Jesus, the Stone of Stumbling and Offense

For much of the past hundred years or so, many American evangelicals have embraced a theology known as dispensationalism. In its classic form, dispensationalism posits that there are two separate peoples of God—Israel and the church—with a sharp distinction between them. One result of this belief has been a failure to recognize all that the church is as the true fulfillment of the Israel of God. Dispensationalists have traditionally looked for a rebuilding of the physical temple in Jerusalem modeled on the old covenant structure, but the days of that temple have passed, never to return. The true temple of the true Israel of God, consisting of all Jews and gentiles who trust in the Lord Jesus, is the new covenant church. We are the living stones joined to Jesus, the chief and living cornerstone, being fashioned into a dwelling place for God (1 Peter 2:2–6; see also Rom. 9–11; Eph. 2:19–22).

Since God Himself dwells in the true temple, it is a place to be honored. Consequently, we are not surprised that in today’s passage, Peter tells us that an appropriate honor comes in and through Christ to those who are joined to Him by faith alone (1 Peter 2:7). This was good news for the original readers of Peter’s first epistle. They were suffering shame and dishonor in their culture because of the culture’s rejection of Jesus. Of course, this honor was not yet manifest to the watching world; it awaited and continues to await the vindication of God’s people when Jesus returns at the last day (see 1:3–5). The Lord will publicly honor believers before all creation when He returns to judge the living and the dead, proving us to be right all along to trust and love the Christ who is currently unseen by the physical eye but is ruling over creation (see 1 Cor. 15:25).

Those who have rejected the Savior, however, will receive not honor but dishonor. They will be amazed to see that Jesus, the stone rejected by the builders—the first-century Jewish leaders and all who refuse to trust in Him—has become the cornerstone and linchpin of God’s entire plan to save His people and renew creation (1 Peter 2:7). Disobeying God’s Word and refusing to believe the gospel, they have stumbled over Christ and will fall into eternal destruction. Yet even this is within the scope of God’s sovereignty, for their falling has been ordained by Him from all eternity (v. 8). They are responsible for their choices, but the Lord includes these choices in His eternal decree that governs whatsoever comes to pass.