This week Michael writes: In Luke 9, Jesus and the disciples went through Samaria to spread the gospel message. When the Apostle John saw that no one believed, he said, “Do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them like Elijah did?” Jesus said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” He had said in John 10:10, “The thief comes not but for to steal and to kill and to destroy. I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”
Jesus confronted the Pharisees who thought that they were righteous because of their own good works. They thought that everyone else was condemned for not keeping the letter of the Old Testament law. However, Jesus said in John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
In Matthew 16, Jesus had returned from Caesarea and asked his disciples, “Whom do men say that I am?” They said, some say that you’re John the Baptist or Elijah or one of the prophets returned from the dead. Then Jesus asked them, “But whom say ye that I am?” This is the central diagnostic question for followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter answered Jesus’ question: “Thou art the Christ, the son of the Living God.” Jesus said, “Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father in heaven.” He said to Peter, “Thou art Peter, a little stone, but upon this rock, Petra, the foundation stone, I myself will build my church.” Jesus Christ himself, The stone which the builders rejected is the foundation stone to those who believe and a stone of stumbling to those who believe not.
If Jesus said, “Why should I let you into heaven?” What would you answer? Men and women look on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart. Like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, Most people think that they will enter heaven because of their good works. They think to themselves, if the good I’ve done outweighs the bad, then God will let me into heaven. However, Jesus said, “there is none good, no not one.” The Apostle Paul said, “In my flesh dwells no good thing.” He said that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Therefore, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through his son Jesus Christ. For Jesus Christ, who was without sin, became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.
Colossians 1 says that, Jesus Christ holds all things together. He himself is the cornerstone, the foundation and the stone of alignment, the reference point and measuring standard upon which the whole building of God’s church is founded. Individual believers within the church are living stones, built into God’s temple, the dwelling place of the living God. 1 Peter 2:5-7 says, “You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 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.”
1 Peter 2:9 continues, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:” We’ve been called as a chosen generation, a royal priesthood. The priest is the one who speaks to God on behalf of God’s people. The priest is the spokesman for the people whom God has called. According to Romans 12, we’re to offer our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God which is our reasonable call to worship. The Church is the assembly of believers, the body of Christ. The church is the dwelling place, the temple of the living God. Even though there are many denominations and different congregations, we have been called to the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.
Let's continue Michael's message on the cornerstone of the church in the next message.
In Christ, Brian
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