.

B. Isaiah 8:14.
1. Stumbling is due to disobedience.
2. Even disbelief and rejection of the gospel is not outside of God's sovereign control (we saw earlier in 1 Peter that God is sovereign in salvation.


IV. Conclusion


A. Matthew 21:33-46.

B. Will Christ be your refuge, or will you stumble over Him in the judgment? There is no third way.