Title: Acts 4 – The Cornerstone the Builders Rejected
By: Dan Pancake
Intro
I am going to talk today about the rejected stone, or the stone the builders rejected. That is my message today. I have a couple of questions as we get started today.
First of all, is there anything missing from your life? Or, what is missing from your life? That might be the right way to ask that. What is your life’s foundation built upon? Hopefully, you say “Christ, Jesus Christ.” Amen! That is what we want to talk about today.
Of course, Acts chapter 4, just the place to get us started here. It talks about this very thing starting at verse 10.
Acts 4:10-12
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
We must be saved. The most imperative, the most important thing in anybody’s life is that they come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
This is a wonderful scripture here in Acts chapter 4. Of course there is a story that goes with this that sometimes does not get told. It is not known very well. There is a story about the temple that was being built for Solomon’s temple that was being built. I think it was finished in 957 or somewhere along that area BC. That was a thousand years before Jesus Christ came to the earth. While they were building the temple they had instructions from God that no stone was to be cut at the temple site. All the stones had to be cut at the quarry then they had to be brought to the temple site and put in place. So, as the stones were being cut and sent up to the temple, of course they had a blueprint they were working with up there. I don’t know what that would have looked like at that early time. However, they were smart people. They could build a lot of things. They were building a temple and laying the stones. A stone was sent up to the temple site that they could not find a place for. They could not figure out what it was for or where it was to go. They set it over to the side for a while. After a while, it was setting along the edge of the hill so some people got together and rolled it down the hill, in the valley of Kidron. It laid in that valley of Kidron for a long time. They were getting near the completion of the temple and they sent down to the quarry and said, “Send up the corner stone.” The quarry sent word back. “We sent up the cornerstone a long time ago.” They began to look around and do a big search around the area and finally they went down to the brook Kidron and they found that quarry stone down there buried underneath a bunch of stuff. They dug it out with a lot of joy and a lot of fanfare. They got everybody together because this was the foundational piece of the entire temple. They put the cornerstone in last by the way. So, putting in the cornerstone in the building of the temple was a tremendous celebration. All these people came up and they put the stone in its place. That is where this story comes from.
It is first recorded in the book of Psalms, if you want to read about it. It is in Psalm 118:22 to 24.
Psalm 118:22 to 24
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
It was a great day when they put that cornerstone in. The stone fit perfectly where it was supposed to fit. It was a beautiful work of art. Solomon’s temple was not one of the seven great wonders of the world. However, I will tell you, it was one of the great wonders of the Biblical world. Solomon built that thing, as David had gathered materials together. He built it according to the Word of the Lord, the way God told him to build it. That is the way to build everything. Amen! That is the way our life ought to be built is by the Word of the Lord.
Therefore, when we think about this story of the cornerstone—and I think it is obvious who the cornerstone is in the building of life. When we think about this and we come to this passage that I read before you in the book of Acts; this comes at the end of a story that started in chapter 3 when Peter and John were going up to the house of prayer, up the temple to have prayer. They meet a fellow there that was lame. He could not walk. Do you remember that story? He was sitting at the gate of the temple begging for alms and Peter and John said, “Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have, give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” The Bible said, “He leaping up stood and went running through, shouting through the temple, messing up their wonderful, beautiful service in there. He was shouting and praising God. That got the disciples in a lot of trouble. They were called to the council and threatened to not preach anymore, in the name of Jesus. They asked by what authority had they done this. In verse 10, we read that to you. “Be it known to all of the people of Israel. We did not do this. This is not our doing. This is done by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.” Amen! Our God! Then it goes on to say, “He is the One that you builders have rejected and set aside, but there is not salvation in any other name, except for the name of Jesus Christ.” Now I turned that around and put it in the Dan Pancake version. However, I think you got the idea.
There is no way to get to heaven without coming through Jesus Christ. He truly is the chief cornerstone of all of our lives. Without Him, we have no reason to live. We are existing in life before we came to know Him. Once we came to know Him; we can say “Man, we are really living.” Any satisfied customers here? God is so good!
Jesus Christ himself, of course, is the chief cornerstone of the building. This is laid out for us in the Old Testament.
Isaiah 28:16
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
What he means by that is that when you put your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, you don’t have to run around looking for the answer all the time. I am glad we have the answers. Are you? Amen! I always like to have the answer to the question, of the test, before the test comes. Don’t you? Amen! I like that. So, we have the answer before the test. The answer is Jesus Christ. What is the test? The test is life itself. When you live your life—you know that this life is short. Joseph talked about his life. He ought to be 30 years down the road like some of us, or more down the road and realize when you look back how short life really is.
I used to have an old fellow in the church at Oak Hill, when I was up there, named brother Pete. Brother Pete was an old preacher. He said he started preaching in 1912. He was preacher when he rode a buggy to get to his meetings. He rode a buggy to get to church. He said those guys pulled tricks on him all the time. He said, sometimes I would go to church and they would put the big wheels on one side. He said, I would have to ride home like that. He said sometimes they would put the big wheels on the front. He was riding to church, preaching the gospel in 1912. Here is what he told me, at 91 years old at that time—I think it was. He said, “Brother Danny, I wish I was young enough so that we could just go preaching everywhere.” I said, “I would like that brother Peter.” He said, you are going to realize, when you get to my age that life goes by really fast.”
