Living Stones

Living Stones, A Spiritual House

The New Covenant exchanged an earthly temple for the heavenly temple made of living stones

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [1 Pet. 2:4-5, ESV]

The destruction of the Jerusalem temple in AD 70 was the undeniable sign that the now defunct Sinai order of Levitical offerings, sacrifices, and ceremonies had been irrevocably done away. How do we know it was irrevocable? Because the Bible says so.

[Heb. 8:13]
In that he saith, A New Covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. [KJV]
In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. [ESV]
By saying a new covenant, he has declared that the first is obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old is about to pass away. [CSB]

The fact that the Lord promised Israel a New Covenant meant the first had become obsolete. Not only had it become useless, but it was on the verge of disappearing or being destroyed. There is no hint in this language, here or elsewhere, that what had become obsolete and was about to vanish, would ever reappear. Hence, there was the need for a new and living way [Heb. 10:20].

Was there going to be a new temple for the New Covenant to operate by? Yes, indeed there is. However, this New Covenant temple would not be built with stones quarried from the earth, i.e., not made with hands. No, this New Covenant temple would be constructed of living stones. However, there is a similarity between the stones cut out from the earth, and those living stones used by God.

Before we get into the meaning of these, “living stones,” it would be helpful for us to have an appreciation of the vast difference between bricks and stones.

I believe this can give us necessary insight into the fact that bricks are the creation of men, while stones are the work of God.

No Bricks Allowed

Bricks are the trademark of the kingdom of men. Pharaohs love bricks. The children of Israel helped build Pharaoh's treasure cities, by making bricks. Pharaohs build their empires using bricks, while God builds His Kingdom, using living stones.

There is a vast difference between bricks and stones.

• Bricks are man-made, while stones are formed and developed through the process of time and pressure.
• Bricks are uniform in their shape and consistency; they all look alike. Stones are individual; they can have a similar shape, but all are individually cut from the heart of the earth.
• Bricks are mass-produced, but each stone requires the artisan's touch.
• Bricks are the material with which men seek to build their kingdoms, but NEVER does God use brick to build anything. He always uses stones, cut from the earth and worked by an artisan. These living stones of the new temple are indeed the work of an artisan, being the Spirit of God. Paul says in Eph. 2:10, "...We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, unto good works..." The term workmanship means, a creative work of art.
• Bricks can also come with labels. Many are stamped with the name of the Pharaoh who had them produced. Isn't it interesting that when you meet some people, one of the first things they want to do, is slap a label on you? This is necessary in their eyes, so they will know if you are friend or foe. If you bear the same label as they do, they can then receive you as a brother. However, if you bear a different mark (or no mark at all), they have been trained to treat you with suspicion. Men want to classify you as this or that. You are either in this camp or that one. This labeling is not from the Spirit of God, but is the working of Satan to keep the Body of Messiah divided along fleshly party lines.

The purpose of putting a label on believers, is to keep them divided, and loyal to certain camps or personalities. Satan wants to divide the Body along meaningless, superficial lines. He knows that if the Body of Christ is united, they are powerful and unconquerable. This party-spirit is one of the most damaging things to the Ekklesia of Christ. This is not unity for unity’s sake. It is truth that matters, not labels.

Paul warns of this dividing spirit coming into the Flock of God. In Acts 20:28-30, Paul is giving his farewell address to the Ephesian elders at Miletus. In this address, he first exhorts them concerning the responsibility that God has entrusted them with.

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.

He then gives a warning to these elders,

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

Paul warns these elders that after his departure, grievous wolves will enter in, not sparing the flock. These will be the wolves in sheep’s clothing that Jesus spoke of. They will look like sheep, but their inward nature will be ravenous, with a hunger to devour for their own satisfaction.

Not only will wolves enter in, but also out of the company of the elders themselves, will arise men who promote twisted doctrine.

This is evidenced by Paul's next statement, when he says, "Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things,” meaning that out of the group of elders themselves, shall men rise up [lit. 'spring up'] to lead the flock away, speaking twisted and perverted things. The purpose of this rising up and speaking twisted things is to "draw away disciples after them". The goal here is to make themselves the rallying point and center of the flock's attention. Notice that they draw away disciples. Draw away from what? They draw disciples away from the shepherding influence of Jesus Himself, and place themselves in the position of ruler and standard of truth. This is nothing but the party-spirit at work. This is part of the description given of the shepherds in Ezekiel, who factionalized the flock. This is how bricks are made.

