Jesus the Great Stone

In Daniel 2:31-35 Christ is pictured as the great stone (Isa. 28:16). This symbol came through a dream interpreted by the prophet Daniel. His interpretation is confirmed throughout the New Testament. Jesus is described as the chief cornerstone for his church, and a stone of stumbling for those who reject him as the Messiah and Lord (Acts 4:11; Ro. 9:33; Eph. 2:20). He is the great stone, because his kingdom includes people out of all nations (Rev. 5:9).

Jesus is a stone "cut out without hands" (Dan. 2:34). It was a common practice in those days to cut stones for building construction. However, to be cut out without hands refers to God's work and not man. Jesus came into this world, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself.

Jesus is the stone that struck the image, representing the kingdoms of this world, and broke it into pieces. He crushed the image and it "became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so no trace of them was found" (Dan. 2:35). This is a prophecy fulfilled in the second coming and the battle of Armageddon.

Jesus is the stone that "became a great mountain and filled the whole earth" (Daniel 2:35). That's when the kingdoms of this world are destroyed. Then, the kingdom of our God and Christ will reign over all the earth. And of his kingdom there shall be no end. So, his kingdom "filled the whole earth."

Can We See God?

Jesus said, "God is Spirit ..." (John 4:24). That means we cannot see God with our eyes, because he is invisible to us. However, we can see God and walk with him by faith. 

Moses was an example of faith that sees God who is invisible. "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing him who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:27). He fulfilled his destiny, because of faith that endured, seeing him who is invisible. 

Seeing the invisible God is like seeing the wind move. We see what the wind is doing and where it is moving. So faith is able to see what God is doing and where he is moving. Faith sees "that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men" (Daniel 4:17). Faith sees the Most High God ruling and reigning in life. Faith enables us to see what God is doing in our lives.

Faith sees not by natural vision through our eyes, but with understanding from the word of God (Romans 10:17). We walk with God daily by faith. We remember that faith is "the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). We are walking by faith, "as seeing him who is invisible."

Those who have faith in God see him ruling over all. "For of him and through him and to him are all things, to whom be glory forever" (Romans 11:36). Faith sees God according to the truth of the word of God. Believers see God at work in all things to his glory forever.

Do You Confess Sin?

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"(1 John 1:9). Believe the promise. God will forgive and cleanse you. God wants to forgive you. That's the reason Jesus died for all your sins. Thank God that you are cleansed through Jesus Christ. 

Why do some people refuse to confess their sin to God and receive cleansing through Christ? There are at least two reasons. First, they don't know the good news in Christ. Secondly, they don't really believe the good news. The believer's confession of sin brings immediate cleansing through Christ. You can have a clean conscience today.

God cleanses your conscience. It tells us when we have done wrong. God made us that way not to make us feel guilty all the time. Conscience calls us to confession. God wants to forgive you and cleanse your conscience. Confession of sin is simply agreeing with God that we have done wrong. God wants us to have a clean conscience. 

Christ died for all of your sins. When we confess sin to God, we are forgiven and cleansed. The Bible teaches that God cleanses us upon confession of our sin. We are made clean before God through Jesus Christ. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin"(1 John 1:7). 

Are You Redeemed?

"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs upon a tree'), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Galatians 3:13-14).

Redeemed means to pay a price to set someone free. That's what Christ did at the cross for every believer. He paid the price to set us free from the curse of sin and death. If you are redeemed from the curse of sin, you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:30-31). You are redeemed to be free from the curse.

Jesus died "that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles." Jesus fulfilled the covenant God made with Abraham to be a blessing to all nations (Genesis 12:1-3). God blessed Abraham in all things (Genesis 24:1). You are blessed in all things through faith in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). You are redeemed and blessed in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Those who reject the gospel of Christ are under the curse because of sin. The word "cursed" means "cut off and marked for destruction." The words blessed and cursed are covenant terms. According to the covenant of law, sin brings the curse (James 2:10). According to the covenant of grace, the redeemed are blessed in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). In Christ, you are blessed to be redeemed from the curse of sin.

Did God Work in You?

The Protestant Reformer, Martin Luther said, "When God works in us, the will being changed and sweetly breathed upon by the Spirit of God, desires and acts, not from compulsion, but responsively."

For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). In your sinful nature, you were not willing to trust Christ (Romans 3:9-11). Your will was corrupted by sin. Upon hearing the gospel of Christ, God works in you, "not from compulsion, but responsively" (Ephesians 1:13). 

God never does violence to your will (Hebrews 3:15). He does not coerce nor force you against your will. As Luther said, "the will being changed and sweetly breathed upon by the Spirit of God, desires and acts." You were willing to come to Christ by faith.

God changed your hearts through the gospel of Christ. The word heart is often used in the Bible to describe your inward person, which is your mind, will, and emotions. To be born of the Spirit means you were transformed in mind, will, and emotions.

The Holy Spirit convicted you of unbelief (John 16:7-11). He never forced you to believe in Christ, but enabled you to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. That's how the goodness of God works in you. The goodness of God leads you to repentance (Romans 2:4).

Is God's Grace for You?

Grace is the gift of God, and not of your works (Ephesians 2:8-9). God's grace is given to you through faith in Christ. Grace saves you to the glory of God in Christ. Grace is unmerited favor given to you as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace is God's gift in Christ for you through the everlasting covenant (Hebrews 13:20-21). The Lord Jesus Christ changes your heart, that is your mind, will and emotions. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:10). Christ makes you a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

Grace is God's gift working in you. God is "working in you what is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ" (Hebrews 13:21). The Spirit of grace works in you to do God's will. The apostle Paul testified, "I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Grace is God's gift you receive by faith that endures, abides, and perseveres. Your faith is tried and tested. It is found to be true, because the source is true. You are "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). Grace enables you to testify,"I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me"(Galatians 2:20).

Is Salvation God's Work?

Charles H. Spurgeon wrote, "Salvation is the work of God. It is he alone who quickens the soul dead in trespasses and sins, and it is he also who maintains the soul in its spiritual life. He is both Alpha and Omega. Salvation is of the Lord." 

Spurgeon understood that salvation is God's work from the beginning (Alpha) unto the end (Omega) (Revelation 1:8). Alpha is the first letter in the Greek alphabet and omega is the last letter. From beginning to the end, salvation is God's work in Christ (Ephesians 2:10).

In our sinful state, we are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1). Our sins have separated us from God. Our inability to come to God is our unbelief and hardness of heart. But, God who is rich in mercy, comes to us as sinners with the goodness of grace, leading us to repentance (Romans 2:4; Ephesians 2:4-5).

God's Spirit draws us through the gospel of Christ. The Spirit of grace enables us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:30-31; 1 Thessalonians 1:5). Salvation is God's work in Christ, as the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 22:13).

Salvation is God's work from beginning to completion in the true believer. He began the good work in us. Likewise, he continues to work in us (Philippians 1:6; 2:13). What God begins in us, God completes in us. Salvation is God's work in us from the beginning unto completion.