Let me tell you, as life goes by so fast, you had better get things straight. Would you say Amen to that? We are always in a hurry for something. Aren’t we? We are always in a hurry to do things. It seems like the things we are in a hurry to do are not really all that important. Some things are important. Some are in a hurry to get married. Patty and I were in a big rush to get married. It has been kind of a long time looking back on that now. Yet, we are still pretty happy about it. Amen! At least I am. I don’t about her. We are pretty happy about it.
Life has things we hurry into when we are young. We hurry into school. I remember how dumb I was. I couldn’t wait to get started into school. That was so dumb. Wasn’t it? Then when I got to school, I couldn’t wait to get out. That was the only thing I could think about was getting out. Then I spent 30 years teaching school. Can you imagine such a crazy thing? We hurry for a lot of things.
We ought to take a little time and think about this one. What is the foundation of your life? Is there something missing in your life that you really need badly in your life? You say, “Well, I can use more money.” Most people could probably use more money.” The truth of the matter is that we are the richest generation of people who have ever lived. We really are. Even the poor people in American society have way more than most of us had just 50 years ago. Amen! It is true. We are living a world that has a lot of stuff but they don’t really have what they need. What does the world have need of more than anything else? Jesus Christ! Amen! I hope in these last days, next days, and next few years that more and more people come to the realization that they need Jesus more than they need all this junk. Our lives are filled with all kinds of time wasters. Would you say Amen to that? We all carry around one of these phones with us. Even Patty and I when we are sitting around for dinner, instead of talking, we are looking around on this thing. The truth of the matter is that we would all be better off if we did not have these things. It is kind of handy when you really need to get a hold of somebody. Most of the time they are just a distraction. TV—when we were young, you didn’t get distracted with TV because there wasn’t anything on. You only had 3 channels, and you could only get 2 of them and one of them was the only one that you could get fairly good. There was never anything on. After Mr. Cartoon went off, there was nothing on TV. Can I hear a witness. Time wasters. Now we have hundreds of channels. Not only do we have hundreds of channels of TV, but also, we have radio stations galore. If you have Sirus Radio, you have hundreds of channels. We just have so many things that waste our time that are meaningless.
However, there is something that is really meaningful and His name is Jesus. He is the foundation of our life.
Matthew 21:42
42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
What God does, God does and people don’t even know what He is doing. God was working all these things out before the foundation of the world. Before the ray of light ever penciled its way across the black sky and lit on the surface of the earth; God was working all of these things out for His glory. Jesus said, this is marvelous. We marvel at what God does. We marvel at how He did it. Isn’t the plan of Salvation a thing to marvel at when you think about it. If man would have had anything at all to do with Salvation, we would have messed it all up. It would have been such a mess. I remember years ago reading—and I don’t want to pick on too many religions, but I don’t mind picking on the cults—the Mormons were saying they had the most perfect book that was ever written. The Book of Mormon. They said it is the most perfect book that has ever been written. Let me tell you something. It ought to be perfect. It has had over 30,000 changes in its history. We have a better book than that. We have a book called the Bible. Do you know why the Bible is not changing? It is because it is the Word of God. Amen! It is founded on the principles of the very Word of God and of the person of God Almighty and of our Lord Jesus Christ. It will never change. Now there are some people come along that likes to change things about the Word of God. However, it will never change. Amen!
Those who rejected the Lord
He says in this passage that He is the stone that the builders have rejected. So, let us think about those who have rejected the Lord.
Rich Young Ruler
Think about that rich young ruler that came to Jesus.
Mark 10:17-22
17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
Here is a guy who is religious. I am going to tell you something today. Religion is not enough to get you to heaven. Anybody who is religious and lost knows that I am telling you the truth. There are all kinds of religions in this world.
The other day Patty and I were sitting on our porch, the first cool day. I couldn’t hardly believe it. I went outside about 10 of the morning. I was sitting on the porch—I think it might have been Saturday, or Friday maybe. I’m retired; I don’t know what day it is. Anyway, I was sitting on the porch and I saw these ladies pull up in a car over here. I assumed they are Jehovah Witnesses. They came down the street. I was looking forward to it. I thought they are going to stop and talk to me. I was looking forward to it. I was getting myself all ready. They went to the house next door, then the house down that way, and the houses across the street. They didn’t go to Barnes house either. He is the pastor at First Baptist. They avoided my house. I was sitting on the porch! Waiting on the porch! I thought Oh well. Patty said, they must know who we are. I said, I guess so.
You can be religious and lost. You can be committed to a religion and be lost. You say, don’t pick on these other religions. These religions do not preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified. They do not preach Salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ. If you don’t preach that, you are lost. There are many people who built their life on a lot of different things. I guess they think about eternity but don’t give it very much thought. There are a lot of religions in this world that if you were going to live by one it would be a lot easier to by than some. You might say this way of walking with Jesus Christ is very difficult. I have to live a pretty good life. I don’t find it difficult at all because the Lord just makes everything wonderful as I go. If you find it difficult let me tell you what is more difficult than that. Living without Christ. Living a life that is lost. Knowing you are going to die and go off into eternity without Jesus Christ. There are some easy religions.
