Christ the Rock

Acts 4:11 “This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.”

Often when we think of Christ as a rock we think of him being our cornerstone. That foundation which the church is built upon and will rest on forever. The foundation which when taken away leaves the rest of the building to crumble and deteriorate, to be blown away as dust and forgotten. This is true of course and must never be forgotten, but we must also remember Christ as a rock of offense and a stumbling block to many. Isaiah 8:14 reads: “and he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”

It is God’s justice that determines whether Christ is a stumbling block or a cornerstone to us. We, who have been elected before the world began, have the privilege to have Christ the cornerstone. Scripture is clear that God has chosen others to be in a relationship with Christ the stumbling block.

We are assured we are built on Christ the cornerstone. This picture is so clear even children can understand it. We think of the game of Jenga. When someone pulls out the bottom piece the whole rest of it will come undone. Christ is that bottom piece upon which everything else rests. As those assured that Christ is our rock, we do not have any right to judge others. Sometimes it seems so obvious to us that others stumble at Christ. We never have the right to judge. God alone is the judge. We are quick to find mistakes in others and accuse them, but we must first look at ourselves (Matthew 7:1-5). We must remain humble and pray for others that they might find their mistake and be led to know Christ the rock. We never truly know whether another is elect or not. Paul is the perfect example. Paul, or Saul, was the infamous persecutor of the church. Out of all the people in the world Paul would have been the first about whom people would have said, “He must stumble at Christ, there is no way Christ is his cornerstone.”

Romans 9 connects all the ideas together by speaking of Christ being laid in Zion as a stumbling stone and rock of offense. Whosoever believeth on the stone by faith shall not be ashamed, but those that seek Christ not by faith shall stumble at the stone.

What a boundless joy knowing that we have Christ as our rock. What an immense assurance to be founded on a rock. That rock which took upon Himself all our sins. The rock which was tempted like as we are yet stood firm and could not be rolled away. How blessed we are to have Christ the rock!

Luke Christian Potjer