Thank you for taking the time to read the sermon this week. I hope that you all have had a very good week. I am trying to do better, but I am still having some health issues. Please continue to pray that I will get to feeling better.
As you are probably aware, we have been studying the names and titles of Jesus found in the Bible. This week, we are going to concentrate our attention on the Bible referring to Jesus as the cornerstone. Why did Jesus refer to Himself in this way, and what does this mean?
The first instance that we have in the Bible of the Messiah being referred to as the cornerstone is in Isaiah 28:16. This verse states, "Therefore, thus says the Lord, Behold I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed." We also see a reference to the Messiah as the cornerstone in Psalm 118:22 where we read, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."
In previous messages, we have seen that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God. He fulfilled in His life and ministry all of the prophecies made about the Messiah in the Old Testament. These prophecies were also fulfilled, and Jesus will refer to Himself as this cornerstone in Matthew 21:42 where He quotes the verse from the Psalms about Himself.
In his sermon recorded in Acts 4, Peter will refer to Jesus as the cornerstone. He says that Jesus the cornerstone was rejected, but He is now the chief cornerstone. There is no salvation in anyone else except in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, what does is mean that Jesus is the cornerstone? First of all, it means that Jesus is the foundation of God's plan of redemption for the entire universe. Everything is built up and through the death, resurrection and return of the Lord Jesus. Those who will identify with Jesus in His death and resurrection will be saved.
Jesus is also the cornerstone in that He is the cornerstone of the foundation of the church. The church is built upon what Jesus did. He is the cornerstone, and the foundation is the teaching about Jesus given by the Apostles.
What does it mean that the cornerstone was rejected? Initially, Jesus came unto His own, but His own did not receive Him. The crowd screamed that Jesus should be crucified. However, others came and acknowledged who Jesus is and what He did through His life, death and resurrection.
In our world today, there are still those who reject the cornerstone Jesus Christ. They will not follow Jesus, nor will they acknowledge that they are sinners and in need of a Savior. However, millions around the world have, do and will bow the knee to Jesus and accept Him as Savior and Lord. He is the only way of salvation. In order for anyone to be forgiven and have eternal life, they must come to Jesus and accept what He has done for them.
I hope that you are not one who is rejecting Jesus. I hope that you will turn from sin and turn to Jesus. Believe that He died for you and rose from the dead. Let Him be the Lord of your life today. Amen.
Prayer Requests
Please pray that the fires in Canada will be extinguished. The air quality in the US is horrendous right now due to the fires.
Pray for the people of Ukraine. Pray for peace there and in Syria, Sudan, Yemen and other nations facing war and unrest.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Thailand and Mongolia. Pray that many will come to know of the love of Jesus.
Next week, we will continue with our current series of messages. I will post the verses on Monday, and I may have an additional post. May God bless you all.
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