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The Ephesians passage beautifully states the critical purpose of a cornerstone “the whole building, being fitted together“. For walls to be straight in all dimensions, height, length and width, each stone in the wall had to be fitted and tied-in to the cornerstone. When we are “baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ (1Corinthians 12:13).” We are fitted and tied-in to Jesus Himself to make the “one body of many parts (v.14)”.

The cornerstone picture of Jesus is rich in symbolic truth:

• It was the very first stone set upon the foundation. Jesus is the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18).
• It has to be perfect, so every stone tied-in to it would be perfect. o Jesus was perfect without sin; He came to do His Father’s will – submit – and He did, even to death on a cross (Philippians 2:8).
o And of course in Christ we are complete (2 Peter 1:3).
• There weren’t three or four cornerstones, only one cornerstone for one building. After all Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).”
• And of course Jesus, the cornerstone, was Isaiah’s stone of stumbling referred to by Paul in Romans 9:32-33: “…They stumbled over the “stumbling stone.” As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame (Isaiah 8:14; 28:16).”

Every stone in the structure must be dependant on the cornerstone. A stable wall had to be perfectly straight in all directions. If it was off vertically, leaning either way, the building would ultimately collapse. Each wall had to be straight in length and width, so every corner would have the correct angle, adding maximum stability to the structure. When you and I trust Jesus, we are born again and are securely fitted into His body for all eternity.

Fitting into the cornerstone is like a branch dependant upon the vine to bear fruit: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing (John 15:5).” No Jesus – no cornerstone – no worthwhile building.

In Matthew 16:16 Peter declares, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." When you and I build our lives as Christians, the Bible is teaching us that it is built upon Christ, through faith in Christ, ”the Son of the living God,” and being led by that same Christ.

You and I are in Him, saved completely and forever. All that is left on this side of eternity is how we will build on that great Foundation and Cornerstone. Will we choose to trust His wisdom and strength or our own?

“Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

To build Jesus’ church (Matthew 16:16-18) from both Jews and Gentiles, the Father and the Son laid out a ‘spiritual building plan’ beyond the scope of Great Pyramids or Empire State Building. Through the New Testament, the Holy Spirit explains how this church would be built. He begins by revealing its Foundation and Cornerstone – you and I know Him as our Savior, Jesus Christ.

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