Living Stones

What we see in the New Covenant is living stones being built into a spiritual house, for a habitation of God through His Spirit. In other words, we are being built into a dwelling place for God through His Spirit. The greatest picture we have of this is Solomon's Temple. The Temple was to be the place where God met with man, and where God made His Name to rest.

The actual construction of the temple is of great interest for us here. Only a few points of the building process will be discussed.

It is first important for us to see that we are being built into a spiritual house, a dwelling for our God. Paul says in Eph. 2:20-22,

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. In Whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the LORD. In Whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.

We are built upon the foundation that has been laid down by the apostles and the prophets. "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Jesus is the foundation for the building of God, and the Chief Cornerstone. The cornerstone,

"Is the primary foundation-stone at the angle of the structure by which the architect fixes a standard for the bearings of the walls and cross-walls throughout" (W. W. Lloyd).

The whole edifice is built upon the perfection of the cornerstone. The whole building is developed using the cornerstone as the sure marker of perfection.

Notice also that this building grows into a holy temple. Since we are dealing with Living Stones (I Pet. 2:5), we are talking about organic growth. God is the God of the living, not the dead! The Ekklesia of Christ is a living organism, not a structured, 501c3 institutional organization. The Body of Jesus is a living and active organism, who draws its life and direction from the Head. We are growing generation by generation into a holy temple unto the Lord, not into the treasure cities of a Pharaoh.

Preparing The Temple

In building the first temple, David made certain preparations for it during his reign. I Chron. 22:2, says,
And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God.

The stones were to be the work of craftsmen, skilled in worked stones. This skill is evidenced by the manner in which these stones were crafted. This is found in I Kings 6:7,

And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither; so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.

Notice that the House of God was constructed of stone made ready before it was brought to the building site. The stones were cut and made to fit before they ever came to the temple site. All the cutting and shaping of the stones was done in the quarry by the master artificers of stone.

The glorious truth revealed here, that God by His Spirit, the Master Artisan, is cutting and shaping each of His people, as living stones here in this earthly quarry.

All that God does and allows in our lives is the evidence of God's craftsmanship in us. He is working to create, to fashion us into the image of His Son, Jesus the Messiah. Whatever does not look like Jesus is chipped away, so that the final product will be able to take its unique place in the Heavenly Temple.

He is carefully conforming us into the Image of His Son, not mass-producing us, in cookie-cutter fashion, as the pharaohs do with bricks. God takes special care with each stone, for each stone has its own special place in the Temple. Bricks can fit anywhere, and in pretty much any order. However, each stone is cut to fill a specific place and purpose in God's building.

So take heart beloved of the Lord, when the hammer and chisel of the Spirit is applied to your life. It is not the act of God's anger or displeasure, but the loving and faithful hand of God's fathering nature, to mold you into a fitting form for His Kingdom and For His Dwelling.

For I know,

All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. (Rom. 8:28) AND,
Being confident of this very thing, that He, which hath begun a good work in you, will perform (complete) it until the Day of Jesus Christ. (Phil. 1:6) AND,
The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; thy mercy, O LORD, endures forever, forsake not the works of thine own hands. (Ps. 138:8)

Stones, fitly framed together

At the beginning of the chapter, Peter states that when we come to Christ, we come to a living stone, chosen of God but rejected by men. Here, the living stone, is a reference to Him being that chief cornerstone or foundation stone of the building of God. For Peter says in the next verse,

For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” [1 Pet. 2:6, ESV]

This laying of the chief cornerstone is the first step in the process of erecting a building. Peter describes this building process, stating,

you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [1 Pet. 2:5, ESV]

Not only is Christ a living stone, i.e., the chief cornerstone, but His members are “living stones,” who are being built up as a spiritual house. This spiritual house is the living temple of God, wherein the redeemed, a holy priesthood, may offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. We know this living temple is being built, based also upon what Paul states.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. [ Eph. 2:19:22]

Notice in verse 21, how the building fitly framed together grows into a holy temple in the Lord. Paul says the building grows into a holy temple. How does a building grow? This is a reference to organic growth [see also Eph. 4:15-16]. The building is growing, generation by generation until it becomes a great temple unto the Lord. It is being built and is growing into a habitation of God through His Spirit.

