Christ the Cornerstone
The Cornerstone
Gentiles were formerly excluded from Judaism.
The uncircumcised Gentiles were considered aliens to the promises and privileges
of the Jews; but all that changed at the cross where the Lord Jesus Christ
provided a Redemption Solution that reconciled all people to God without
regard to race, sex, or social status (Ephesians
2:12-16). Through His substitutionary death on the Cross, Jesus
Christ ended the privileges of Judaism and opened a new way of equal opportunity
for a new spiritual species called Christians. Because of the reconciliation
provided by the Cross, not only could anyone be saved by faith alone in
Christ alone, but everyone had equal opportunity to receive spiritual promotion.
Jesus Christ was like the cornerstone that brought
two walls together. One wall represented the Jews and the other wall
represented the Gentiles, which included everyone else. Jesus Christ
came and preached the gospel to both groups. In Ephesians
2:17-18, He preached peace, i.e. peace with God, or salvation, to those
who were near (Jews) and to those who were far away (Gentiles). Jesus
Christ became the access to the Father for both groups. So, there
is only one way to God for Jew or Gentile (which includes Arabs).
The way of salvation has never changed throughout history. It always
required faith in Jesus Christ, who is called Jehovah, or Lord, in the
Old Testament. It was Jesus Christ as Jehovah (the LORD) in whom
Abraham believed for salvation (Genesis
15:6).
Those who believe in Jesus Christ in the Church
Age become members of the Church, which is like a spiritual building with
two walls (Jews and Gentiles) joined together by Christ, the cornerstone
(Ephesians
2:19-21). Jesus Christ as the cornerstone is the solution for
Jews and Gentiles; and apart from faith in Jesus Christ, there can be no
salvation.
The Top Cornerstone
The Lord Jesus Christ was symbolized as the original
foundation cornerstone that was rejected by Israel, the original builder
of the earthly temple (Psalm
118:22). As the rejected cornerstone, He became a stumbling stone
at the corner of the temple (Isaiah
8:14; Romans 9:32-33; 1 Peter 2:6-8). However, through His victory
on the Cross, the Lord Jesus Christ has become the top cornerstone, or
keystone, which is also called the "chief corner stone" (Mark
12:10; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:6-8) of the new, Spiritual Temple
of God. The Lord Jesus Christ was symbolized by the first foundation
cornerstone laid in Zion (Isaiah
28:16) and the last stone ("top stone") laid to complete the Temple
of Zerubbabel (Zechariah
4:7). As the top cornerstone, the Lord Jesus Christ is the head
of all Jewish and Gentile believers.
Author: Larry Wood, Released October 8, 2001 - Revised
March 3, 2003