Bill Akright
akright4@insightbb.com
(309) 243-9639
www.bethanycentral.org
“The Rock and Your Role”
1 Peter 2:4-10
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a
spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For [this] is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD
I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER [stone], AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” 7 This precious
value, then, is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY
CORNER [stone],” 8 and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to
this [doom] they were also appointed. 9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR [God’s] OWN
POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A
PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
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In 1:22-25, Peter introduced the concept of our new birth through the seed of the Word.
In 2:1-3, Peter has moved on to the concept of growth, once again brought about by the Word.
Now in 2:4-10 Peter moves from the individual dimensions to the corporate dimensions of our spiritual walk.
o He takes up the subject of growth, but now we are growing up together, as a building.
 With this he spells out our calling, our purpose.
o Our relationship to God, to the “Rock,” and to others is determined by our response to the Word (2:8).
The first time Peter and Jesus met, Jesus said something very unusual, which He did with no one else (John 1:40-42). After
his great confession, Jesus again referred to Simon as Peter (Petros) and said on this rock (petra) he would build His
church (Matthew 16:13-20).
The “rock” theme is introduced very early in the Bible and plays a prominent role in the Scriptures:
 Genesis 49:22, Exodus 17:6, Numbers 20:8-12, 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 18:2, Isaiah 8:14,
Daniel 2:34-35 & 45, Psalm 118:22, Matthew 21:41-45, Romans 9:30-33 & Acts 4:8-12.
While Jesus focused on Psalm 118 and Paul on Isaiah 8 and 28, Peter alone draws upon all three texts in 1 Peter 2 to:
1. Demonstrate how the Lord Jesus Christ is the sole basis for the eternal deliverance/destruction of men.
2. Define our relationships.
1. It explains our relationship to God and then to His church through the person of Jesus Christ, the “Rock.”
3. Explain why men disdain God, reject Jesus Christ, and resist and persecute Christians.
1. They stumble over the same “Rock” which saved us.
4. It also defines our relationship to the Israel.
5. Tell us God’s purpose in saving us and in causing us to become “living stones”, a part of his people and of his temple,
His dwelling place among men.
6. Motivate us in our service to God and men because we are the recipients of great and marvelous privileges, all on the
basis of divine grace as a result of His great mercy.
Believers and the “Rock” (2:4-6)
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That Jesus is referred to as a “living” stone is no great surprise.
o Often, the gods of the pagans were made of stone.
o The Old Testament prophets mocked them as lifeless objects (Deut 4:28, Isaiah 40:18-22 & Acts 17:29).
o But the Lord Jesus is alive! He has been raised from the dead, proof that He is precious in the Father’s sight.
 We have a “living hope” based on our trust in a living Lord whom God raised from the dead (1 Pet 1:3).
Peter contrasts God’s estimation of the Lord Jesus with that of men.
o In the sight of the Father, He is precious, God’s chosen One.
 The blood, which He shed for our sins, was precious (1:19).
Because the Lord Jesus is the “living stone,” those who put their trust in Him also become “living stones.”
o These “stones” share in the life of their Lord as well as the ministry of our Lord.
o Through Him, we “as living stones” become a holy priesthood, offering up spiritual sacrifices to the Father,
which are acceptable because of Him (Ephesians 2:19-22).
o This “living stone,” precious in the sight of the Father, is the corner stone of the spiritual house of which we
become a part.
Peter now turns to Isaiah 28:16 to show that his words are based upon the Old Testament promise of the Messiah to
come.
o All the terms found in verse 4, “choice,” “precious,” and “stone,” are found again in the citation of Isaiah 28:11 in
verse 6. While the concept of Christ as the cornerstone is implied in verse 5, it is stated in verse 6.
