11-07-10 PM - WHAT A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE

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1Peter 2:4-8
As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him--
5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,
8 and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for.

1. THE CHIEF CORNOR STONE 2:4
As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him.

Heb. 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

John 6:44
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

Notice verse 4 says as you come to him, the living Stone.

Jeremiah 2:11
Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols.

2. THE CHRISTIANS 2:5-6
5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

A. Verse 5 tells us it is a spiritual house.

B. The church is also a holy priesthood.
To represent men to God and to present God to men.

C. Why are we made priests before God?

5. …offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.



* Our bodies – Rom. 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Romans 12:1-2 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

* Our life – Eph 5:2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

* Our praise – Jer. 33:11 The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.

* Our good works and finances – 1Tim 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
* Our spiritual sacrifices – Gal 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
        Psalm 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of    righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

D. We are a part of the fulfillment of prophecy
6 For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:



3. THE CRITIC
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,
8 and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall."
They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for.

What causes men to stumble?

• They can’t think of Him as anything other than a man like themselves. 
• They cannot believe the virgin birth.
• They cannot believe that He was sinless.
• They cannot believe His death was anything more than a martyr.
• They cannot get past His resurrection as anything but a tale.

LK 22:67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: