The Bible talks a ton about rocks and stones. We are told that “God is our Rock” no less than 130 times. Other statements allude to Him being steadfast, immoveable, and other qualities of a large boulder.

Stones were used as a pillar or memorial when a patriarch met with God. They were used to build altars as well. We know that David killed Goliath with a stone.

Solomon hired stone cutters for high grade stones for the temple of God. Elijah used 12 stones to build the giant altar to defeat the prophets of Baal.

I could go on, but I think you get the point. It’s an important concept in the Bible that stones and rocks represent the Lord’s strength and dependability.

So, then it should not be surprising that the Lord also calls us to be His living stones.

Where does the Bible mention Living Stones?

As we discussed in the introduction, the Bible uses the idea of stones or rocks continually to help us see the character or nature of God and to understand spiritual concepts. However, the idea of a believer being a living stone is mentioned a couple of times only in the New Testament.

In Ephesians 2, the apostle Paul explains Christ as our chief cornerstone and us being built up as living stones:

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,  built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV

Peter expounds on the idea in 1 Peter. Consider the following scriptures which we discuss more in detail:

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—  you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.”

 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,”

and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

1 Peter 2:4-8 NIV

What the Bible Means by Living Stones?

First, it must be established that only by coming to Christ, the Living Stone, are we able to be living stones ourselves. (1 Peter 2:4) This is salvation by faith and repentance and trust in Christ alone. It is through this union with Christ that we have the privilege to be called living stones and also have access to the spiritual powers residing in Him.

There are so many spiritual benefits and blessings we have in Christ but we are going to focus on two that are mentioned in 1 Peter 2 that help us understand why God calls us living stones.

1. We are a Spiritual House and Holy Priesthood.

In the Old Testament, God’s temple built of stones represented His holy presence and only the priests had access to Him. Through Christ, we are a part of that spiritual house and holy priesthood that have unlimited access to God the Father.

As living stones, we have been chosen, have been cleansed of sin, have put on the righteousness of Christ, have been prepared for “offering spiritual sacrifices to God acceptable through Christ” and can go to our High Priest in prayer any time. Access is always granted.

Furthermore, we also represent God in Christ. As His holy priesthood, we have the obligation to teach others the saving grace of Christ and the truth of His word. The Old Testament priests daily offered animal sacrifices to keep the nation of Israel holy. As living stones we are daily offering those spiritual sacrifices to honor our Lord.

Some examples of these offerings are our commitment to living holy and separate from the world “to prove the will of God.” (Romans 12:2) Other spiritual sacrifices would be praise and worship, generously giving to others, prayer, taking time to meditate on God’s word, and loving others like Christ.

2. We have Confidence in Christ as the Chief Cornerstone.

We are not living stones just haphazardly thrown together in that temple hoping that none of us will fall. Nope, we have a perfect, Chief Cornerstone who is a solid foundation. He will never fail. He remains as a guide and example.

And, through hardships and suffering, He is perfecting us by chiselling away the rough and jagged areas so we will fit in just right with the rest of that spiritual house. He himself knew sorrow and suffering and helps us in our times of need without shame and without neglect.

Our scripture above from 1 Peter 2: 6 is quoting Isaiah 28:16 which says that the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame! We can have complete confidence in Christ as His living stones. We will never be disappointed but have eternal security in Him.

Because Christ is the precious and precise Corner Stone that God has built His church on, He completes the temple of God. No one is ever going to crumble or tumble. He fits it all exactly and permanently together, forever. This is our security, our hope of eternity in heaven.

What we Can Learn from Stones?

Stones are strong, steadfast, and still. We are encouraged in the Bible, like stones to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV)

Stones are strong. We are not hard like stones. So, how can we be strong? We find our strength in the Lord. Ephesians 6:10 KJV encourages us “to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.” We find strength when we read the word and use it to fight lies of the enemy, when we surrender our problems in prayer, and when we obey God’s way over the easy sinful way.

Stones are steadfast. Steadfast means firmly fixed in a place or position. We hold on to truth and stand strong on our faith. We are not sold on every new doctrine or new philosophy that comes along. We are not going to change our minds about God when problems or trials come. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 commands us to, “Test all things; hold fast what is good.  Abstain from every form of evil.”

Stones are still. I don’t mean that stones are lazy. They do exactly what they are suppose to do and are reconciled to be where they are. As living stones, we are to do the will of God. But, in our spirits, we are to be still. We are to be at peace. We are to accept present circumstances, hardships, blessings, etc. all with the assurance that God is in control and He is working all out. Psalms 46:10a KJV says, “Be still and know that I am God.”