1 Peter 2:7-10 Revised Standard Version

7 To you therefore who believe, he is precious, but for those who do not believe,

“The very stone which the builders rejected
has become the head of the corner,”

8 and

“A stone that will make men stumble,
a rock that will make them fall”;

for they stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people,[a] that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were no people but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy.

 

1 – What is your First Impression?

My first impression was “Are Christians replacing the Jews?” Others commenting on still talking about stones and how unbelievers are disobedient. As we touch on later, is that really a difference?

2 – How does this statement by the “rock on which the church is built” about the “cornerstone” impact its significance to you?

For me, having Peter point to the cornerstone of Christ is demonstrative of his new found humility. Peter is leading the church with these letters and I think he understands his role, but he is making sure everyone knows it is all built on Jesus. For the most part, the question did not seem to make sense, so maybe I over thoughts its meaning.

3 – What is the purpose of stumbling and falling and it being caused by Christ?

Part of the purpose of the law was to tell people what was wrong. Resting on Sabbath is high level and the law told us what it really meant. To the average unbeliever, life is full of good, bad, and indifferent and they never take the time to see how bad their life is. Christ as the cornerstone is causing them to stumble and fall and realize the life without Christ is actually no life at all.

4 – Who was not destined to disobey and what is the difference?

We all disobey. The difference is that we try not to and everyone else goes along happy to do whatever they chose. Their freedom leads to death, and our freedom leads to life.

5 – Trick question: Are Christians replacing the Jews in God’s mind?

The aspects of these verses that show the similarities of Christians and Jews brough this thought to mind, but there is no replacement going on. Christians are chosen for eternity and Jews were chosen to prepare the way for Christ. Think of it as your fantasy baseball team and your fantasy football team; two different sports, same “technical” terms.

6 – If God never changes, then how do we explain the changing “rule” of the one way to get to heaven as Jesus before and after His life and death?

This was a fun part of the discussion for me. We coined a term “The Jesus Rule” that basically says until Christ died and raised to life again, no one could be saved by belief in Him, yet all could afterwards. We discussed how Jews before had faith in the coming Messiah and how some had their faith counted as righteousness. We did not get into the details of anything before Abraham, but the slow revealing of God’s plan does not mean He changed, only that the plan had not yet been fully revealed to people.

7 – When is mercy received?

When one accepts Christ as Lord and Savior. Just a reminder that God gives, but we have to relate to Him and have to receive to enjoy the benefits.