Christ The Foundation Stone

by G. Prasher, Manchester, England | Category: Gleanings From Isaiah | Mar 1996

More than any other Old Testament prophet, Isaiah was used to prophesy about the Person of Christ, His sufferings and glories, and the far-reaching purposes of God through His work.

A most interesting verse in Isaiah 28:16 which describes the Lord Jesus as God's foundation Stone:

Therefore thus said the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation

a Stone, a tried Stone, a precious corner Stone of sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

This reference is taken up by the Holy Spirit through Peter in the New Testament, clearly identifying the One of whom Isaiah wrote as the Lord Jesus Christ. What an appropriate illustration! A foundation Stone and a corner Stone of sure foundation. The corner foundation stone is the one with which the rest of the building is kept in line; all has to be related accurately to it. So God ordained that all His purposes should be centred in the Person of His Son, that in all things He should have the preeminence. He is described as 'elect and precious' -specially chosen and of infinite value to God.

Eight hundred years after Isaiah wrote these words, the Son of God was born into this world:

He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and they that were His own received Him not (John 1:10,11).

The Lord spoke about His rejection by the nation of Israel in this way:

Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The Stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the Head of the corner: this was from the Lord, and it is marvellous in our eyes? (Mat. 21:42).

They had indeed read the scripture, and we can find it in Psalm 118:22. Israel's religious leaders had no place for the Son of God in their system of things. They rejected Him, the chosen, precious corner Stone of all divine purpose. But the Stone which the builders rejected God made Head of the corner. Well the Psalmist might add, 'This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes'.

Referring to the Lord's rejection by Israel, Paul wrote in Romans 9:32,33:

They stumbled at the Stone of stumbling; even as it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offence: And he that believeth on Him shall not be put to shame.

This quotation links the thought of the foundation Stone from Isaiah 28 with the thought that some stumbled over that Stone because of unbelief; again this latter thought is taken from Isaiah 8:14:

He shall be ... for a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence to both the houses of Israel.

So God's elect, precious foundation Stone became a cause of offence to the house of Israel, for they stumbled at the Word, being disobedient, as is explained in 1 Peter 2:8. How tragic that human unbelief should deprive God's ancient people of the rich blessing which acceptance of Christ would have brought.

Despite Israel's rejection of God's chosen and precious foundation Stone, God's purposes moved triumphantly forward. 'For you therefore which believe is the preciousness', we read in 1 Peter 2:7. Those who responded to the preaching of God's Word on the day of Pentecost revered and acknowledged the Christ of God. Having believed in Him, these disciples gladly brought themselves into line with Him as the corner Stone of sure foundation. Submission to His will in baptism, addition together to form the Church of God in Jerusalem, and steadfast continuance in the apostles' teaching, ensured their part in the great new spiritual house of God which was then established. Peter refers to this in chapter 2 of his first letter:

Unto whom coming, a living Stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious, ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house (vv.4,5).

Peter was writing to disciples in churches of God throughout five large Roman provinces. As the message had been carried far and wide from the original centre in Jerusalem, the apostles brought disciples together to form churches of God in many parts of the Roman world. These were viewed by God as one house, composed of living stones built together in line with Christ, the elect, precious, corner Stone of sure foundation.

Paul wrote in similar terms to the disciples in Ephesus, where he reminded the Gentile disciples that they were no longer aliens from God's people, but fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God, being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the chief corner Stone. The result was a united Fellowship of disciples who had, as living stones, come to the great foundation Stone, and submitted to being aligned to

Him.

That first-century unit of churches of God was viewed in Ephesians chapter 2 as one Temple or Sanctuary:

Christ Jesus Himself being the chief corner Stone; in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy Temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit (vv. 20,21,22).

That great divine purpose of a spiritual house, with the Lord Jesus as the corner foundation Stone, elect and precious, is clearly seen in our New Testament. Some have difficulty about its practical expression in modern experience if it is put into effect by only a minority of those who know Christ. But Isaiah lived at time when only a small minority of Israel was free or willing to share in the service of God's house, the Temple at Jerusalem. The prophet pleaded for God's mercy towards what he described as the remnant of Israel. And in chapter 10:21 he wrote, 'A remnant shall return... unto the mighty God'. Scripture amply confirms that where a remnant, a minority, return to the principles of God's house, He will recognize this and honour their faith. A remnant returning to the mighty God may greatly glorify Him in their service and testimony.

G. Prasher, Manchester, England | Mar 1996
Gleanings From Isaiah