1 Peter 2:4-10 Refers to Jesus as the living stone, rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him.

When we come to Christ, we become living stones because we get our life from Christ.

God is building a spiritual house using the spiritual stones or we are being built into a spiritual house with Christ as the chief corner stone. A corner stone joins two sides of a house – representing Jews and Gentiles are joined together in Christ.

We must accept to be shaped by God.

We become God’s temple or have become : A holy priesthood – offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ. Are you offering acceptable sacrifices??

Those who trust in Him (the living stone), will never be put to shame.

Those who believe this stone (Jesus) is precious.

Those who do not believe the cornerstone (Jesus) causes them to stumble and fall because they disobey.

v9-10

As Israel was, we believers (the church), are a chosen race, a spiritual race in Christ sharing the same father.

We are a ‘Holy Nation’ – A specific group of people called out and set apart.

We are a Royal Priesthood – In the New Covenant, all believers are priests with direct access to God.

We are God’s special possession – God takes ownership of us, for we belong to him.

After God has prepared us, he gives us tasks expected of us: That is, to declare praises – praises of the one who removed us from darkness and brought us into His light.

“By him therefore, let us offer sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” Hebrews 13:15

Believers are precious before God: Hosea 9:10 NLT

Believers blessings for obedience: Exodus 19:5-6

Ephesians 2:1-7, v6 “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus”

Now God sees us seated and reigning with Christ.

Romans 8:29-30 God sees us already glorified . This text does not merely refer to intellectual knowledge, but rather an intimate affection.

God loved us in advance, that those who will accept or accepted his plan ahead of time, he knows what will happen (pre-destine). Those who have accepted God’s plan will be conformed to the image of Christ and eventually will be glorified.

This text shows us that God predestines the consequences of the choice to be in Christ or not, but he doesn’t predestine the choice itself; for he wants all to put their trust in His son.

By Chaplain Stephen