This young man came to Jesus. He was very religious. He said, what good thing can I do (he knew he was lost) to inherit eternal life?
You can never do anything to inherit eternal life. You can’t do anything to inherit it. It is already been done. The plan of God, from the foundation of the world, when the temple was being built, the temple of the world was being built. God brought the cornerstone of the world, into the world, on a silent night in the city of Bethlehem. He let Him live a sinless life and die a sacrificial death on Calvary’s cross. Then He raised from the dead to become the cornerstone of life. He is the cornerstone of life. He is the only hope of eternity. He is the only hope of every soul. Without Him, you die lost. I am not saying that proudly or arrogantly. I am saying that sincerely. You must have Jesus.
This young ruler came to Jesus. He said, “What can I do?” Jesus said, “You know the commandments.” He went through the commandments. He said all these I have done from the youth. Jesus said, “There is one thing you lack. Sell everything you have and give it to the poor. Take up your cross and follow me.” The Bible said, he went away sad because he had great possessions. I did not read that but that generally what it says. He was very sad in his heart as he walked away. He wanted Christ, but He did not want Christ more than he wanted all this other junk of this world. Now we are told—and I am going to give you this history because I have a moment here. We have a little history of this. John McArthur is one of those great guys. He is tremendous. He has gone to heaven now. Historically, he was so active in digging up the history around some of these stories and events of the Bible. He said, he thinks this young man was Mark, the guy that wrote the book of Mark. That he was very wealthy when he was young. He gave all of his wealth away eventually to come and follow Jesus. I hope he did. Because in Christ you will find a great treasure in Christ than in all the treasures of the world. Here is a guy that rejected Him.
Here is another guy that rejected the Lord Jesus.
Acts 24:25
25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
Have you ever seen people come into a meeting or come before the Lord and their hands tremble. I watched one of my brothers, when he was a very young man. He could have lived his whole life for the Lord Jesus. He did get saved before he left this world, but it was up at the end of his life. He stood there and I watched him that night. We were there in that service. We were both young people. He grabbed that seat and he just shook and his hands turned blue from holding it so tightly. I said why don’t we come and go pray. He said, no. night tonight.
Listen. When you reject Jesus, you reject the greatest treasure you will ever have in that you reject life eternal. That is what Felix rejected. We don’t read anywhere in our Bibles where he ever had the opportunity again to listen to Paul and receive Christ.
King Agrippa
Acts 26
26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
There was another guy, in Acts 26, he was a king. Paul preached to everybody. He preached to King Agrippa. When he was done preaching King Agrippa said, “Almost now persuades me to be a Christian.” Do you remember that old song, Almost Persuaded? He was almost persuaded to be a Christian. Paul said I wished you were altogether persuaded and that you were like me except for these chains. I wish you had in your heart what I have in my heart.
If you don’t know Jesus in this room, I wish you had in your heart what we have in our hearts. Amen! We were singing a little while ago, If you knew Him like I know Him. I will tell you that is like pouring warm water on a cold body. It is just wonderful. It just feels so good. I am glad I know who Jesus is. That is all of His doing.
He found me in life just like He found you. If you are in this room today, if you are hearing the message of God come to your heart and say; you need to come to Christ, He found you. I didn’t find you. He is the One persuading your heart and telling you that you need to get things right with God before it is too late. He is the One that is the cornerstone of your life that you need more than anything in this world. Of all the things we have in life, time wasters, we need the One that never wastes time.
The Lord Jesus was never in a hurry when He was on this earth but He never wasted time. When He dealt with someone, He dealt with them honestly and truthfully. If they wanted to follow Him, He would say come and follow me. If they did not want to follow Him; He would say okay, I am moving on. That is what He did. He just moved on. He does not force anybody to be saved. He did not say to somebody okay, you can follow me at a later date. A lot of people say I will get saved but I will get saved when I get older.
I used to say as a young guy, I am going to get saved after I get married. You won’t get saved after you get married. You will have a lot more to work on after you get married. Amen! Especially when kids come. People like to say well I am not going to get saved today but I am going to get saved before I leave this world. You don’t know that.
Conclusion
Fifty percent of the people in this world die with their shoes on. That means they are in their everyday walk of life and they just drop dead. You might be one of those. You say, you are trying to scare me. I wish I could scare you today. Eternity is forever. This moment you have right here is very brief. I don’t know if you will ever have another opportunity to trust Jesus Christ as your personal Savior but you can do it today. Remember what the writer said, neither is there Salvation in any other. There is no other way to get to heaven. You can’t be good enough to go to heaven. You hear these songs we used to hear all the time I want to be good because my baby is in heaven. Let me tell you. You will never get to heaven to meet your baby by being good. Amen! You have to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. He is the only way to heaven. Christ Alone! He is here this morning. He is in this room. He wants to save your soul right now. Come!
Come and be saved!