“Living, Growing Rocks” – 1 PETER 2:3-9

Simon the fisherman is better-known to us as “Peter”, a name given by Jesus meaning a “pebble”. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said He would build His church (a side note here … Jesus did not say “churches”) upon the “rock” of the confession that Jesus is the Son of the Living God – the Messiah. The word Jesus used there means “bedrock” (also found in 1 Peter 2:8 as the “rock of offense”). The church that belongs to Jesus is built upon the divine reality that Jesus is the only-begotten of God.

It is NOT built upon Peter.

Now Peter tells Christians that we are “living stones” that come together to build the church, God’s spiritual house. This word signifies “rock” that is larger than a pebble (“Peter”), but smaller than bedrock (“the confession of Christ”); often used of hewn stones (found in 2:5, 2:6, 2:7, and 2:8a) cut out of bedrock – like granite blocks. In confessing the Messiah – and all that entails beyond a mere utterance of words – we are stones cut out of the bedrock upon which the church that belongs to Jesus is built.

Notice that these stones cut out of the bedrock – you and me and Peter – are “living” stones.

The wise response to grace in Christ Jesus is living, devoted discipleship.

Christians are saved not by our bloodline of birth, but by our blood-bought re-birth (2:9) out of darkness and into His light. Grace does not say, “Have a seat”; grace shouts, “Keep on coming to Me” (2:3-4) and I will transform you. Even so, the gospel of light causes many to stumble (2:7-8) in many ways. Some reject Jesus outright, and faith is never born. Others accept Jesus by faith, but never obey Him and submit to His Lordship and their faith is stillborn. Still others are re-born by faith unto salvation and drift away, their faith dying a tragically untimely death. Salvation (unto new life, through this life and into eternal life) is a function of living faith that draws us to a life of coming to Jesus in the light of His grace.

Simply put, the child of God in Christ – living stones being built up as a spiritual house – must grow in faith and mature in the church.

So then, how are we – the Lord’s church – “living stones” that are built up a spiritual house?

If you have ever gone to a cavern or large cave you have, no doubt, seen a wonder of nature we call stalactites and stalagmites. Over time water seeps through limestone rock and drips into these caverns, carrying minerals with each drip. These minerals form on the ceiling (reaching down) and on the floor (reaching up). These formations are “living” in that they are constantly growing. At some point they will meet and form a “column”, but the growth continues as long as the water flows. Each formation is unique, but identifiable.

Even though I do not think Peter had stalactites and stalagmites in mind when he wrote this, it helps to envision his point. The church is filled with growing rock formations that are steadily growing together day-by-day. With “living water” nourishing the stones with mineral life from the bedrock, we grow and the whole house grows.

We are unique … “special people” (2:9) … but identifiable as children of God in Christ as we are being transformed into the likeness of Christ. Each drip carries part of the bedrock and uses it to grow the rock formation. As we “continue coming to Him” the grace keeps flowing. Living rocks bringing spiritual sacrifices build up the church, and we keep growing.

So church … Rock on!