Gathering pt4

So we know who is in charge of the church And we know who makes up the church. What does the church do? I mean why do we exist?

So many people throughout church history have answered this question. And the church has done some amazing things and some awful things as a result. But when we really dig in to what scripture says about the church, what we do and why we exist become pretty simple. And truthfully, the biggest issue becomes HOW do we do those things in the time and culture we exist in.

So let’s look at 1 Peter 2:4-10.

Peter addresses us as “living stones.” We are made that way because we have encountered the Living Stone- the risen Jesus. He is building with living stones a Church that will do His will.

1, 2 Peter, Jude (3) The Living Stone and Living Stones (2:4–10)

Believers are “living stones” because of their faith in the resurrected Christ. Jesus’ resurrection life becomes theirs, even while they live in the midst of a hostile world. They await their resurrection at the end of the age, but even now because they have come to Christ (v. 4) they have new life. Nowhere else in the New Testament are believers called living stones, though elsewhere they are described as God’s temple or house (1 Cor 3:16; 6:19; Eph 2:19–22; Heb 3:6). The picture here is of a house in which believers constitute the building stones. The term “house” (oikos) alludes to the temple, which is commonly called a “house” in the Old Testament (e.g., 2 Sam 7:13; 1 Kgs 3:2; 6; 8, etc.) and is also designated as a house in the New Testament (Matt 21:13; 23:38; John 2:16–17; Acts 7:47, 49). In particular, when the verb “build” (oikodomeō) is combined with “house” (oikos) in the Septuagint, the temple is often in view. The house is “spiritual” (pneumatikos) because it is animated and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Despite the hesitation of some scholars, Peter clearly here identified the church as God’s new temple.216 The physical temple pointed toward and anticipated God’s new temple, and now that the new temple has arrived, the old is superfluous

First, we see that we are a holy priesthood. (v5a)

What did priests do in the time when Peter was writing? They interceded for the people. In other words, they represented the word and will of God to the people, and they went to God on behalf of the people.

That means the church cannot be separated from the people around them. We have said it several times- the ekklesia, the called out ones- have a purpose and that purpose is NOT to be in existence apart from what is going on around them.

The church is called to engage. To share the truths of God. To advocate for the Kingdom in a world that denies the King AND to pray for the world around them who does not know who the King is!

When is the last time, instead of complaining or demeaning those who do not know Jesus and who promote things that oppose the Kingdom, that you broke for them. Prayed for them. Begged the Lord to change their hearts and minds?

1, 2 Peter, Jude (3) The Living Stone and Living Stones (2:4–10)

Peter was not thinking mainly of each individual functioning as a priest before God. The focus here is on the church corporately as God’s set-apart priesthood in which the emphasis is likely on believers functioning as priests

Second, we are called to offer spiritual sacrifices (v5b-8)- we are called as a Church to engage in the worship of Jesus- both in church as a gathered body, and by living out that worship of Jesus in the broader culture.

We cannot sing about Jesus on Sunday and deny Him with our words and actions on Monday.

“The single biggest cause of athiesm in the world today is Christians. Who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk outside and deny Him with their lifestyles. That is what an unbelieving world finds simply unbelievable.”- Brennan Manning

We have to live out our acknowledgement of the Lordship of Jesus in our daily lives.

1, 2 Peter, Jude (3) The Living Stone and Living Stones (2:4–10)

The parallel with 2:9, where the royal priesthood proclaims God’s wonders, suggests to some that this is the primary function of the priesthood (see commentary on 2:9 for further discussion). The priestly calling of the church is understood from 2:9 to be evangelistic, a praising of God’s name so that people from all over the world will join in worshiping him. Nevertheless, we should not limit the sacrifices here to any one item, for everything that is pleasing to God is probably included (cf. Rom 12:1; Heb 13:15–16). Peter spoke generally and comprehensively of all that believers do by the power of the Holy Spirit.232 Indeed, not any and every sacrifice is pleasing to God, but only those offered “through Jesus Christ.”

1, 2 Peter, Jude (3) The Living Stone and Living Stones (2:4–10)

Their stumbling over the cornerstone is not accidental, as humans often trip unintentionally while walking. In this instance humans stumble because of rebellion, because they do not want to submit to God’s lordship

Third, and finally, we bring glory and fame to Jesus for what He has done in our lives and invite others to experience that for themselves (v9-10)

1, 2 Peter, Jude (3) The Living Stone and Living Stones (2:4–10)

As noted above, the priesthood here is corporate in nature, and yet this does not rule out the truth that individuals serve priestly functions. Best seems to strike the right balance here: “Christians exercise priestly functions but always as members of a group who all exercise the same function

1, 2 Peter, Jude (3) The Living Stone and Living Stones (2:4–10)

The purpose of the people of God is now explained. God has chosen them to be his people, established them as a royal priesthood, appointed them as a holy nation to be his special possession, so that they would “declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” Peter again probably alluded to Isa 43:21, for there we are told that God formed Israel for himself so that “they would recount my praises

The position we occupy as followers of Jesus is thru nothing we have done for ourselves. It is all a result of what Jesus has done for us! So we bring Him fame by giving Him glory for what He has made of our lives, and inviting others to have the same transformation occur in their own lives. (Gospel presentation here)