“…taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
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Bill Akright
akright4@insightbb.com
(309) 243-9639
www.bethanycentral.org
“Isaiah speaks the word of the Lord against the princes of Jerusalem who foolishly suppose that their city is secure against the threat of invasion. They
speak as though they had a treaty with death and hell so that the lethal waters of the abyss could never sweep over them. God declares that their pride is
no refuge, their covenant with death no security. Only one edifice can stand against the storm of destruction: God’s building, established upon one sure
foundation stone. It is this figure that Jesus used when he said to Peter that the gates of hell could not prevail against his church.”
Men today have the same choice to make as the people of Jerusalem so long ago. They must either place their trust in God,
or they must trust in men.
Unbelievers and “the Rock” (2:7-8)
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In verse 7 Peter indicates that while there is “honor” for those who believe, there is dishonor for those who do not.
o The rejection of Christ by unbelievers and their resulting doom is but the fulfillment of the divine plan (“and to
this [doom] they were also appointed,” verse 8) and thus the fulfillment of biblical prophecy.
 Peter joins two Old Testament prophecies about Christ as the rejected “Rock.”
o Those who disbelieve (verse 7) and are “disobedient to the Word” (verse 8) reject the precious “Rock” to their
own doom (Isaiah 8:14)
o The rejected “Rock” is the “Rock” whom the Father regards as precious, whom He has raised from the dead to
be our “living stone.”(Psalm 118:22)
 This “Rock,” whom unbelievers reject, has thus been made the chief “corner stone.”
Verse 8 describes man’s doom from two perspectives:
1. The responsibility of man
a. Man stumbles to his own destruction because he has disregarded and disobeyed the Word of God, which bears
witness to the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth as the promised “stone.”
2. The sovereignty of God.
a. Man’s unbelief did not catch God by surprise; rather, it is the fulfillment of the eternal decree.
Believers and Their Relationship to Israel (2:9-10)
1. Here, the emphasis is on the corporate body of Christ, “the people of God.”
a. Each expression, “a chosen race,” “a royal priesthood,” “a holy nation,” “a people for God’s own possession,”
and “the people of God” is a corporate concept.
b. When an individual comes to salvation, he or she becomes a part of a people, a body of believers.
i. As a part of this body, he or she has both a privileged position and a task to which they are called.
2. The corporate descriptions of the church are descriptions of the nation Israel (Exodus 19:5-7, Isaiah 43:19-21, Hosea
1:9-11 & Hosea 2:21-23).
a. The nation Israel was chosen and set apart by God, not because of their goodness or merit but simply as the
recipients of divine mercy (see Deuteronomy 7:6-8; 8:11-20).
b. Because of her sin and rebellion against God, the prophet Hosea declared this people, who were once known
as the “people of God,” no longer His people.
i. In yet a future day, after they have repented and returned to Him, they will once again be His people.
c. Peter applies this same principle to the Gentiles.
i. If those who are “not God’s people” (namely disobedient Israelites) can become “God’s people,” then
surely disobedient Gentiles (also “not God’s people”) can become God’s people.
d. These words are intended to produce in the Gentiles the proper response to divine grace.
i. They are intended to produce a spirit of humility and gratitude.
ii. Just as Israel dare not take pride in her unbelieving past or take credit for her election and calling, along
with all of its privileges, neither do Gentiles dare take credit for their salvation (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).
3. Furthermore, these Old Testament quotations are applied to the Gentile saints to remind them of the obligations which
stem from their high calling.
a. As the Scriptures teach, to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48).
b. God chose the nation Israel and delivered them from their bondage for a purpose, and that purpose is given in
the texts Peter cites (vs. 9).
i. While trusting in the “Rock” is for the good of the believer, the emphasis falls not on our blessings but
on God’s glory and our duty to proclaim His Excellencies.
ii. Our text is not self-centered, but God-centered. We are “His possession”.
1. The Lord Jesus is the One who is precious in the Father’s sight.
2. We are saved by His mercy and grace.
3. We are chosen and called to proclaim His wonders.
4. Our salvation, as well as the doom of those who reject the “Stone,” is by divine decree.
5. Our eternity is determined by our response to who Jesus is (John 14:6 & Matthew 7:24-27).
“…taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
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