Chief Cornerstone

What is "the chief cornerstone" (Acts 4:11)?
A building typically has four corners, and buildings back then were built with stones. The chief cornerstone was the first stone laid down on the ground at one corner of the building, which was then built by adding stones next to and on top of the chief cornerstone.

How important was the chief cornerstone?
If the chief cornerstone was laid even slightly angled, the whole building ended up at least slightly rotated on its own axis. If the chief cornerstone was laid even slightly slanted, the whole building ended up tilted and risked collapse.

Who is the "stone ... which has become the chief cornerstone"?
Jesus, who is the chief cornerstone of our faith, "for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:11).

Is this analogy appropriate?
If what you believe about Jesus is set correctly, the rest of the building blocks of your faith will work themselves out and your faith will endure. If you what you believe about Jesus is incorrect, nothing you add to it will correct the error and your 'faith' will risk collapse.

How so?
For example, the Bible says that you will go to heaven instead of hell when you die if you sincerely believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the death penalty due for your sins (see John 3:16 meaning). If your faith is built on this chief cornerstone, it will endure through hardship, even death, because the rest of your eternity in heaven or hell hang in the balance. But many pulpits today tell people to believe in Jesus because He will make them more healthy and wealthy while on the earth, and to express their "faith" by giving money to their ministry. If your faith is built on this lie, it will collapse as soon as the promised health and wealth fail to materialize and the lie is exposed.

Who are the "builders" (Acts 4:11), and why did they reject the chief cornerstone?
The religious leaders and teachers, who wanted themselves to be the chief cornerstone of what their hearers believe.

Does this still happen today?
 

Why isn't "there salvation in any other" (Acts 4:12) person than Jesus?
Nobody else died for your sins, and nobody else could die for your sins.

Why not?
If a death row inmate were to tell the judge that he would like to die for the crimes committed by another death row inmate, the judge will tell him, "No, you will die for your own crimes." Only a sinless persons can die to pay the death penalty due for someone else's sins, and the only sinless person in history was Jesus.

Why doesn't Satan point to a dog or a cat and tell people, "You can be saved by believing in that"?
People would laugh at him.

So whom does Satan point to and tell people to believe to be saved?
The people who were close to Jesus during His time on earth, including his mother and lead disciple.