Cornerstones

The ancient engineers were able to construct buildings without the benefit of steel and concrete because they utilized cornerstones. Cornerstones were just that. Large stones that held the building in place because of their size. Normally they would use the largest stone to hold what was potentially the weakest corner of the building. I've entitled this sermon, "Cornerstones," because it will set forth four theological presuppositions on which Christians should build their lives.

The first "cornerstone" is the Bible; God's Word. The Scriptures are the revelation of God to mankind that have been transmitted through forty some writers and compiled over fifteen hundred years. The Bible contains sixty-six books: thirty-nine in the Old Testament and twenty-seven in the New Testament. There are approximately three-quarter million words in the Bible. When most people read the Bible, they are not aware of the many writers because translators have homogenized it. Reading in the original Hebrew and Greek, however, one can sense some of the differences in the background of the various scribes who wrote what they did under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. (See 2 Tim. 3:16 and 2 Pet. 2:20-21). The Bible enlightens us with the way to salvation as well as providing the information and inspiration to live the life pleasing to God.

The second "cornerstone" is God himself. In Genesis, we read, "In the beginning god created the heavens and the earth..." The existence of God is presumed. Creation bears witness to the Creator. "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). Science does not adequately explain certain key questions such as: a)Where did the first matter come from; b)What caused the changes to occur--how did inorganic (non-living) material become organic (living); and c)How did chaos become order. In the absence of an explanation, science usually suggests that the events took billions and billions of years. The person of faith accepts the existence of God and that He created and made things including mankind. While creation bears witness of the Creator, the Bible reveals that the Supreme Being is a loving, heavenly Father. (See John 3:16 and 1 John 4:7).

The third and "chief cornerstone" is Jesus Christ. John tells us that Jesus existed as the divine Son of God before the creation of the world. He is the central figure of history. His uniqueness is seen in his virgin birth, his sinless life, and his resurrection from death. Isaiah the Prophet and Apostle Peter wrote of Christ, "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" (1 Pet. 2:6 and Isaiah 28:16). See also Ephesians 2:20.

The fourth "cornerstone" is the Church which was formed by Christ himself. "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Matt. 16:18). Christians commit to being Christ's disciples and follow him in the fellowship of all others who also have been called from darkness to the light. The Church is our spiritual family and Christ's Kingdom on earth.