The Chief of the Corner

Firstly who is the chief of the corner?

Eph 2:19,20.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

God uses men to build his church. They can be foundation stones, even corner stones but the Bible tells us that there is one Chief Cornerstone.

The Bible tells us the Chief Corner Stone is Jesus Christ.

What is the significnce of a corner stone?.

The New Studio Architecture says:-

In relation to architecture, a cornerstone is traditionally the first stone laid for a structure, with all other stones laid in reference. A cornerstone marks the geographical location by orienting a building in a specific direction. https://www.newstudioarchitecture.com/newstudio-blog/architectural- cornerstones#:~:text=In%20relation%20to%20architecture%2C%20a,in%20some%20shape%20or %20form..

The Britannica says:-

Until the development of modern construction, the stone was usually at a corner, possibly as the first of the foundation stones, and it was a real support ... Buildings were laid out with astronomical precision in relation to points of the compass, with emphasis on corners. Cornerstones symbolized “seeds” from which buildings would germinate and rise. https://www.britannica.com/technology/cornerstone.

Many times when we look at Jesus Christ as the Chief Corner Stone we limit him to the Jewish nation and also to the protestant church, but consider this, Jesus is not just the Chief Corner Stone for the Church, he is the Chief Corner Stone of the universe.

We no longer use corner stones in construction now, but when the term was used in the Bible corner stones were critical to the strength and stability of a structure.

The corner stone was the first stone that was laid and every other stone was laid in reference to it. It determined the position and direction of the building. If the cornerstone was placed badly, the building was compromised. If the cornerstone was not strong enough to support the weight, the building was compromised.

Note that buildings may have more than one corner thus many corner stones, but there is only one Chief Corner Stone and from the chief all others are laid.

Jesus is the chief corner stone of the universe, he was first, and everything else came after. Every Stone that was laid, was laid in reference to him.

Col 1:15.
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

If we see Jesus as the Corner Stone of the Church alone we will miss out on the big picture.

Quote - Lt 126, 1898, par.3

There is a serious, solemn work to be done at this time. In all places the standard is to be lifted. God has “made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to the good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself; that in the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.

The Chief Cornerstone as we have seen is the standard by which all stones must be laid. Jesus is the standard for all.

Quote - 2SM 106.2

The message proclaimed by the angel flying in the midst of heaven is the everlasting gospel, the same gospel that was declared in Eden when God said to the serpent, “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15).

Here was the first promise of a Saviour who would stand on the field of battle to contest the power of Satan and prevail against him. Christ came to our world to represent the character of God as it is represented in His holy law; for His law is a transcript of His character. Christ was both the law and the gospel. The angel that proclaims the everlasting gospel proclaims the law of God; for the gospel of salvation brings men to obedience of the law, whereby their characters are formed after the divine similitude..

Quote - COL 128.2.

Many who claim to believe and to teach the gospel are in a similar error. They set aside the Old Testament Scriptures, of which Christ declared, “They are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39. In rejecting the Old, they virtually reject the New; for both are parts of an inseparable whole. No man can rightly present the law of God without the gospel, or the gospel without the law. The law is the gospel embodied, and the gospel is the law unfolded. The law is the root, the gospel is the fragrant blossom and fruit which it bears.

Which law are we talking about? The two laws of Matthew 22:36-40

Mat 22:36-40.
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Or was he talking about the 10 commandments. Well, the ten is an expansion of the two. How do we know this?

Rom 13:9
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Note- So the ten commandments is an expansion of the two. The more we become like God in character the ten will become two. So it is one Law, really. The law is the gospel embodied, the gospel is the law unfolded. Hidden in the law of God is the gospel, and revealed in the gospel is the law of God.

How is this possible?

Mat 22:37.
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the foundation of the gospel, it was love for God, his father that the son covenanted to die for man. Jesus himself expressed this.

John 8:27-29.
27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Mat 26:39.
39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Jesus did the will of his Father. It was his express joy to live in total obedience to the will of his Father without this there would be no Gospel.

Mat 22:39.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Hear is what the Bible says about the greatest love for another person, your neighbor.

John 15:13.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

If you love your neighbor as yourself, you will stop at nothing to secure their well being. Sacrificing yourself to save those you love will become your duty. Now, check this out.

Rom 5:6.
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Christ went above and beyond.

To love you neighbor as yourself brethren you have to be willing to die to save your neighbor. Just as you will stop at nothing to preserve your life, so you will stop at nothing to preserve your neighbor’s life. There are circumstances where it will be impossible to save your neighbor and save yourself. And Christ fell into such a circumstance.

Hidden in the law was always the Gospel, but it was not revealed fully until Christ came. Thy law is within My heart.” Psalm 40:8. “I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.” John 6:38. Love for God, zeal for His glory, and love for fallen humanity, brought Jesus to earth to suffer and to die. This was the controlling power of His life. This principle He bids us adopt. DA 329.3

As God reveals through his servant, the Law is the Gospel embodied, the Gospel is the Law unfolded.

This is more evidence why God’s law could not be changed or disregarded. In the very law of God is the gospel of Christ.

If men could destroy God’s law their salvation would be destroyed as well and all would be lost. Men boast that the law was nailed to the cross whilst believing themselves to be beneficiaries of the Gospel, a deadly deception with eternal consequences.

