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Chief Cornerstone

We study a lot about who Jesus is. In Ephesians, He was referred to as the chief cornerstone.

-NKJV- Ephesians 2:20 and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

What exactly is a chief corner stone?

Having been involved in construction most of my life, I am very familiar with the term chief cornerstone. I have had the opportunity to see many of these as well as the importance of this single stone in the construction of a building.

A chief corner stone is the very first block that is laid in the foundation when constructing a building. This block is made out of a very hard stone. All sides need to be perfectly square plumb and true, meaning that each side must be at an exact 90 degrees from the other 4 sides it meets. It has to be as perfect as human hands can make.

The reason for the perfection is essential. It is from this single block that the entire rest of the building is built. Measurements are made from this cornerstone to all sides of the building to insure that the building itself will be square, plumb and true. Being perfectly square plumb and true is what gives the building it's strength.

We hear a lot about just how critical it is that you have a good foundation. It is this stone that will control just how good the foundation is.

If this single stone is off any at all, the other side of the building will be off by a great amount. A fraction of an inch in any direction will cause the opposite side of the building to be off by a few feet and will not stand as strong. It will not be square plumb and true, will not be it's maximum strength and this is what will cause a building to fall during a storm.

The foundation is the next to most important part of the building being only second to the chief cornerstone. I say all of this so you will realize just how important this one key piece of the building actually is.

- CEV - Ephesians 2:19 You Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens with everyone else who belongs to the family of God.
- CEV - Ephesians 2:20 You are like a building with the apostles and prophets as the foundation and with Christ as the most important stone.
- CEV - Ephesians 2:21 Christ is the one who holds the building together and makes it grow into a holy temple for the Lord.
- CEV - Ephesians 2:22 And you are part of that building Christ has built as a place for God's own Spirit to live.

As you see in verse 19, we as Christians are now fellow citizens with all of the saints and of the household of God.

Verse 20 sets up the foundation for God's house as being the apostles and prophets and the main, most important ingredient in this foundation being Jesus Christ. This is what forms the holy temple of the Lord where we also build a house of God through the Holy Spirit. What exactly does this mean?

The church is a nation, a family, a household and a building. This building is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ being the most important part of all.

The purpose of the church is for all Christians to be built or fitly framed to become a dwelling place in which God lives in us individually through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will not dwell in a place that is built on a foundation of sand. We know that from the parable of the house built on a rock. The Holy Spirit will not dwell in a place that will be blown to pieces in a wind. Only the best and strongest, the tested and tried, the secure foundation of God's word with Jesus being the main and most important part.

We find ourselves being tested in many ways each and everyday in this world. Things happen to each of us that we would not wish on our worst enemy. It is only through your foundation that you will be able to stand these times. It is only through Jesus that your foundation can be made strong.

How do we go about being sure that we have the strongest foundation possible so that we can weather the storms that we are sure to face?

Let's look at three steps that will make this strong foundation obtainable.

#1 We must each, on an individual basis, accept Jesus as our savior. This is a lot more than a few words.

Accepting Jesus as your savior means that you have recognized that you are a sinner and are not worthy of a single good thing that God has to offer. It is only through Jesus that any of us will ever have a chance to have anything at all to do with God...

except fall under His judgment.

#2 We must read the word of God, the Holy Bible, to know just exactly what is expected from each of us. You can not rely on the interpretation of another man on many elements of the Bible. It is through studying God's word that you will be convicted by the Holy Spirit to become a better person for the Lord.

As we read parts of the Bible, we will come across many things that will teach us different things such as the correct way to act, feel and speak to others. We will learn the way to handle our overwhelming problems that each and everyone of us have at least one. We will become more convicted by the things we do wrong, the language that we use, the way we treat others, both believers and nonbelievers. We will learn how we handle affairs in our personal lives with things ranging from lawsuits to adultery to our firm commitment in the Lord.

You can NOT just read the Bible once and think you know it all. It has to be read, studied, over and over again. There are at least 2 reasons why the Bible should be studied throughout your life. You will get a different meaning from the scripture due to your life's situation and trials and you will become more mature in the Lord.

As we go through trials in this life, we learn something from each and every one of them. This will change how we feel and react to situations in the future and we had better be sure that as our minds go through this change, we are still in line with exactly what the Bible tells us to do. By doing this, we will become more mature in the Lord. As we gain maturity in the Lord, we will have a better understanding of God's word and it will have a deeper meaning each and every time we read it.

If you do not mature in the Lord, you had better get your Bible out and see just why. The answer will be there. Let's look at some scripture to back this up.

- CEV - Hebrews 5:13 People who live on milk are like babies who don't really know what is right.
- CEV - Hebrews 5:14 Solid food is for mature people who have been trained to know right from wrong.

This maturity in the Lord will take time. It will not come overnight and you must read your Bible to gain the wisdom to discern both good and evil.

You will also have to have your senses exercised. You will have to go through trials and burdens.

#3 Faith......

How in the world are you ever going to believe in something wholeheartedly if you do not have the faith in what you are doing or who you are doing it for?

The person you are having faith for is yourself. The person you must have faith in is Jesus. Do not get this confused. You are not having faith for Jesus, you must have faith IN JESUS. Jesus is the only one who is going to bring you through your trials, troubles and burdens without you crumbling apart like you were built on a foundation of sand and He will have you come through these trials only by your faith in Him to do so.

It is by your faith in Jesus that you are even able to be saved. You are not worthy. You are not righteous. You are not able to save yourself and GOD DOES NOT OWE YOU A SINGLE THING !!!

- CEV - Ephesians 2:8 You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God's gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own.

it is a gift from God that we may have a chance to ever be with Him. NOT a payment. This gift of salvation was made so that all of us sinners MIGHT be able to spend eternity in Heaven and have a more rewarding and fulfilling life here on earth in this life as it seems we hit every pothole in this road we call life.

What a gift God has given to us to use. What exactly is the price of this gift?

All that it takes is for you to accept Jesus as your savior, recognizing that you are a sinner and want Him to intervene on your behalf so that you may have a door to go through to the Almighty God.

Again, accepting is more than just a word. It has to be backed up with faith which is seen in your works, but the beginning or birth of this wonderful life we call Christianity is by accepting or allowing Jesus to come into your heart.

Don't rest without the security of Jesus. Don't walk away from this chance to be saved. Do not take a chance on this for so much as another minute.

it could pass you by in a heartbeat.....


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