Discussing 1 Peter 2:5-7.
The 1611 Fellowship discusses: the stone of stumbling, the precious stone, the holy priesthood, lively stones, the Levitical priesthood and the Holy of Holies.
Comments (5)
And as "living stones" in this structure . . . connected to the Cornerstone as our foundation . . . . we are to help bear one another's burdens, so fulfilling the Law of Christ. Galatians 6:2. But those in Antichrist . . . " . . . binde heauie burdens, and grieuous to be borne, and lay them on mens shoulders, but they themselues will not mooue them with one of their fingers" Matthew 23:4. And, as Jesus tells those in the Antichrist system/structure . . ."euery one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall bee likened vnto a foolish man, which built his house vpon the sand: 27And the raine descended, and the floods came, and the windes blew, and beat vpon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." Matthew 7:26-27; Isaiah 14: 13-15 (13For thou hast said in thine heart; I wil ascend into heauen, I wil exalt my throne aboue the starres of God: I wil sit also vpon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the North. 14I wil ascend aboue the heights of the cloudes, I wil bee like the most High. 15Yet thou shalt be brought downe to hel, to the sides of the pit."; Ezekiel 28:17-19 ("Thine heart was lifted vp because of thy beautie, thou hast corrupted thy wisedome by reason of thy brightnesse: I will cast thee to the ground: I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. 18Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquitie of thy traffique: therefore will I bring forth a fire from the middest of thee, it shall deuoure thee: and I will bring thee to ashes vpon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. 19All they that know thee among the people, shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terrour, and neuer shalt thou be any more.")
Only by being thoroughly acquainted with the authentic Christ can we recognize anti-Christ. Unfortunately, many pew sitters have a relationship with Christ dictated by pastors and seminaries and not so much the scriptures.
Also . . it is revealing when you consider the Christian vs the Antichrist/Rome "systems" or structures when viewed through the building analogy used by Peter in these verses. Our system relies on the first stone laid . . the Precious stone . . the cornerstone. While the most important, the cornerstone is also the servant of all other stones in the structure as it bears the load of all other stones. We give our burden to Jesus (Psalm 55:22). The Antichrist system worships the "crowning achievement" . .the last stone placed at the top . . . the capstone. This high and lofty stone bears NO load for others. The capstone serves NO other stone. All other stones serve the capstone. Completely opposite structures. Christianity is bottom up starting with our foundation in Jesus Christ. Matthew 20. We worship the Foundation of all things. Servant of all shall be first in the Kingdom of God. Antichrist/Rome (4th and final beast) is a top down hierarchy. Slaves at every level to the top. The Antichrist pyramid system rejects the Rock at its base . . it rejects the importance of a firm foundation in Christ as cornerstone.
Very astute. Indeed, Christ, as cornerstone bears the weight of all, while antichrist resting atop all is a burden to all who reject Christ.
Excellent exegesis. Thank You. These verses in 2 Peter make irrelevant the debate over whether Peter was ever in Rome (he almost certainly wasn't) and the Roman Church's ridiculous claims of papal succession. Was Peter the "rock" upon which Jesus' church was built? Matthew 16:18? He is telling you in these verses that he is not. Peter says right here in plain understanding that, as a believer, he is a "living stone". This is the proper understanding of Matthew 16:18. Jesus was referring to Peter as a stone . . a living stone . . just like all believers (and not the anointed apostle or above the others.) And Peter fully understood this as he explains in these verses. The "rock" of Matthew 16:18 . . the Precious cornerstone . . is Jesus Christ our Messiah spoken of by the Prophets. Share these verses in 2 Peter with any Roman Catholic you know earnestly looking for God's grace.