A Holy Priesthood
Notes
Transcript
Handout
iii. The eternal nature of salvation also changes actions. (2:1, Romans 13:12–14, Ephesians 4:20–25, Colossians 3:8, Hebrews 12:1, James 1:21)
We talked about this last week as well, but Peter is staying on this idea for one more verse. The fact of our eternal salvation should lead us to abandon temporary, fleshly things. That’s what “wherefore” means. This truth should lead to action.
The term “lay aside” literally means to get rid of and put in another place. It could be pictured as taking off a coat and throwing it down. We are not to hang onto these things in any way. We should not sometimes adopt them when we feel justified. They must be forsaken along with the old life.
hateful feeling, hostility
treachery, deceit, slyness, trickery
pretense (duplicity, insincerity)
To feel uneasiness, mortification or discontent, at the sight of superior excellence, reputation or happiness enjoyed by another
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
slander, defamation, evil speech
The point isn’t that these sins specifically must be laid aside. It’s that all sin, these included, must be laid aside. All of those things listed were part of our old life, the life governed by worldly, temporal, destructive principles. We are dead to those things.
Exploring the Epistles of Peter: An Expository Commentary 1. Sin and Its Root (2:1a)
We cannot imagine for one moment Lazarus, raised from the dead, wanting to hang on to his grave clothes and to wear them still. It ought to be just as hard to imagine a child of God, wrapped in new life in Christ, hankering after the grave clothes of his old life.
That being said, though, it is interesting to note the kind of sins listed. All of these are contrary to the brotherly love mentioned in the previous verses. Malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, and evil speakings are all sins that manifest mainly in relationships. Hanging on to any of these things will prevent us from fulfilling the command to love from a pure heart.
This sort of passage is common throughout the epistles.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
The Bible is very clear about this. Now that we are new people, we should act like new people.
iv. The eternal word is the source of growth for Christians. (2:2–3, Matthew 18:3, Mark 10:15; Psalm 19:7-10, 2 Corinthians 3:18)
After laying aside sin, the first thing we must do is become as newborn babes. This mostly ties into Peter’s analogy we will look at in a minute, but it also goes to show the simplicity with which we should approach God and the Bible.
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
It’s that simple, childlike faith that pleases God.
The babe, instead of chemically analyzing, instinctively desires and feeds on the milk; so our part is not self-sufficient rationalizing and questioning, but simply receiving the truth in the love of it (Mt 11:25).
All we must do is receive. The truth is there ready for us to take.
Next, we see what we should do having become newborn babes. We must desire the sincere milk of the word. “Desire” is a longing for or craving, not just a half-hearted thought that something would be nice. Babies are completely unreasonable and illogical when it comes to their wants and needs. When they want something, they make it clear and don’t let up until they have it.
“Sincere” hear means “pure” or “unmixed.” The milk of the word is sincere in that it is pure and free from contamination of any evil. This purity is a reason for Christians needing to put off their old sins.
In other passages, the Bible is compared to milk in order to shame the readers. The author of Hebrews gets after his audience for only being able to handle the milk of the word, and not the meat. But there is no indication of that sentiment here. Peter is not reprimanding them, but painting a universally-understood picture of the kind of desire we should have.
Why should we desire the word? Well, how does milk help a baby? It helps it grow. By receiving the sincere milk of the word, we also will grow.
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
What would happen if all of us started desiring the word like babies desire milk? Not just sometimes wanting it, not just reading it two or three times a week and then hearing a few sermons on Sunday, but really craving for it where we are not satisfied without it. What would happen if we determined not to start the day or do anything until we have drunk deeply of that milk and gathered strength for the day? It would change us all, and that growth mentioned would undoubtedly happen.
There is nothing stopping any of us from that desire, that growth, except our own selves. Of course, that’s the most tricky obstacle, but it is able to be overcome. We can control ourselves, no matter how hard it may be, while we cannot control external obstacles. It would change all of our lives, change this church, and by extension change the world around us if we would seriously dig into the Bible and make it the central craving of our lives.
Verse 3 follows up on this—if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Again, if so be is a marker of emphasis. Obviously, they had. It’s kind of like saying, “If this is [insert name] Baptist Church, then people will gather here every Sunday.” Obviously it is, and that’s the point.
This is also a quote from Psalms.
O taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Every Christian has tasted of the grace of God. We received that grace at salvation and had it poured out on us. And very likely, there was in the past or is now a time where you are walking with God, obeying His will, and enjoying His blessing. You have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Why wouldn’t you want more?
[talk about restaurant analogy]
4. The Practice (2:4–10)
We’re going to see in these verses our new status as Christians. Our new practice, as in, our new vocation.
i. Through Jesus, Believers have become priests to God and should offer spiritual sacrifices. (2:4–5, Isaiah 28:16, Daniel 2:31–34, Psalm 118:22, Isaiah 8:13–14, 42:1; Ephesians 2:19–22, Hebrews 3:6, Exodus 19:6, Romans 5:1)
We have a few things to consider before arriving at the actual point of this point. First, the phrase to whom coming. That is, of course, coming to Jesus.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary (2:4)
[This] does not refer to the initial response of a sinner who comes to Christ for salvation. The participle’s tense and voice indicate that this coming is a personal, habitual approach. It is an intimate association of communion and fellowship between believers and their Lord.
This is continuing the thought of desiring the sincere milk of the word. We should be coming continually to Jesus in fellowship with Him.
