Scripture abounds with reasons as to why the people of the earth should “come to Christ.” As Christians, these reasons are relatively foundational. Therefore, there is great necessity to refresh oneself in the very foundation that his faith is laid upon. If the foundation is bad, so will the building be as well.
The enemy will at times seek to dislodge Christians by disrupting their footing. If he can get their feet off the Word of God, then he can make them stumble. When a heavy rain falls along the slope of a cliff, it is not the rain falling on the tops of the trees that brings about danger. As the rain soaks through the ground, overtime, it creates moistened soil. The soil can become compromised, and when this happens, shifts in the sand of the dirt can start to take place. Along with this, heavy winds can accompany severe rain falls.
Typically, wind might blow on a tree, but the tree would stand firm because its roots (its foundation) is strong. But when the winds blow on a tree that is in danger due to compromised soil, then the tree may topple. This same phenomenon is true in Christianity. When someone’s foundation is strong, then he will be able to withstand the storm. However, if someone’s footing is disrupted, then he will soon fall. This is what took place in the Garden, and it is what takes place today.
But what has God told His children? God has told His children that they must come to Christ. Foundational principles are revealed as one seeks to answer, “How must I come to Christ?”, and, “Why must I come to Christ?” The following list is not exhaustive. It comes from only two verses of Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4-5. Nevertheless, this list will aid in strengthening the ground upon which the Christian stands.
First Peter 2:4-5 can be broken down into two categories. First, Peter answers the question in verse 4, “How must I come to Christ?” In this portion, one can see the following:
• Come to Christ as a living stone
• Come to Christ as a chosen saint
• Come to Christ as a precious child
Then Peter answers the question, “Why must I come to Christ?” In this portion, one can see the following:
• Come to Christ to be like Him
• Come to Christ to serve Him
• Come to Christ to worship Him
Come to Christ as a rejected stone
Peter starts this portion of Scripture by telling the people of the way that Jesus Christ is a living stone. He quickly ties this reality to the fact that Christians are to come to God with the expectation of being living stones as well. As Peter develops this, he makes a straight path toward the fact that Jesus was rejected.
This is foundational for the Christian. It is not a matter of insignificance. The Christian must embrace Christ with the knowledge that this means all his other allegiances are now second place. Jesus stresses this one point in His Gospel. He tells of the way that people are to hate their family members and to leave them behind.
This language is striking. But what is Jesus implying? It is important to note how Scripture interprets Scripture here. Jesus also said at other points that people are to love their neighbor. So we know that when Jesus says to “hate” their family members, He is using hyperbolic, or exaggerated, language to make a point. He is speaking in extremes so that the people will catch the seriousness of what He is saying. Jesus desires His disciples to love Him in such a great regard that all other earthly relationships do not even come close.
Scripture says that Jesus was “…disallowed indeed of men…” (1 Pet. 2:4). The Christian must embrace this as he comes to Christ. Jesus was disallowed by men; He was rejected. So the Christian will find that the more he becomes like Christ, the more the world will reject him.
Come to Christ as a chosen stone
Being rejected can be hard. It hurts. This is especially true when someone is rejected by those who were the closest to him. If Peter simply left it at, “Get ready to be rejected,” his teaching would have been incomplete. But Peter did not leave his readers with such a discouraging statement.
Scripture says that when someone comes to Christ, yes, he may be rejected, but he is now “…chosen of God…” (1 Pet. 2:4). What an amazing relationship this entails. And what a mysterious one as well! At the beginning of verse 4, Peter says, “To whom coming…,” meaning that the Christian comes to Christ. This signifies movement toward, not away from. On the other end, later in verse 4, Peter says that the believer is chosen by God.
These twin truths reside throughout all of Scripture but will remain a mystery of sorts throughout one’s earthly life. Nevertheless, even though the Christian may be rejected by others, he is chosen of God. This must be a foundational truth.
Come to Christ as a precious stone
Peter gives the reader one more way in which he must come to Christ. The foundation that Peter builds reveals that, in God’s sight, the rejected stone is also the precious stone. This is important. The Christian is not merely rejected, but he is chosen of God. He is not merely chosen, but he is precious.
Verse 4 gives a great glimpse of the way that when the world hates the Christian, that same Christian can know that he is loved by God and precious in God’s sight. This is yet another foundational principle in one’s walk with Christ.
Come to Christ to be like Him
The next series of points that Peter makes answers the question, “Why must I come to Christ?” Scripture says, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up, as a spiritual house…” (1 Pet 2:5). When God calls people to Himself, He does so with the intent of building them up. Even Christ, when He called His disciples, told them to follow Him for a reason. Jesus told them of His desire to make them into something. What was it? It was fishers of men.
In the same way, when the Christian comes to Christ, he comes to be built up by God. The primary focus of this building ministry is to be made like Christ.
Come to Christ to serve Him
To be made like Jesus is the aim of God, and this must be a foundational truth throughout the entirety of the life of the Christian. But there is yet another foundational principle that the enemy will seek to dislodge the Christian from. Scripture says, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood…” (1 Pet. 2:5). Here, a direct purpose of the building-up ministry of God is told.
In the Old Testament, the priests were known for primarily two things. One, they could enter into the presence of God. Two, they were in charge of ministering to the people. This is foundational for the people of God. God’s children have the special privilege of being able to enter into God’s presence and proclaiming His Word.
Come to Christ to worship Him
Finally, the last point that Peter makes is this: “to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5). The people of God are called to be worshippers of God. This is absolutely foundational. They are not called to God as chosen and precious ones to then go about their day doing everything other than worshipping the Lord.
First and foremost, the child of God must be a worshipper of God. This is more than simply singing a song from time to time. All of one’s life is to be lived for the glory of God and in submission to His revealed will. This is the true heart of worship, as God says of David in the book of Acts: “…I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will” (Acts 13:22).
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the ways that You continue to help me see the truth of Your Word. Help me to remain on the sure foundation that You have presented to me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.