Become a living stone, like Jesus Christ, in building up his Church.

 Jesus is not only the foundation stone, the corner stone of his Church, but a Living Stone, in the sense that Christ is outstandingly the resurrected, Living One, the Source of life.

As you come to him, his life will pass into your heart and mind and his life will show itself within his community and will shape us into the likeness of him from whom we receive our life, because we have come to him.

 

As 1 Peter 2:4, 5 says:  - As you come to him, the living Stone...you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ..’

 

Peter suggests 3 steps that will make “coming nearer to Christ” possible, by using three metaphors in one sentence:

(a) Be built into a spiritual house, meaning to truly be part of the people standing on the foundation, Jesus Christ. Be a living, active member of the temple of the Lord on earth, his church.

(b) Become a member of the holy priesthood that serves God and God’s people in Christ’s spiritual house.

(c) and, be the sacrifice that is offered by the priesthood of all the believers, offering spiritual sacrifices to our Lord in everything you do!

 

There is scarcely a single name by which the New Testament calls Jesus Christ which Christ does not share with us, his people.

By the Son (Child) we ‘receive the adoption of children.’

Is he the Light of the world? We are lights of the world.

Did he become a living corner stone of his holy Church – we too are living stones building up his temple on earth – his Church.

 

The offices which are attributed to Christ in the New Testament are found to also be part of the life of those who are Christ’s servants:

Jesus Christ was the Priest for humanity.

Jesus Christ was the Sacrifice for the world’s sins.

Jesus Christ is the sure foundation, the key stone of his people’s worship and service.

 

So what is Peter saying?

You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.