"For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. " Ephesians 2:20
The reference to Christ as "the chief corner stone," leading to research and reflection yields some interesting observations. The first reference to the "corner stone" in scripture is found in the oldest book of the bible, Job, where it is related to what I will call the "old creation;" that is, the original physical creation of which we read in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
In Job 38, contending with Job, "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? [Job 38:4-7]." It is my judgment, open to debate, of course, that the "foundation" and "cornerstone" that provided the ground and order of this creation was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. After all, the New Testament reveals that "all things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made." And again, that He is the One who "upholds all things by the word of His power." It was the splendor of His establishment as the foundation of this creation that prompted the morning stars to join in a chorus of praise, and the sons of God to utter their shout of praise. The whole pristine creation rested upon and related to the Lord of Glory, the Word of God.
When, however, the trusteeship of that creation was transferred to the hand of man, it was not long before the builders refused to own His lordship, and undertook independent initiative, in the process handing their sovereignty, unwittingly, to the adversary. It was at this point that the divine emphasis shifted from creation to redemption, from the old creation to the new. Thus the Psalmist writes, by divine inspiration, and in anticipation, "I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. [Ps. 118:21,22]," and later the prophet wrote, "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone , a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. [Isa. 28:16]."
The New Testament makes it clear that this promised "corner stone" of the new order is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ— rejected by the 'builders' of this present evil world, but established of God the Father as the foundation stone, cornerstone and keystone of "the world to come." According to Isaiah He is in substance, a stone; in quality, a tried stone; in value, a precious stone, and in function a sure foundation!
Jesus Himself affirmed His identification as "the head of the corner" (cf. Mt. 21:42; Mk. 12:10; Lk. 20:17,18). He also expanded His role to include both salvation and judgment. The theme is carried well into the history and epistles of the New Testament. Peter declared, "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved [Acts 4:11- 12]." Paul affirms it in our text for today. And Peter teaches it with emphasis in his first epistle, as follows: "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. [I Pet. 2:6-8]."
Taken together, these remarkable passages, sprinkled throughout the bible, underscore the supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ, both in creation and redemption. He is the Stone upon which everything rests, the foundation stone. He is the Stone by which everything is divinely oriented, for justification or judgment; whatever does not square with Him will be destroyed. He is the Stone that holds everything together, the capstone or keystone of creation.
You are either established upon this Rock, or destined to be crushed under His mighty hand. Which?! For "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
On the Rock, by grace,
"Pastor" Frasier
The reference to Christ as "the chief corner stone," leading to research and reflection yields some interesting observations. The first reference to the "corner stone" in scripture is found in the oldest book of the bible, Job, where it is related to what I will call the "old creation;" that is, the original physical creation of which we read in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
In Job 38, contending with Job, "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? [Job 38:4-7]." It is my judgment, open to debate, of course, that the "foundation" and "cornerstone" that provided the ground and order of this creation was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. After all, the New Testament reveals that "all things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made." And again, that He is the One who "upholds all things by the word of His power." It was the splendor of His establishment as the foundation of this creation that prompted the morning stars to join in a chorus of praise, and the sons of God to utter their shout of praise. The whole pristine creation rested upon and related to the Lord of Glory, the Word of God.
When, however, the trusteeship of that creation was transferred to the hand of man, it was not long before the builders refused to own His lordship, and undertook independent initiative, in the process handing their sovereignty, unwittingly, to the adversary. It was at this point that the divine emphasis shifted from creation to redemption, from the old creation to the new. Thus the Psalmist writes, by divine inspiration, and in anticipation, "I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. [Ps. 118:21,22]," and later the prophet wrote, "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone , a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. [Isa. 28:16]."
The New Testament makes it clear that this promised "corner stone" of the new order is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ— rejected by the 'builders' of this present evil world, but established of God the Father as the foundation stone, cornerstone and keystone of "the world to come." According to Isaiah He is in substance, a stone; in quality, a tried stone; in value, a precious stone, and in function a sure foundation!
Jesus Himself affirmed His identification as "the head of the corner" (cf. Mt. 21:42; Mk. 12:10; Lk. 20:17,18). He also expanded His role to include both salvation and judgment. The theme is carried well into the history and epistles of the New Testament. Peter declared, "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved [Acts 4:11- 12]." Paul affirms it in our text for today. And Peter teaches it with emphasis in his first epistle, as follows: "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. [I Pet. 2:6-8]."
Taken together, these remarkable passages, sprinkled throughout the bible, underscore the supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ, both in creation and redemption. He is the Stone upon which everything rests, the foundation stone. He is the Stone by which everything is divinely oriented, for justification or judgment; whatever does not square with Him will be destroyed. He is the Stone that holds everything together, the capstone or keystone of creation.
You are either established upon this Rock, or destined to be crushed under His mighty hand. Which?! For "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
On the Rock, by grace,
"Pastor" Frasier
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