As long as God’s Law stood unchanged and binding the Gospel of Christ was guaranteed. Therefore the Cornerstone could one day stand in defence of man. Embedded in the Law of heaven was the ransom for any one of God’s sheep that should go astray. Embedded in the same Law that satan wished to abolish was his saving grace. While the obedience to God's law was the fence that kept God’s servants from going off the side of the cliff, the gospel was the ambulance at the bottom of the valley.

Where was this Law written before sin?

Quote - PP Ch.32 par.1

Adam and Eve, at their creation, had a knowledge of the law of God; they were acquainted with its claims upon them; its precepts were written upon their hearts.

Quote - PP Ch.1 pg 34.

The law of love being the foundation of the government of God, the happiness of all intelligent beings depends upon their perfect accord with its great principles of righteousness. God desires from all His creatures the service of love—service that springs from an appreciation of His character. He takes no pleasure in a forced obedience; and to all He grants freedom of will, that they may render Him voluntary service.

Christ is both the law and the gospel, God dwelt in the hearts of all his created beings. Christ was enshrined in the hearts of all his creatures and thus they are connected to him by the great principle that governs all of heaven — Love. The Law of God in the hearts of his faithful servants reveals that God is dwelling in them. It is only in a heart filled with the Love of God that the Law of God will find a place and the gospel transform the life.

Thus Christ as the Chief Cornerstone was the standard for all. Every created being was placed in the universe in their prepared place in relation to their maker. None came before their time and was out of place, each in their prepared position to carry out their glorious function in honour to God and his Son.

Col 1:27.
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

In due time one of God’s servants, who occupied the highest position of any created being in heaven decided to rebel. God made him a cornerstone in his Government subordinate only to the Chief Cornerstone, but this was not enough he wanted to be Chief and thus the terrible rebellion began. When God was dispelled from the heart, self took its place and thus sin was born. How could this happen in a Holy Happy place is a mystery.

Satan insinuated that God’s law could not be kept by man and that it was a burden to heavenly beings.

When Adam sinned, it broke the heart of his creator. He Adam handed over his domain to the Arch deceiver. Satan exulted himself as the ruler of earth.

Job 1:7.
7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

Earth was now in a lost position. Who could stand as earths champion, who could win back fallen humanity from the jaws of death. Someone must stand to fight a most formidable foe. But who ?

Gen 3:15
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

The Chief Corner Stone. The gospel hidden for ages was now revealed, the Chief of the Corner was manifested, that men might have life. A ransom for the human race now walked the face of the earth. His Job, to re-align all of humanity back to himself and connect earth back to the rest of the universe. To rebuild what was broken down. The Chief of the Corner came himself. This job could be entrusted to no other. The mortar that glued us to himself only he could administer, only he could oversee the reconstruction and only he could render the work complete.

Isa 53:1-12
1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Without the Chief of the Corner no sinner can join the family of God and yet he was rejected.

Psa 118:22.
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

Because the builders rejected the Chief of the corner, it did not make him any less the Chief of the Corner for that is what he always was and will be. Christ did not die for humanity alone but for every created being. Thus he truly is the Chief of the corner for the entire universe.

Quote - Truth About Angels

The significance of the death of Christ will be seen by saints and angels. Fallen men could not have a home in the paradise of God without the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.... The angels ascribe honor and glory to Christ, for even they are not secure except by looking to the sufferings of the Son of God. It is through the efficacy of the cross that the angels of heaven are guarded from apostasy.

Without the cross they would be no more secure against evil than were the angels before the fall of Satan. Angelic perfection failed in heaven. Human perfection failed in Eden.... The plan of salvation, making manifest the justice and love of God, provides an eternal safeguard against defection in unfallen worlds.... The death of Christ on the cross of Calvary is our only hope in this world, and it will be our theme in the world to come. TA 205.3.

The Chief of the Corner, the creator of all, the standard of all is the only one that can transform a life destroyed by sin.

2Co 5:17.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

1Pe 2:5-10.
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

The Chief of the Corner must do the rehabilitation work that is needed now on earth before he will once more restore us to our rightful place in the universe.

Because Christ the Chief of the Corner is both the Law and the gospel in him we will find both justice and mercy. And the Law of love will be finally restored in the hearts of lost humanity. Every stone in Gods house must posses the characteristics of the Chief Cornerstone.

The Chief of the Corner has done something far more fabulous that before. He has recreated every created being in a new way. He has transformed the heart of the fallen and the unfallen by a love that has never been understood as plainly as it now is, than before. We have been physically and spiritually altered for eternity because of the Chief of the Corner.

The Law of Love and the Gospel of Christ will bind every stone to the great Chief of the Corner and none will ever choose to rend themselves from such a connection.

John 12:32
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

This is why the life of Christ is what we need to live by.

Gal 2:20.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

The Kingdom of God was scarred and until earth is restored it will remain as such. God’s Kingdom must be rebuilt with all his created beings, earth included and so The Chief of the Corner had a work to do to bring all in harmony back with the will of His Father.
2Pe 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Eph 2:19.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Praise God for his loving kindness towards us. Will we rebel against such love and mercy.

Do not resist the wooing of the Chief of the Corner. Give your hearts to him today. Let him rebuild that which has been broken down in your life. He can do it. He will do it!