God tells us in 1 Peter 2:4-94To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:4‑9) of a building that is built with living stones.
“To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively [living] stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
There never has been a building constructed in this world, other than that mentioned here, which was built with “living stones.” This building is built of living stones to show what is going on within. It is to “show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Normally when you build a building, it is for the sake of privacy, but here is one that is to show forth the praises of Him who hath called you. It is only by using living stones that this can be done.
As man builds into this building, he makes mistakes and there has been some dead material built into it. But, irrespective of that, God owns that building and He has taken up His abode there through the Spirit.
There is one thing that I would like you to notice, whether we look at it as the body of Christ, the assembly, or as the building; I would like to emphasize the One who is there. When it is a question of looking at it as the body, the Lord Jesus has said, “There am I in the midst.” This is said of the body, as the assembly. When it is a question of looking at it as the building, then it is spoken of as the habitation of God through the Spirit. There is a difference between the two. That is, the Lord being in the midst and the Holy Spirit being in the building. The reason I feel pressed to mention these things is that I believe it is often lost sight of.
J. L. Erisman