Next Peter compares Jesus to a living stone. There is a lot of Old Testament support for this idea.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, A tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: He that believeth shall not make haste.
Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
The stone which the builders refused Is become the head stone of the corner.
Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; And let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; But for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, For a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
We will get into more of this concept later, as most of the ideas introduced in the first five verses are expanded and developed in the next five verses. But but idea of Jesus being the cornerstone is the cornerstone of our new practice. We’ll come back to it in a minute.
Peter says that this stone is disallowed indeed of men. Disallow means to regard as unworthy, or as not genuine. When Jesus came, He was despised and rejected of men. Most people did not believe He was the Messiah. His enemies constantly tried to trap Him in His words and even physically attack Him, eventually arresting and crucifying Him.
John’s Gospel, Hebrews–Revelation D. Membership of God’s People (2:4–10)
Mindful that the example of Jesus is the pattern for their lives, they can be assured that their precious value in God’s sight and their selection by God for a privileged destiny more than compensate for the low esteem in which their neighbors hold them.
This is yet another theme that Peter will expand on later, but he introduces here the thought that Jesus suffered for us and thus it is not unexpected that we suffer for Him. In fact, as followers of He Who suffered, we should expect no better fate. Jesus said that because people hated Him, they would also hate us because of Who we follow.
And yet, despite this suffering and rejection by men, Jesus was chosen of God. In the first verses I talked briefly about the identity of Christians as elect and what that means. It doesn’t mean we were chosen arbitrarily to be saved, but rather that all Christians have been chosen to be Christlike. However, Jesus was specifically, personally chosen as the means to pay for our sins and rule the world. He is God’s elect, and in Him, we are also elect.
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; Mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Jesus is not only elect, but precious. He is more valuable than any gold, silver, or gem on earth because He is the infinitely holy God.
All of these aspects about Jesus carry us into the next verse, which is a continuation of the same sentence. Like Jesus is a living stone, we also are lively stones (or stones full of life; living stones). We are the stones that build up a spiritual house.
This is a really interesting concept. For reasons that will be discussed shortly, I believe this “house” is specifically referring to a temple. When David wants to build a temple for God in 2 Samuel 7, he also calls the temple a house, so there is Biblical basis for this understanding. A temple is literally a house for God. Here we learn that, not only are our bodies the temple of the Holy Ghost, but that each member of the church is built into a whole spiritual temple. Paul gives a fuller picture of this in Ephesians.
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
The church is meant to be the place God lives. It should be the place from which God’s love and power spills out into the world. It also shows how important each member of the church is. If you’ve ever played Jenga before, you know what happens when you try to take pieces out of a structure.
This is further explained in the next phrase, denoting this spiritual house as a holy priesthood. Again it comes back to holiness. What is the primary function of priests? Representing humanity to God, and God to humanity. Like an ambassador. And because our God is holy, this spiritual house where he resides on earth, this priesthood that represents Him, must be holy. Think back to verse 1. Neglecting to lay those things aside will result in being poor priests and not representing God correctly. And we know what happened to those priests in the Old Testament who failed to represent God in holiness.
And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
[talk about coming into Israel’s blessings]
Another main function of priests is to offer up sacrifices. And being built into a spiritual temple, being holy priests, we should do the same. What are some of these sacrifices? It says spiritual sacrifices, so it’s obviously not animals.
a. Prayer (Psalm 141:2, 1 Timothy 2:1–2)
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; And the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
b. Repentance (Hosea 14:1–2, Psalm 51:15–17)
O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; For thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: Say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: So will we render the calves of our lips.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
c. Thanksgiving (Psalm 50:14, Hebrews 13:15)
Offer unto God thanksgiving; And pay thy vows unto the most High:
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
d. Doing good (Hebrews 13:16)
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
e. Fellowship (Hebrews 13:16)
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
This is more than just talking sports before church. This is mutual support. Helping one another through trials as we live the Christian life.
f. Giving to missions (Philippians 4:18)
But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
g. Serving Christ in righteousness, peace, and joy (Romans 14:17–18)
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
h. Obeying parents (Colossians 3:20)
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
i. Acting in faith (Hebrews 11:6)
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
j. Surrendering the body (Romans 12:1)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it was encouraging to discover that these things are not just commands and laws, but are pleasing to God. They, in some sense or another, smell good to Him like we enjoy the smell of incense, or food, or a candle.
quite pleasing
These sacrifices are only acceptable to God because of the sacrifice of Jesus. All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, and these things without Christ would be pointless. But with Christ, they are pleasing to God.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
"God is so boundlessly pleased with Jesus that, in Him, He is altogether well pleased with us."
Charles Surgeon
Let us be extra motivated to serve God because of this information. Laying aside sin is not just a command; God loves it. Desiring the sincere milk of the word is not just something we have to do; it is a sweet savor to God. Same with everything we just talked about. The Christian life is not a drudgery, even though it sometimes feels like it. The difference is how we think about it. Do we realize that we are offering sweet-smelling savors to God? Do you believe that? If so, why wouldn’t you do these things? Do you want to please God?
This has been a mostly encouraging lesson today, again looking at the privileges of Christians, but don’t let it stop there. Don’t just stop at the encouragement. Let us—all of us, myself included—really take this to heart and strive to offer the best sacrifices to God that we can. It is not an obligation. It is an honor. Let us live like we know it.