Human beings love using metaphors, comparisons between two things that are unlike to bring out some special way in which they are alike. In I Peter 2:4-12, the author piled on a series of metaphors and quotations from the Old Testament to explain, first, who Christ is and, second, who Christians are. The first metaphor he used was that Christ is a living stone, the cornerstone in fact. Christians in turn are built upon him as living stones and are also a chosen race, a holy and royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, and God’s people. All of these privileges are the result of God’s mercy not of Christian’s merit.
God is free to define Israel, to show mercy or wrath, and to add to Israel from the nations.
One of the most controversial sections of James is James 2:14-26, because some verses sounds very different from what we find in Paul’s teaching....
The loss of the Ark from Israel anticipated the way of approaching God through Christ and also warns against faith that is merely outward...