Study of First Peter Chapter 2                                  Lesson 24

Review:

 

 

 

The rest of verse 6 down through verse 8 present the response or attitude of mankind toward the stone and its consequences.

 

2:6b - 2:7a  the believer's response

"And he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed."

 

 

- in Him  evpV auvtw/|   emphasis of epi when used with the dative is on position, here the position or object of the believing, the faith,  Jesus Christ

 

shall not be disappointed

 

- The implication of kataischuno  is that one is put to shame because they have placed their hope, their faith in something or someone and whatever it was let them down, deceived them by not providing what was promised.

 

- Paul quotes this phrase in Rom 9:33, 10:11.

- Documentation for the reality that God is faithful and will not put to shame the believer,  Psa 25:2-3;     Psa. 119:116.

 

Rabbit Trail Psa 119:116

 

 

 

 

 

 

We can and will fail Him by becoming maladjusted to grace by choosing to put the sin nature back in rulership  and by not using the grace resources available to us. But He will never, ever fail us.

 

2:6

For it is contained in Scripture (Isa 28:16) I lay in Zion a stone (Christ) a cornerstone choice, highly esteemed and the one who believes in Him shall by no means be put to shame.

1.  Peter by quoting Isa. 28:16 documents for us that the 'stone' here and the 'living stone' of 2:4 is indeed referring to Jesus Christ.

 

2.  As the stone, Jesus Christ is also related to Israel, remember He is the God of Israel and we know that He has a ministry yet future for Israel because Isa 28:16 anticipates the Messiah's rule from Jerusalem in the Millennium

 

3.  Christ as the stone, brings security and stability to the ones related to Him.

 

 4.  Jesus Christ is referred to in Scripture as both a cornerstone and a foundation stone in His relationship to the Church.

- in our context the emphasis is on the corner stone, that large stone used to bind two walls together, from Eph 2 we found that the two walls brought together in the church are Israel and Gentiles as they believe in Christ are one in Him.

 

5.  The cornerstone emphasizes the cohesion of believers, the living stones, who make up the building, the spiritual house.

 

6.  The foundation stone implies our total dependence on His work and His provision.

- by work = cross/resurrection that is everything provided for salvation 1 Cor 3:11

- provision = what is provided after salvation through the Word, the viewpoint of Christ to have the same viewpoint as He has.

- As we grow in the Word and increase in our application of it we will realize the strength and stability we need in our life as we deal with the issues of life.

 

7.  Only as our life is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ are able to build a structure within that will stand for time and eternity.

 

8.  Peter also documents that it is belief in Christ  that is the basis of salvation. It was true then, it is true today and it was true when Isaiah wrote the text from which this was quoted.

 

9.  The emphatic negation, that is, that we will by no means be put to shame implies also eternal security for those who have believed in Christ.

 

2:7a This precious value, then, is for you who believe;

 

This honor or value is for only those who have believed in Christ.

 

 

Now with 2:7b-8 we have the other side of the coin, those who do not believe in Christ!

 

 

Who are the builders? 

This refers to the spiritual leaders of Israel at the time of the first Advent. Acts 4:5-12

 

rejected    avpodokima,zw  to reject after examination; to examine and conclude useless

 

Principle of Application:  If you stay with the plan of God, that is stick with the Word, apply it you will have the provision necessary to deal with the exigencies of life.

 

2:7b

a stone which the builders have rejected THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,"

 

The One that was rejected by the leaders of Israel God placed in the most important and vital position of this new building.

 

 

 

Next Peter picks up the quote of 2 phrases from Isa 8:14

and, "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE";

 

- stumbling  prosko,ptw  noun that refers to an obstacle over which one trips or stumbles

 

His public ministry, His teaching, His death(s) on the cross failed to match up to their conception or perception of the Messiah. 

 

AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE  presents a parallel but different picture;  pe,tra  a large massive rock instead of a cut prepared stone as we saw earlier

- OFFENSE   ska,ndalon   which speaks of a trap set to trip one up

 

Now Peter elaborates on the reason for the stumbling, being tripped up.

for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.