Now, we move to a very important doctrine for the believer in Jesus Christ: Believers are a holy priesthood. No longer does God dwell in a physical building as He did in the Temple in Jerusalem. He dwells within every believer. In I Corinthians 3:16, Paul also notes this: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” As a holy priesthood, we have a responsibility to live holy lives acceptable to God.
Peter starts this new doctrine of the believer replacing the physical temple by using the analogy of a building. He introduces Jesus as “a living stone.” This living stone has life within Him, and He offers it to all who are His. Jesus is the cornerstone. The cornerstone of a building is the starting point, the solid foundation upon which the entire building is built. Ephesians 2:20-21 “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the Lord.” Jesus is the starting point of this house, and He gives life to all the other stones that make us the living temple. This is now where God dwells.
I Peter 2:4-5 “To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”
In verses 6-7, Peter turns to the Jews’ rejection of the Cornerstone. God’s chosen people would not accept the one chosen by God as the foundation of the new and living temple. Verse 7 is a quote from Psalm 118:21-23, the prophecy of the Jews rejecting Jesus as the corner stone. They rejected the Messiah chosen by God. “I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”
I Peter 2:6-7 “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner.”
The Jews rejected; we accepted. Those who place their faith in Jesus Christ, the cornerstone, are now a holy priesthood. We are to be holy, consecrated to Him, set apart for His purpose. We are priesthood, a body of believers who form together not only the temple, but also its ministers/priests, to offer up spiritual sacrifices.
These spiritual sacrifices are noted in Hebrews 13:15-16 “the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” In Ephesians 5:2, we are to “walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor.”
In Romans 12:1, we are to be “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.”
As mentioned in verse 5, spiritual sacrifices, in whatever form they take, represent our response to God’s presence in the “temple” — dwelling in our hearts. As noted in John 15:5, we are only able to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ when we abide in Him. Without Him, we can do nothing acceptable to God.
John 15:5 “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
This biblical truth should help every Christian understand the importance of our lives to God. We are called, set apart, to serve the King. No longer does God dwell in temples made with men’s hands, but fleshly temples made possible by the death of His Son.
I am so thankful for God’s sacrifice by giving His Son to die for my sins. He tore the veil of the curtain in the temple, symbolizing a new way for anyone who would believe in His Son for eternal life. I can never do enough to merit what He did for me. The best I can do is live my life for Him, who dwells within me.
