SUNDAY May 5, 2024
The Chief Cornerstone
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone....
Ephesians 2:19-20
Before Christ came, there was a great separation between the Jews and the Gentiles. When Christ came, Paul spoke of the unity among them. God is a God of unity, not disunity. God’s grace binds Jews and Gentiles together; they have become one. Gentiles are no longer to be treated as strangers and foreigners; they are brothers and sisters in Christ.
When Paul preached the Gospel, he reiterated the accessibility of God’s salvation to the Jew and Gentile: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek [Gentile] (Romans 1:16). Can you imagine if we had to live by the Jewish Law? Thank God for the grace of God!
In Christ, we are one big family––fellow citizens of heaven. All racial distances and divisions have been overcome by Jesus Christ. We are one body through one Spirit (Ephesians 2:14-16). Believers from all over the world are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints––believers who are set apart for God.
Paul used a metaphor to explain our Christian unity––a building. We are members of the same household. Christ’s Church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ as the Chief Cornerstone. We are called living stones. Our bodies have become the Temple of the living God: ...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 (1 Peter 2:5). This is so beautiful!
Think about it: A building is aligned with the cornerstone. It is the first stone laid in the foundation. As a Christian, is your life aligned with Christ––your Chief Cornerstone?
“Behold, I [God] lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
~1 Peter 2:6~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
