Christ our Cornerstone

Ephesians 2:20 “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone”.

In this portion, Apostle Paul after calling the church in Ephesus to come near God as this right was purchased with blood (v 11-18), he further explains the position and responsibility we possess after being brought near God.

Verse 19 says: “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” This is important as Paul gives us two different positions: fellow Citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. This implies that we have a position in the Almighty and this position is both legally and lovingly valid. This position is equal to that of the saints. Nobody is high or low here. Everybody has the right to claim their position.

Now, in verse 20, after being rightful citizens, God gives us responsibilities and roles in His kingdom. He does not simply have us as rocks that are scattered, but as a building that is framed together. This verse also shows us the importance of Christian leaders appointed by Him. They form the foundation and then we are built on top of them. The word cornerstone explains that all apostles and prophets are first aligned to Him. The cornerstone is the first step done and is the measurement that every other stone should follow and align itself into. Based on the cornerstone, first the foundation is laid and then on top of the sacrifices of Christ, apostles and many other missionaries, we now are comfortably showing our talents.

As in Isaiah 28:16, God says that Jesus is a tested, costly and a firmly placed stone. Please note the love of God that says “tested” first and then “costly” next.  It makes sinners stumble and fall. For us not to fall to the snares of the world, we really have to believe in Jesus. This trust that Jesus is the corner stone on which we, our church / fellowship, our family and all the goodness that constitute us are built.  The trust we show to Him is not only to his Deity but also to His leadership. We should completely trust in Him and align ourselves to Him and be brave enough to face any opposition the world might give us.

1 Corinthians 3:9-15 is another important portion where Jesus being the cornerstone and we being built is emphasized. Paul mentions this verse to us, bible readers who learn from Paul’s teachings. He says that all his works are just a foundation.  We ministers, teachers and other Christian leaders build our churches, doctrines and people’s lives based on that. But, it is very important that no other doctrine other than that of Christ be taught or built. If we compromise at any stage, the final product above will completely become different and thereby the whole building would be useless. Everything should be taken account of. The materials, alignment, skill etc.

We should note that we are individually built as a building and this building is the Temple and not the Church. The cornerstone Jesus is for us individually. Everything we learn, achieve, preach, follow, have fellowship with and others are the materials that are used to build the Temple.

There should be no other foundation than Jesus. Let us not invite newer doctrines claiming different teachings to be true. Most of us take specifics and emphasize them just like discarding ornaments. These are good, but let these teachings do not form the foundation of our Christian life.

There will be a day when the fire would come and burn everything. If we have built our life on strong materials, we would be successful and fruitful. If these materials are burnt, we will be losers. However, because of the strong foundation, we will be saved. Paul mentions the possibility of Christians being built on a strong foundation, but still can be deceived. Paul differentiates salvation and being a temple of God in these verses.

Ephesians 2:21 says that we are framed or fitted together and the final product grows to become a temple of God.  We also read this in 1 Cor 3:16. This is the purpose of our lives. Unless we transform ourselves to be fit to host the Spirit of God, our life becomes wasted. The word “grows” gives the emphasis on the process of Christian growth.

The word “whole building” gives us the understanding that everything that we own, acquire or grow constitute to become the temple. God never receives anything partially. God does not allow any defilement too as in 1 Cor 3:17. Defiling is simply introducing things of the world to the holy place. We are completely dedicated for the work of God. Paul also says that everything in the building is fitted together. It is that everything we do would work together in Him serving His purpose.

Ephesians 2:22 is a very important verse in the Bible which mentions the Trinity and the roles of each person in the Trinity. God wanted to live in us and since we failed, Jesus came and set a great foundation for us to grow upon. He stays there so that we should grow. The responsibility is now of the Holy Spirit. When He succeeds, God the father would come and live inside us.

The word mentioned is “dwelling” or “habitation” meaning a place where God permanently resides. These people are the ones God uses strongly and are willing to completely surrender themselves and promote God’s kingdom.

In Mathew 21:42-44, Jesus mentions the stone (when addressing himself as the cornerstone) being a very threatening stone to the Jewish leaders. He calls them as the builders as they were responsible for every person to be godly. But since that did not happen, Jesus has given us the responsibility. A stone that condemns and ridicules has become a cornerstone for us that upholds us.  We should value this opportunity sincerely as we are called for a purpose and another chosen generation has been denied this opportunity.  

It is necessary for us to submit ourselves to this building. The final outcome is that we would be holy enough so that God would continually live inside. This cannot happen today as the building is being built. We should allow the Holy Spirit to build us every day. Our roots on Jesus should never shake or come out. If that happens, everything that has been built would shatter. It is equally important that everything that we learn or start to follow in Christendom, we should carefully choose. One wrong teaching and one compromise can ruin the whole building.