Jesus is the living Stone and this Stone is the cornerstone of His Church.
Stumbling over the Stone will cause God's justice to lay a Stumbling Block that will cause death.
Eph 2:18 for through Him (Jesus) we (We refers to Jew and Gentile.) both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and travelers, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
2:20 built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone,
2:21 in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; (Church)
2:22 in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
The above verse is written by Saint Paul. He is describing the Catholic Church. Apostle Paul describes the Church with the Apostles and Prophets as foundations and Jesus as the cornerstone. Gentile and Jew who have faith in Jesus are building blocks upon the foundations.
One foundation of the church is the the Prophets. They represent and foretell that the wages of sin is death. In other words, the Prophets reveal the events after Physical death.
The other foundation of the Church is Apostles. The Apostles represent the 12 twelve tribes of Israel. And the 12 tribes represent the 12 virtues produced by the 7 Spirits of God.
1 Pet 2:4 Come to Him (Jesus), to that living stone, rejected by men but in God’s sight chosen and precious;
2:5 and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
2:6 For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and he who believes in Him will not be put to shame.”
Saint Peter also says we are stones in the Church. Peter uses the term "living stones". Since the word of God is symbolized by a stone, living stones is referring to men who place the word of God into action.
Questions
1) Both Peter and Paul write how the stumbling stone is laid in ______.
2) Who built the city of Zion?
3) King David is a symbol of _______. Zion is a symbol of ______.
4) People stumble over faith and obedience. But the Mother of Jesus uses faith and obedience in Her actions and are symbolized as a ________ in Zion.
5) Saint Paul describes the church as having foundations. Who are the foundations and cornerstone? Built upon the foundations are the blocks that represent who?
6) Saint Peter calls faithful followers of Jesus as "living stones". What does "living stones" mean?
Stumbling stone
Applying the law without faith is a stumbling stone.
Saint Paul says that the law if pursued without faith is a stumbling stone. Rom (9:31) This is very serious warning. What is meant is this, a Christian who is baptized can't say to himself "I am a good person and I will surely go to heaven". Such a person is relying on his works or he may think he has done nothing to deserve hell.
Applying God's laws without faith is a stumbling stone. Rom (9:31)
If a man stumbles over the stone during life, God will lay a stumbling block and the man shall die at the hands of his accusers. Such a man can be described as a sheep before the wolf with no shepherd to protect it.
What is Zion? Zion is the city in which King David built. Mount Zion is built on Moriah Ridge. The city of Jerusalem is the city growing beyond the city of Zion.
Kidron Valley
Jerusalem
Temple
1 Pet 2:6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and he who believes in Him (Jesus) will not be put to shame.
2:7 To you therefore who believe, he is precious, but for those who do not believe, “The very stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone,”
2:8 and “A stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall”; for they stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
Rom 9:33 as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall;
and he who believes in Him (Jesus) will not be put to shame.”
City of David
(Zion)
What does Zion represent? In the same way that King David built the city of Zion, Jesus was the perfect example for His Mother Mary to imitate. Thus it can be shown through Scripture that Zion represents the Mother of Jesus. Both Peter and Paul write how the stumbling stone is laid in Zion. What does this mean? Since most men stumble over this stone and thus cause their damnation, Jesus by His living example make this stone the strength of His Mother's actions. Her actions were full of virtue. This stone is the faith She has in Her Son's love and Her obedience to God's Words.
The Stumbling Stone is laid in Zion.
The Stumbling Stone is the Corner Stone.
Applying the law without faith is a stumbling stone. Paul is the Apostle who preaches this warning.
Not believing in the Word of God by disobeying the law is a stumbling stone. Peter is the Apostle who preaches this warning.
It's not known what Peter and Paul looked like, but this is an icon created to represent them.
Email
mercermark@att.net
