LIVING STONE(S) SCRIPTURES

The Apostle Peter had a special insight into the church being "living stone(s)."  When Peter made his confession that Christ was the son of the living God, Jesus told Peter (Petros = stone) that on this rock (Petra = large rock, which I believe signified the declaration that Messiah came from the living God), he would build his church.


He (Jesus) said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.  And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  (Matthew 16:15-18)

Peter was with Jesus when he prophecied the destruction of the Jewish temple (which happened 40 years later in 70 A.D.).

As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, "Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!"  And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down."  (Mark 13:1-2)

Years later, when Peter penned a letter that we have in the New Testament, he remembered the words of Jesus. He realized a new time had come when God makes his habitation with His people, the church. God dwells not in a building of stones, but in people who are like "living stones."

And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,  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. For this is contained in Scripture: "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." This precious value, then, is for you who believe.  (1 Peter 2:4-7)

The Apostle Paul acknowledged the role Peter and the other apostles made as the foundation laid around the cornerstone, the Lord Jesus Christ. The whole structure is alive and "grows." In the epistle to the Ephesians, Paul describes the church not only as a building, but also as a body (4:11-16) and the bride of Christ (5:22-33).

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.  In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)