Just as the original temple built by Solomon was to be the House of God, with His Name resting there, so this temple is to grow into a habitation of God through His Spirit. The Greek word used here, translated as habitation, refers to a permanent dwelling, not a temporary shelter.

The wording Paul uses, fitly framed together, is very descriptive of the stones of Solomon’s temple. Josephus describes the stones in the building of the temple, saying,

Now the whole structure of the temple was made with great skill of polished stones, and those laid together so very harmoniously and smoothly, that there appeared to the spectators no sign of any hammer, or other instrument of architecture; but as if, without any use of them, the entire materials had naturally united themselves together, that the agreement of one part with another seemed rather to have been natural, than to have arisen from the force of tools upon them.

Josephus describes the stones in Solomon’s temple, as being “laid together so very harmoniously and smoothly,” that it appeared “the entire materials had naturally united themselves together, that the agreement of one part with another seemed rather to have been natural.” It appeared the stones grew together naturally, rather than by the force of tools. This is what Paul means by “fitly framed together grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” Very similar language is used by Paul in Eph. 4:15-16, in describing the growth of the body into Christ, the Head.

This temple of the Lord grows by each generation, with new living stones being added and fitly framed together.

We can see this habitation of God through His Spirit in Revelation 21,

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

John says he saw no temple in the New Jerusalem. There was no physical temple because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple, the dwelling place where God meets man. It is in the body of His redeemed where God meets with and dwells in man. The old Sinai covenant could never do this.

Dedication of the New Covenant Temple

We can see that it was on the day of Pentecost when the Lord accepted New Covenant Israel as a dwelling place for His Name. Just as the fire came down from heaven and the glory of the Lord filled the temple at the dedication of Solomon’s temple [2 Chron. 7:1-3], so also at Pentecost [Acts 2], fire fell from heaven and sat upon each of the living stones. The Glory and Spirit of the Lord filled His new temple. This dedication of the New Covenant Temple meant that the physical temple, which functioned under the Sinai Covenant, would no longer be required.

The first sign of Jerusalem’s temple service coming to a close, was at the crucifixion of Christ. Matthew records that when Jesus yielded up His last breath, the veil of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom (God reaching down to man).

This veil separated the Holy Place, containing the table of showbread, the altar of incense, and the seven-branched lampstand, from the Holy of Holies, wherein was to be the Ark of the Covenant. It is this Holy of Holies, wherein the high priest went,

alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: (Heb. 9:7)

In this act of splitting the veil, God rendered the function of the earthly high priest obsolete. The death of Christ on the cross rendered the ministry of the Levitical high priest and its whole priesthood ministry obsolete. For the Scripture says,

11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation.
12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. [Heb. 9:11-12 NIV]

In the once-for-all offering of Christ on the cross, He obtained eternal redemption for us, thus making the Levitical Offerings of no effect and obsolete. He entered into the heavenly Holy of Holies with His own blood [Heb. 9:12] and made a once-for-all offering for sin, never to be repeated.

Notice also, that Christ is the “high priest of good things that are already here.” When the writer penned these words, the Jerusalem temple was still standing and appeared to still be functioning. However, since those good things were brought through Christ's blood, they were then and as they are now, a present reality. Hence, the Law, which was a “shadow of good things to come,” was no longer needed. The good things had come, so the shadow of the Law became obsolete.

If the Levitical offerings were made useless and obsolete by the blood of Jesus, then the temple no longer served its purpose. It had become FOREVER OBSOLETE. It stood as the symbol of an outdated and ineffective system of worship.

The tearing of the veil was only one of many such signs to that generation of the coming judgment upon the whole outdated and rebellious Jewish religious and civil polity.

Other signs were reported in the historical and rabbinical record that the temple had become destined for destruction. These are discussed in the study, Fearful Sights and Great Signs.

God had begun building His New Temple of living stones. Therefore, the Old had served its purpose and was about to vanish forever, which it did in AD 70.

Because of this, the rebuilding of another earthly temple dedicated to the sacrifice of animals, is an abomination and a another slap in the face of our glorious Messiah and High Priest, Jesus the Christ.

END