1Pet 2:6 For it is contained in Scripture: "Behold, I lay in Zion a cornerstone, chosen and precious; and he who believes on Him shall by no means be put to shame." 7 To you therefore who believe is the preciousness; but to the unbelieving, "The stone which the builders rejected, this has become the head of the corner,"
[Part 1 of 2]First, as we have seen, Christ was chosen by God in eternity past. That was God's initial choosing of Him. Then God chose Christ the second time in resurrection. Resurrection is a strong proof that God has chosen Christ. This second choosing was a confirmation of God's first choosing. Therefore, in resurrection God confirmed the choice He had made concerning Christ in eternity past. When Christ was on the cross, apparently He was rejected by God. To the Pharisees and to all the others who opposed Him, the crucifixion of Christ was a sign that God had rejected Him. According to Matthew 27:42 and 43, the chief priests, with the scribes and the elders, said, "He is king of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe on him. He trusted upon God; let Him rescue him now if He wants him; for he said, I am God's Son." Luke 23:35 says, "And the rulers were even sneering and saying, He saved others, let him save himself if this is the Christ of God, the Chosen One!" The religious leaders thought that God had rejected Christ. However, on the third day Christ was resurrected, and that resurrection was a sign of God's choosing, a proof that God had chosen Christ to be the stone for His building. The statement, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chosen stone," refers not only to Christ's resurrection, but also to His ascension. After God resurrected Christ, He lifted Him up to the heavens. Therefore, Christ's ascension was a further sign and confirmation that God had chosen Him. (c) 2007 Living Stream Ministry.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of First Peter, pp. 141-142. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].
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