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Study 03 of 10

Sermons in Stone

Scripture's recurring picture of the 'living Stone' — from Israel's history to the tables of the law — shows that Christ is both the law's fulfillment and the believer's living foundation.

Hands-free narration of this study — good for the car.

Synopsis

Prescott traces the theme of 'the Stone of Israel' through Scripture: the stone under Moses' arms at Rephidim, David's five smooth stones against Goliath, the pre-hewn stones of Solomon's temple, and finally believers themselves as 'living stones' built on Christ, the chief cornerstone. He shows that God twice wrote His law in stone—once on the tables given to Moses, and again on the 'Living Stone,' Christ Himself, who is 'the Word made flesh.' The law on dead stone, met apart from Christ, can only condemn and kill; the same law met in the Living Stone gives life. Everyone must fall on this Stone and be broken in repentance, or the Stone will fall on them in judgment. Even the Old Testament penalty of stoning secretly preached the gospel, teaching that the law without Christ brings death. Prescott pictures Solomon's temple, stone outside but pure gold within, to show that the law still stands as the unseen structural wall of the Christian life while the gospel shines with pure gold inside it—the law is never removed, only glorified by the presence of Christ within it.

Key points

  • Scripture repeatedly pictures Christ as 'the Stone of Israel,' our strength and foundation in every battle and building.
  • God wrote His law twice: on tables of stone at Sinai, and on the Living Stone, Christ, who is 'the Word made flesh.'
  • The same law kills when met outside Christ but gives life when met in Him; we must fall on the Stone, or it will fall on us.
  • The law is the unseen stone wall of the Christian life; remove it and the gospel's 'pure gold' interior collapses with it.

Key texts

  • 1 Peter 2:4-8
  • Matthew 21:44
  • 1 Kings 6:7

From the book

Sermon 2 · The Law and the Gospel · Read this chapter

  • “To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God and precious, ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house.” (sermon 2)
  • “We must either meet the law upon the tables of stone, and be condemned and put to death by it, or we must meet it upon the Living Stone, and be made alive by it.” (sermon 2)
  • “Takes away the law, and the gospel comes with it. You cannot keep the pure gold of the gospel apart from the law.” (sermon 2)

Put it into practice

  • Identify one 'rough edge' God may be cutting away in my life right now as He shapes me into a living stone.
  • Consider whether I have met God's law only as cold stone, or have received it as it is written on the Living Stone, Christ.
  • Resist any teaching that separates gospel grace from God's law, remembering the temple's gold interior still rests on stone walls.
  1. Comprehension

    1. What does 1 Peter 2:4-8 call believers, and on what foundation are they built?

  2. Scripture

    2. In what two places did God write His law, according to Prescott?

  3. Doctrinal Clarity

    3. Why does the same law bring death in one setting and life in another?

  4. Contrast

    4. What lesson does the Old Testament penalty of stoning for breaking the law secretly teach?

  5. Scripture

    5. What did the sculptor illustration teach about God's work in shaping believers?

  6. Doctrinal Clarity

    6. Why does Prescott say we cannot separate the law from the gospel, using the temple illustration?

  7. Comprehension

    7. What two possible responses does Matthew 21:44 present regarding the Stone?

  8. Application

    8. In what area of your life do you need to 'fall on the Stone' today rather than resist His shaping?