1 Peter 2:7-8
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.
The rejected stone, Jesus Christ is truly precious to the believers. Now as believers put their faith in Jesus, they see Jesus Christ as the only treasure that will last forever. The unending joy and peace in knowing Him, the promises we find in Him, and the promise of an eternal salvation gives assurance of His presence not only for the present world but for the eternal kingdom.
But to those who disbelieve in Him, this precious stone will cause them to stumble and fall. God has provided this stone to be the chief cornerstone (head) over everything he created and without the head, the whole house crumbles. Without Jesus Christ as Lord over us and without knowing him as our only true joy and treasure, death and destruction marks our way.
Note that this verse talks about why people stumble: they stumble because they disobey the message. They did hear the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ-but lacks the power to obey them. In not responding to the call of the Gospel, they disobey the message. They reject the Gospel by not reciprocating to the content of the message.
