Foundational Truths
Today’s post is going to lay the foundation for next week’s post. I would have loved to make it a single post but I think it’s okay for me to give an introduction to the topic before getting into the details.
Of all the names Jesus is called, the one that has been speaking to me a lot lately is “Chief Cornerstone”. Surprisingly, or rather, unknown to me, the name is used for Him quite often in scripture (Psa. 118:22; Eph. 2:20; Lk. 20:17; Acts 4:11; Isa. 28:16). There are two things we would be looking at under this topic: what it means that Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone and why it is relevant to us. Today, let’s start with the first question.
If you’re familiar with architecture or construction, you understand the significance of a cornerstone. A cornerstone is a stone that forms the base or edge of a building. It could serve as the foundation stone of that building or the stone that joins two sides of the building together. In literature, it means something of great importance that everything else depends on.
Being the foundational stone of a building, a cornerstone forms support for a building. It is the first stone that is set during construction. Every other stone used to build that structure is set in reference to the cornerstone. It determines their position and arrangement. Scripture is telling us that Jesus is that stone—and the Chief for that matter. (Eph. 2:20)
Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
Ephesians 2:20 NIV
As believers, our faith is built like a structure, of which Jesus is the foundation. Many people have tried the make the foundation of the faith based on other different things, but such buildings topple over very quickly.
Jesus is the chief cornerstone. He is the foundation of the faith and we can only be sure that we are building a lasting faith when we build on Him. In 1 Corinthians 3:11, Paul tells us that no other foundation other than Jesus has been laid. This is a fundamental truth that must make its way into the hearts and minds of every believer: the chief foundational stone of our faith is Jesus Christ.
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:11 NIV
Apart from a cornerstone being foundational, it is a standard. Scientists understand the importance of having a standard. when you want to test for the purity, potency, or identity of a sample or substance in the lab, you must compare it to a standard. It is the standard that helps to evaluate the sample.
Likewise in (masonry) buildings, the “standard” is a cornerstone. You need to place a cornerstone first and then align every other stone to it, for the building to come into shape. Jesus being the Chief Cornerstone means that He sets the standard.
The stone the builders rejected became the Chief Cornerstone (Psa. 118:22). At some point, Jesus was ignored and disregarded by many. Yet, God has so highly exalted Him and given Him a name above every other name that at the mention of His name, every knee must bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. (Php. 2:9-11)
Jesus is not just any cornerstone, but the Chief of them all. That means if there were other cornerstones, they would be set in reference to Him. He is the standard. However, in the real sense of it, a building cannot have more than one cornerstone. Therefore, wherever Jesus is, every other “cornerstone” becomes nothing but a stone. He surpasses them all.
Jesus as the Chief Cornerstone is more than a name or title for our Messiah. It is a revelation of His person and role in our lives. As mentioned above, this is only an introduction and we’re yet to explore exhaustively all we can learn here. Next week, we will continue with a sequel and learn why this piece of information is relevant to us as believers.
Se’lah
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