1 Peter 2:6 – “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
What does the term ‘cornerstone’ mean? Here are two definitions:
- an important quality or feature on which a particular thing depends or is based.
- a stone that forms the base of a corner of a building, joining two walls.
Both these definitions aptly describe the nature of Jesus, our Cornerstone. Our faith is based entirely on the life, death and resurrection of the only God who became man and paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Jesus is the firm foundation on which the church, the entire body of believers, rests. Without Jesus, we would not have pardon for sin or hope for eternity.
Peter ascribes quite a few adjectives to Jesus in our today’s key verse – chief, elect and precious. He must be our chief cornerstone, not just one of the bricks we lay as we build our lives. Jesus was chosen and precious in the sight of God. His ultimate sacrifice paved the way for us to willingly choose Him as Lord. When we believe in Jesus and consider our relationship with Him precious, the Bible promises that we will not be put to shame. What a wonderful promise to cherish!
