Christian people are not only citizens of a kingdom, members of a family with all the intimacy that that suggests, but we have also been fashioned, the rough edges and the crooked parts knocked off us. We have been given a new nature, which fits us into this building, the Church of Jesus Christ. If only we would nurture it and respect it. We could not relate together and love one another and function together harmoniously, if we were unconverted people, with all our whims and wants and rough edges. and our tendency to hostilities and jealousies. But in the church of Jesus Christ we have been fashioned into a new building. May we not go back to our pre-conversion nature and attitudes, our hostilities and mutual criticisms. We have been fashioned to fit together in this beautiful building.
Paul desires that every Christian is a great learner of Biblical doctrine. Let there be among us no foolish Christians, who love the Lord, are saved by grace, and yet have never progressed or advanced since the time of their conversion in learning the doctrines of the faith. That would be a great tragedy. But if you learn the doctrines of the faith, you remember these words: ‘Christ himself being the chief corner stone.’ He is always the most important component in the church, our Lord, who rules us and who purchased us. So every doctrine you ever learn, or ever think about, let it point you to Christ.
If I am trying to defeat some sin, some besetting or recurring sin, then you need to remember that he is the chief corner stone. You need power over sin, you think of him, think of what he has done to purchase you, how much power he has put forth to gain you, and where he is taking you to receive an eternal reward. Reward? What do we deserve? The reward of grace, it is a contradiction in terms. How much I am going to receive and yet this is how I am living! Then we think of his power, which he will direct towards us by his Spirit. Every circumstance, the defeat of sin, everything reminds us of him.