Coming to Him as a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,
You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
1. The Lord Jesus Christ
a) He is at the Living Stone
i) Rejected by men
ii) Chosen by God and precious
b) He is well-described
i) Chief cornerstone
ii) Elect
iii) Precious
c) There must be faith in Him
2. True Believers
a) Living stones
b) Built up a spiritual house
c) A holy priesthood
i) To offer up spiritual sacrifices
ii) Acceptable to God
iii) Through the Lord Jesus Christ
d) A chosen generation
e) A royal priesthood
f) A holy nation
g) His own special people
h) Once not a people, but now the people of God
i) Who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy
3. Appropriate Response
a) To proclaim the praises of God
b) Who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light
Ephesians 2:19-22
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
In whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
In whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.