Christ Jesus our chief cornerstone
“My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name”
These are the opening lines to a song we could easily sing without actually living out the truth of it. To wholly trust in the name of Jesus, is to make Him your point of reference for your entire life and all the decisions you make. It goes on to state our claim that Christ alone is our cornerstone, a point confirmed throughout scripture.
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” 7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. -1 Peter 2:4-8.
Peter points out that we are the living stones that God is building with. Even though you may have been rejected by men, you are chosen and accepted by God and you are precious to Him.
The cornerstone was the most important stone to any building in the time these words were written. The builder would choose a stone carefully and when it was laid, it would become the reference point for the whole building.
Peter quotes the book of Isaiah which speaks of the cornerstone which is looked to for righteousness and justice.
Also I will make justice the measuring line, And righteousness the plummet; The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters will overflow the hiding place. – Isaiah 28:17
Ephesians makes it clear that Jesus Christ is our cornerstone.
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. – Ephesians 2:19-21
Today we are still being built on those same foundations and Jesus is still our chief cornerstone. He is still our reference point for righteousness and justice.
He will be a stone of offence and a stumbling block to some. Anyone who struggles with Christ being the ultimate authority and His words as the only truth, will always stumble and fall on this stone. But we who are built on Christ Jesus our rock, will stand strong as we accept and live out His righteousness, justice and truth. He alone is our perfect example and reference point on which our lives are built upon, our perfect cornerstone.
So we can sing with confidence
“Christ alone
Cornerstone
Weak made strong
In the Savior’s love
Through the storm
He is Lord
Lord of all.”