30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 20 9-18 THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE 14 Luke 20 17-18 We are the dwelling place of God
📖 Luke 20:9-18
02Mar2021 - *We are the dwelling place of God* - _Luke 20:9-18_ - THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE 14 – Bible reading: _Ephesians 2:18-22_
The Lord was now pronouncing His verdict on these leaders.
_Luke 20:17-18 Then He looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written: 'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE’? (18) Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."_
We have been reflecting on the matter of Jesus being the Chief Cornerstone.
_Ephesians 2:18-22 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father._ Through Jesus, the Chief Cornerstone, we, Jews and Gentiles, are brought together in one Spirit, to the Father.
_(19) Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,_
We, Gentiles, were once strangers and foreigners to the promises of God but now through Jesus, the Chief Cornerstone, we are brought into the family of God, inheriting all of God's promises.
_(20) having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,_
Apostles represent the New Testament church and the Prophets represent the Old Testament church. Both of us are now brought and being built together on the foundation of Jesus, 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._
This building, this superstructure, which God is building, is fitted together. This reveals to us that we are no more independent of each other but we are interdependent with each other. We fit into each other and together we grow. *We grow together to be a dwelling place of God*.
This is the final picture to which God is leading us. Being the dwelling place of God and we, dwelling in Him, is where we are complete.
Peter gives us his explanation.
_I Peter 2:4-8 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,_ Jesus is the living stone, rejected by men but chosen by God.
_(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._
All of us, who come into the habitat of Jesus, are living stones. All of us together are built as living stones, to be a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God.
This shows us that we are not just individuals, who are worshipping God but we are living stones, linked, meshed, connected and embracing each other, giving praise and glory to God.
This picture of us being joined and supportive of each other, is a much-needed understanding today, as we have become highly individualistic in our praise, adoration and worship of God.
We must, with determined intentionality, cultivate the truth that we together are living stones, built as a spiritual house of worship of God.
_(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._
Those who have come to this understanding that Jesus, in our Chief Cornerstone and we are living stones built together into Him to offer up praise to God, will not be put to shame. We will thrive and grow and we will be the dwelling place of God.
Whereas, those who do not come into this reality will not grow into all that God has intended for them as His people but will live in a state of dryness in their walk with God.
*Thought to ponder*
```We are called to be the people of God and not just persons of God.```