The Forgotten Calling of Christian Men
Men must build their lives and leadership on Christ, the living Cornerstone, by continually coming to Him in faith and obedience (1Pe 2:4–8).
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”and
“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.” (1Pe 2:4-8)
Built on the Living Stone
Christian men, if we are going to lead well—whether in the home, the workplace, the church, or any other sphere—we must stand on the right foundation. That foundation is not our natural abilities or experience. It is not in our perceived strength or the admiration of others. According to Peter, the only sure foundation for the Christian life is Jesus Christ. And the only solid foundation for any man called to lead is Jesus Christ.
Peter writes, “As you come to Him” (1Pe 2:4). That may be simple phrase and easy to overlook, but this is where everything begins. This is where the Christian life begins. This is where godly leadership begins. Not with personal ambition. Not with self-help strategies or leadership seminars. If you want to be a Christian, if you want to be a godly man, if you want to be a leader, it begins with coming to Christ.
The word “come” here does not describe a one-time event. Peter is not speaking only of coming to Christ for salvation, though that is certainly part of it. He is describing something continual. The Christian life is marked by a steady coming to Christ again and again. The believer is always drawing near to Him, always seeking Him in the Word, prayer, and worship. This is the posture of the Christian life. It is a life of ongoing communion with Christ. The Christian comes to Him for salvation, but he never stops coming.
And to whom are we coming? Peter says we come to “a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious” (1Pe 2:4).
We may have read this passage many times without pausing to consider how unusual that phrase is. A living stone? Stones are not alive. They are cold, hard, and lifeless. But Peter is pointing us back to the Old Testament, where the prophets described the Messiah as a cornerstone. He quotes Isaiah: “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste’” (Isa 28:16).
Jesus is that cornerstone. He is the first and most important stone, the one that determines the shape and strength of the entire structure. If the cornerstone is not rightly set, the foundation will not be secure. And if the foundation is not secure, the entire building is at risk. There is no structure without the cornerstone.
But Jesus is not just a cornerstone. He is a living cornerstone. He rose from the dead. He lives forever. He is not a lifeless ideal or set of teachings. He is a Person—living, active, and present. From Him flows everything we need, everything we have, and everything we hope to become. This is especially true for men called to lead. Everything depends on our union with this living stone.
Yet Peter also reminds us that this stone was “rejected by men” (1Pe 2:4). He still is. He is rejected in ways no other religious figure has ever been. Think of how often His name is profaned in anger or mockery. The world does not reject Him for no reason. The natural man seeks power, control, admiration, and success. So what use does he have for a Savior who came in humility, serving instead of being served? That is why they despised Him then, and why many still despise Him now.
But while the world rejected Him, God the Father chose Him. He is “precious” in God’s sight (1Pe 2:4). When Jesus came up from the waters of baptism, the Father declared, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt 3:17).
If we are united to Christ, we are united to the One who is most precious to God. That means we are precious to God as well, not because of anything in us, but because we are joined to His Son. That is where our worth as men comes from. That is where our strength comes from. The world may define manhood by power or prestige. But God points to His Son and says, “This is a real man.” And we become true men only when we are united to Him by faith.
So what does this teach us about godly leadership? It teaches us that we cannot lead at home, work, or in the church in a way that honors God unless we first come to Christ in faith and humility. We cannot lead unless Christ is leading us. We should not speak until we have listened to Him. We should not act unless we are abiding in Him.
Without the cornerstone, the foundation crumbles. And without a firm foundation, we cannot lead.
Built Into a Spiritual House
First, we must be united to the living stone. Second, we are called into a purpose-driven community. Peter writes, “You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house” (1Pe 2:5).
God is building something. This structure begins with Christ, the Cornerstone. But God continues to add to it by calling and redeeming His people. Those who come to Christ are joined to this spiritual house. They are made alive by His Spirit. That is why Peter calls them “living stones” (1Pe 2:5).
There are two key truths to see here. First, the church is not a physical building. We often talk about the church that way. “We’re going to church,” or “Our church is in—” But Peter says the church is not a building. It is like a building. Like the temple in the Old Testament, the church is where God dwells. But He no longer builds with bricks and mortar. He builds with people. You and I are the church. We are the dwelling place of God on earth, not a structure in Jerusalem.
Second, the church is not complete with only one stone. Yes, Christ is your personal cornerstone. But you are not the only stone. If you were, there would be no house. A building cannot be made with one brick. The church is a house full of people—every believer united to Christ and joined together in Him.
This is true of the global church, and it is also true of the local church. God is bringing His people to life. He is saving them, uniting them to His Son, and calling them out of the world. Then He joins them to one another. Each believer is placed with purpose. Each one has a role. Each one is needed by the others.
This may go against how we often think, especially as men. In American culture, independence and self-reliance are often viewed as marks of manhood. So even if we’re willing to submit to Christ, we may still think we can follow Him on our own.
But Peter offers a different vision. When God saves a man, He also joins him to a community. That man becomes one stone among many. He leans on others, and they lean on him.
