INTRODUCTION

1. The Doctrine of the Church is called “Ecclesiology”

2. There was strong prophetic teaching concerning the formation of the church

3. The Church is not something that man has invented!

 

THE HINT OF A NEW TEMPLE

1. A strong hint of a new entity was revealed to Isaiah

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:

“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation,

A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;

Whoever believes will not act hastily. Isaiah 28:16

a) Zion was the symbolic name of Jerusalem

b) The Temple was located there

c) It was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC

2. A Foundation would be laid

a) The LORD Himself would lay the foundation

b) A precious and tried cornerstone would be laid

c) It would be a sure foundation

d) It is obviously a reference to a new foundation

 

FURTHER PROPHETIC WORDS ABOUT THIS CORNERSTONE

22 The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone.

23 This was the LORD’s doing;

It is marvelous in our eyes.

24 This is the day the LORD has made;

We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:22-24

1. This is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ

2. He was rejected by the builders (The Sanhedrin Council)

3. But He would fulfil Isaiah’s prophecy

4. All believers rejoice in the Lord Jesus as the chief cornerstone

 

CLEAR AND STRONG APOSTOLIC TEACHING

4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,

5 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.

6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

“Behold, I lay in Zion

A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,

And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,

“The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone,” 1 Peter 2:4-7

1. The Lord Jesus is:

a) The living stone

b) Chosen by God and precious

c) The chief cornerstone, elect and precious

2. He was rejected by some

a) The Sanhedrin Council

b) Those who chose to walk away (John 6:66)

3. But to believers the Lord Jesus is the chief cornerstone

4. And believers help to form the Church

a) To become a spiritual house

b) To become a holy priesthood

 

THE DECLARATION OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah,

for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,

and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:15-19

1. The Lord Jesus is the Christ (The Messiah), the Son of the living God

2. God the Father revealed this truth to Peter

3. The Lord Jesus will build His Church

a) It will be built on Rock

b) The gates of Hades will not prevail against it

 

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To appreciate afresh

a) The Concept of the Church

b) The Cornerstone of the Church

2. To rejoice

a) The Gift of the Church

b) The believers who make up the Church

3. To remain

a) Committed to strengthen the church

b) Committed to defend the church