Hope and Hostility - 1 Peter 2:4-10

Last week: Preparing Christians for difficult days ahead.

Put aside immature behavior and fill up your life in the study of scripture.

“Go do your quiet time.” (Punishment)

1 Peter 2:4-10

4 As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by God—5 you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:See, I lay a stone in Zion,a chosen and honored cornerstone,and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.,

7 So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving,The stone that the builders rejected—this one has become the cornerstone,,8 and A stone to stumble over,and a rock to trip over.,They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this.

9 But you are a chosen race,,, a royal priesthood,, a holy nation,, a people for his possession,, so that you may proclaim the praises,, of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

In this life, there is one main choice:

Do I accept Jesus as Lord?

Do I reject Jesus as Lord?

Your response to the gospel determines your life’s direction.

1. Christ’s Worth

v. 4 Christ is called a “living stone.”

Living as having life from the beginning, and raise from the dead forever.

We “come” to the living stone closely and habitually.

“Rejected by man”

Psalm 118:22

22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

The Jewish leaders rejected Jesus and the people placed him on a cross. He was “despised and rejected.”

“Chosen by God”

Christ is peculiarly the stone of salvation honored by God.

The world rejected Jesus. God honored Jesus.

2. Christ’s Worth is our Worth.

Believers enjoy a great privilege. In the OT, only priests could draw near to God. As Christians, we all can draw to God through Jesus.

“living stones” - The status of Christians in relation to Jesus.

The cornerstone is the most essential. We are now stacked together firmly to build His house.

“holy priesthood” - The priests ultimate purpose is to offer sacrifices of praise.

Sacrifices were offered in the temple:

Temple has two names:

Hieron (The sacred place) - Whole building, courts, and area for sacrifices.

Naas (The dwelling place) - Inner shrine where God dwelled during sacrifices.

Believers are not merely ministers, but the dwelling place of God and priests unto God.

Young people struggle to find their value.

You are not just a person and we are not just we are not just a church.

The Christian temple is the congregation of spiritual worshippers.

Sacrifices of praise, prayer, and self-denying services in the cause of Christ.

KEEP COMING TO CHURCH

God is building you.

3. Christ Alone is the Cornerstone.

Isa. 28:16 emphasized the precious nature of Christ as the cornerstone.

Despite the present sufferings, believers will not experience shame.

6 is for believers.

7-8 is for nonbelievers.

Those who reject Christ are unconsciously contributing to his kingdom.

People do not care what we believe until we are in their way.

The cornerstone is set firmly in place, so for those who reject it, Christ is a stumbling block and is offensive.

“destined” - Refers to the penal justice of God.

Can only blame themselves.

The present struggle is not a surprise. God wrote about it.

The Rock isn’t going to move.

“My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus Christ and righteousness...”