THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY
Isaiah 28:16 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for sure a foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.”
The cornerstone was very important in the building of something. It was this stone that determined if the building was to be square and straight up and down. If the stone was not perfectly cut at 90 degrees, then the rest of the building no matter how the other stones were cut the building would not be right. If the stone was not made out of something strong it would weaken the foundation and the building would collapse. It could not have flaws in it, or that would compromise the integrity of the entire building.
Jesus is the cornerstone, but he is also the capstone as we see in I Peter 2:7. The capstone is the stone that is at the very top of an arch. It is crucial in that it puts downward and outward pressure on the other stones in the arch to hold them up and together. Without a perfect capstone it would not be safe for a person to go through the archway. Because Jesus is perfect in that he is God, and because his atonement is also perfect all who trust in him can go to be with God in heaven. Jesus even pointed out this fact in that no one can come to the Heavenly Father but through him. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. (Jn 14:6)
In Matthew 16:13-18 Jesus asked Peter who do the people say that he was, and Peter replied that he believed Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the living God. Then Jesus told him that his Father in heaven had told him that, and this would be the rock that Jesus would build his church on. Then Jesus added that even the gates of hell could not overcome it. The catholic and even some protestants believe that Jesus was saying that he was going to build his church on the shoulders of Peter, because the name Peter means rock. If Peter or any other person is the cornerstone and capstone for the church, then the church is in big trouble because every person with the exception of Jesus has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Rom 3:23) This is why the catholic religion puts so much emphasis on Peter and the popes as Peter was considered their first pope.
I believe this is a major reason why the catholic church over the years has gone astray in doctrine and Christ-likeness. Anytime we look to anyone or anything before Jesus, we will find ourselves going against God’s will. Jesus is God’s only begotten Son and certainly Peter nor any other pastor or religious leader! Only Jesus and him alone has made the church possible. Humanity could not even redeem themselves let alone the entire mass of humanity.
I believe that it is obvious that the rock that Jesus was referring to was Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ or Messiah and the Son of the Living God. More than anything it is this that separates Christianity from all other religions, certainly Judaism and Islam. It was this that caused the Sanhedrin to have Jesus crucified. If Jesus was just an ordinary man born from a man and woman then he would have had the sinful carnal nature and needed a savior for himself. If Jesus would not have been God, his infinite righteousness and holiness could not have atoned for all of humanity. For Jesus to fulfill God’s promise to Abraham and bless the world as he did, Jesus had to be God’s only begotten Son. And because of this the church being built on Jesus, and what he did is perfect in God’s sight. And because Jesus is God he is more than able to hold the church together perfectly as the capstone. What we have committed to him in our forgiveness, reconciliation and eternal life in heaven, Jesus is more than able to bring it about for us. And not only can’t Satan, the powers of darkness and the evil of this world not keep him from doing it, but they no longer have power and authority over the church. (Matt 16:18) To prove this true we see in I Peter 4:6 where it tells us how Jesus after rising from the dead, went to the abode of the dead to set people free. In doing this they could live according to the spirit even though they had died a physical death. Satan and the powers of darkness could not keep them or anyone else that wanted to trust in Jesus and his atonement in hell.
Jesus has conquered even death itself. As it says in I Cor 15:55-57, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Remember when Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”
Do you believe this? If you believe this and have asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins and to come into your heart you are not only a Christian, but part of his house he is building. I Peter 2:4-8a tells us, “As you come to him, the living stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him - you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, ‘The stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.’”
The capstone is the deity of Jesus and many like the Jews and Muslims will not accept this, and because of this they will not find forgiveness and reconciliation with God. The rock that makes people fall is salvation by grace. All religions practice some sort of works righteousness except Christianity. Sad to say even some pastors and their congregations think that while Jesus atoned for their sins, they must also live up to the law if they are to make it to heaven and be accepted by God. Ephesians 2:8,9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.” God wants us to live a holy life, but our forgiveness and eternal life comes only through Jesus and his atonement provided on Calvary’s cross.
Are you struggling with the assurance of your salvation? If you were to die this very moment can you confidently say you would go to heaven? If not maybe you are stumbling over a stone or a rock? You must believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that you are forgiven because of what Jesus did for you and you receive it by grace and not by anything you can do! There is no other way for forgiveness and to be able to go to heaven. Unless you start with this you will never be born again and as lost as all the other religions in the world that are trying to do it their way. Their way and your way will not work. Only God’s way will work. What will you chose? Will you choose life or death? Choose life! Choose Jesus and have faith in his grace.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that you have provided all that we need to not only have forgiveness, but eternal life with you. You are a wonderful God and Savior! We love you Jesus!
