1 Peter 2:1-12: Our Identity in Christ 2

Introduction

We have a new identity

our salvation fuels our identity

holiness is our key ID feature

And we were given the reason for our identity

1 Peter 1:23–25 ESV

since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Christians were/are obedient to the word of God

obedient in salvation

obedient in action

Now we are given the result

Our identity changes our disposition, thoughts, and actions

1 Peter 2:1 ESV

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

We should look different

malice means vicious attitude and disposition

we should not resemble the worst examples of the world

We should think different

deceit is how we manipulate people

Hypocrisy is how we fool people

envy is how we judge people

We should act different

its bad news, not good news

we are supposed to be different

We must relearn how to live

1 Peter 2:2–3 ESV

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Christ makes us spiritual infants

first we were born into the world

we were reborn through Christ

we have to learn how to live

This the way Jesus designed the Christian life

It has to be a restart

Matthew 18:1–4 ESV

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

The first step of believing is humility

you have to know that you know nothing

insert dunning/kruger graph

how does a baby grow?

but the reborn should long for nourishment

The Church is now the living temple

1 Peter 2:4–8 ESV

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

Jesus was the first chosen stone

rejected by men, but chosen by God

the cornerstone

we are the stones placed upon the foundation of Jesus

Ephesians 2:20–22 ESV

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

each individual that accepts the invitation of Jesus becomes a building block of the temple

But we are also the priesthood

we are the material and we are responsible for the worship

Romans 12:1 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

and we will not be put to shame!

Where we are built up, the unbeliever is brought down

the unbeliever is destined to fall

John 3:17–18 ESV

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Our belief makes us different

1 Peter 2:9–10 ESV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

the fullness of our new identity

chosen race - Christ is the source of our existence

royal priesthood - we are now devoted to worship

holy nation - we now have no greater allegiance

we are now distinct from the world, and it matters

1 Peter 2:11–12 ESV

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Sojourners and exiles means we do not belong here

we do not live according to our urges

we present ourselves as honorable

The world will speak against you

not if, but when

John 15:19 ESV

If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

but your conduct will lead them to glorify God

Matthew 5:16 ESV

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Because we are the people of God

And we are the carriers of His good news

Now we have to learn to live like His special people