And this is no ordinary community. God is not building a social club. Peter calls it a “spiritual house” (1Pe 2:5). That means it has a holy, God-ordained purpose. Like the temple of old, this is where God meets with His people. It is where we worship Him, serve together, and build one another up. It is where we strive together to bring glory to His name.
God never intended for us to walk this road alone. He has placed us together, each of us like a stone in His temple, each one serving and strengthening the whole.
In short, we not only need union with Christ. We also need to embrace the purpose-driven community of believers that God is building together.
Called to a Holy Priesthood
Peter then expands the metaphor. He writes, “You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1Pe 2:5).
At first glance, it may seem that he is mixing metaphors. But both are fitting. We are the stones of the temple, fit together as God’s dwelling place. But we are also the priests who serve in that temple.
What does that mean? When we hear the word priest, we may think of robes, altars, and animal sacrifices. We may picture an elite group with special access to God. But what was the role of a priest in the Old Testament?
A priest stood between the people and God. He offered sacrifices on their behalf. He represented them in the presence of God. He had access to places others could not go.
But those priests are no longer needed.
Peter says believers are being built up “to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1Pe 2:5). He is speaking to all believers, who have been born again through the resurrection of Christ, those who love Him and believe in Him. Everyone united to Christ in faith is part of this holy priesthood.
When Jesus died, the veil that separated the Most Holy Place from the rest of the temple was torn in two. “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom” (Mt 27:50–51). In Christ, our great High Priest, God opens the way. He says to us, “The veil is gone. You are welcome in My presence.”
As Hebrews says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16).
With Christ as our Mediator, we are all members of the priesthood. We have access to God. We may come to Him anytime, anywhere.
This is an incredible privilege, but it also comes with responsibility. Peter writes that we are to “offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1Pe 2:5). But what exactly are spiritual sacrifices?
They are spiritual, not physical. They are not like the sacrifices offered in the Old Testament. Hebrews gives us a clear explanation: “Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God” (Heb 13:15–16). Paul writes something similar in Romans: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Ro 12:1–2).
Spiritual sacrifices include praise. They include confessing the name of Christ. They include doing good, sharing with others, living fully for the Lord, and refusing to conform to the world. In short, they involve trusting and obeying God.
Just as the priests of the Old Testament were called to serve in the temple, we are called to serve in our context. The outward form may look different, but the principle is the same. We offer our lives in worship to God.
Practically speaking, spiritual sacrifice looks like leading your family in prayer. It looks like reading and teaching the Bible to your children or grandchildren. It looks like serving in the local church—encouraging other men, discipling younger believers, or stacking chairs in the fellowship hall. It looks like working with integrity. It looks like living with such joy in the Lord that others take notice. These are the kinds of sacrifices that please God.
So, brothers, don’t miss this calling. Rejoice in the privilege of having access to God through His Son. Go to Him often. Lead your family to Him. Point others to Him. Then serve as a faithful priest in whatever role God has given you.
Rejected by the World, Secure in Christ
In the next verses, Peter reminds us that the same stone who saves us causes others to stumble. For Christians, Christ is the source of life and stability. For others, He is a stone they trip over on their way to judgment.
Peter writes:
For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.”So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”and
“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. (1Pe 2:6–8)
Peter shows us two groups. There are those who believe and find Christ precious. And there are those who disobey and reject Him.
To those who believe, Peter says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame” (1Pe 2:6). This was a powerful word of encouragement to the original readers. They were spiritual exiles living in a hostile world. They were being mocked and mistreated for their faith. Peter reassures them, “You may be shamed by the world now, but you will be vindicated.”
John says something similar: “And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming” (1Jn 2:28). Those who reject Christ will be ashamed on that day. But those who believe in Him will not.
Brothers, the world may mock our faith. They may scoff at our beliefs and reject our Savior. But keep your eyes on the Lord’s return. You will not be ashamed. You will be vindicated. Your hope is secure.
As for unbelievers, they are looking for a different kind of savior, if they are looking for one at all. They don’t want a Redeemer who calls them to repent. They are offended by Christ, so they reject Him. But notice how Peter describes this rejection. He says, “They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do” (1Pe 2:8). That may be hard to hear, but it reminds us that God remains sovereign.
These individuals are fully responsible for their unbelief. Peter says they disobey. That is their choice. And they will be held accountable. But even in their rejection, God is still sovereign.
This means we do not need to fear rejection. Christ was rejected, and we are rejected because we are united with Him. But our future is secure. We will not be put to shame, not because of our strength, but because of God’s sovereign grace and the finished work of Jesus Christ. He is the Cornerstone. And that Cornerstone will never fail.
Being the kind of men God has called us to be will not always be easy, but it will be worth it. It may cost us something in this life. But as Paul writes, “For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2Co 4:17–18).
Build your life on Jesus. Keep coming to Him. Take your place in the church. Serve like a priest. Lead like a servant. And trust that the Cornerstone will hold you steady no matter what comes.