1 Peter: 1-2What is the foundation of your life? What is your life built upon? When a building is built, it is necessary to have a good foundation. The chief corner stone must be right. The rest of the stones must line up with the chief corner stone. King Solomon built a temple for the worship of God in Jerusalem. It was rebuilt after the Babylonian destruction. But God gave a prophecy through Isaiah about 700 B.C. that God Himself would lay a chief corner stone, a sure foundation.
Isaiah 28:16: Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:"Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation,A tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation;Whoever believes will not act hastily. (NKJB).
Isaiah 8:14, 15: He will be as a sanctuary,But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offenseTo both the houses of Israel,As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble; They shall fall and be broken, Be snared and taken." (NKJB)
Notice that God Himself would lay a stone for a foundation, a corner stone, a sure foundation. When was this fulfilled? What is this building? What does belief have to do with this corner stone, this foundation? This stone is called "He" - a person!
This foundation corner stone was also prophesied in: Psalm 118:22: The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone.
When Jesus was talking with the Jewish chief priests and elders, He quoted this verse. He applied this verse to Himself. Matthew 21:42: Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief corner stone (Greek: head of the corner). Yes, Jesus is the chief corner stone that the religious leaders rejected. Jesus also said: Matthew 21:44: "And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust." (See Isaiah 8:13, 14.)
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed: It is appointed that those who are disobedient to the word should stumble over Jesus. When Jesus spoke of Himself as the stone of Psalm 118, He spoke of what those who rejected Him are appointed to: And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder. (Matthew 21:44)
God laid in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation, who is Messiah, Jesus. Then not long after that, the Romans came and destroyed the temple Herod had built.
Are you willing to believe in Jesus the Messiah as the head corner stone? Acts 4:7-12: Peter said that Jesus the Messiah is the corner stone "He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the very corner stone. "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.
Do you believe that Jesus is the Head Corner Stone? The chief corner stone? A precious corner stone? A sure foundation?
Peter himself quoted these verses that we have read that prophesied about Messiah being the sure foundation, the chief corner stone, a stone of stumbling and rock (Greek petra) of offense: 1 Peter 2:4-8: And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
For 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." This precious value, then, is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve, "The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very corner stone," and, "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense" . . .
Peter quoted Isaiah 28:16, Psalm 118:22, and Isaiah 8:14. In 1 Peter 2:8, Jesus the Messiah is the Rock, petra: 1 Corinthians 10:4: and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock (petra) was Christ.
You can believe in Jesus; you shall not be disappointed. He is a sure foundation, the chief corner stone. You can trust in Him. You can become a living stone in the house of God, the church that Jesus built. Do not reject Jesus as religious leaders did. He is the chief corner stone that God has laid in Zion. Do not stumble on this stone. "And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust."