Christ The Builder

"This is the gate of The Lord; the righteous shall enter through it [see Salvation Unto All That Obey Him]. I thank thee that thou hast answered me and hast become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner. This is The Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes." (Psalm 118:20-23 RSV)

"And he will become a Sanctuary, and a stone of offense, and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem." (Isaiah 8:14 RSV)

"Like living stones be yourselves built into a Spiritual House"

Jesus Christ is the good shepherd of His people (i.e. John 10:11), but moreover He is the builder of a spiritual home for His people (perhaps the primary reason that Jesus was a carpenter, not a shepherd). The apostle Peter (see Peter's Ministry) recognized Christ as the builder of a "spiritual house" for His Church. Note that Peter quotes the Scriptures Isaiah 28:16, Psalm 118:20-23 and Isaiah 8:14 (as above) to prove that Christ was not starting a new religion, but rather fulfilling the foundation of all that was written about, and done through, Him.

"Come to Him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God's sight chosen and precious; 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.

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." 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 head of the corner," 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.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light [see The Light Of Life]. Once you were no people but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy." (1 Peter 2:4-10 RSV)

Christ was in fact a "carpenter" (the original word of the Scriptures actually means "builder") right from the moment of Creation i.e. "all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made" (John 1:3 RSV)

"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements - surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 38:4-7 RSV)

The analogy of Christ being the "cornerstone" is a fitting (pun intended) portrayal of how He will join all sides together in Him, through the Holy Spirit.

"And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in Whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in The Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:17-22 RSV)

Fact Finder: Where is Christ building a home for His people?
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