1 peter 2:1-3

(1 Peter 2:1–3 b

1 Peter 2:1–3b (NRSV)

1 Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation—

1 Peter 2:1–3

Life is full of instructions! We begin getting instructions early in life and they continue throughout life. As children we get instructions from parents: clean your room, pick up your toys, take out trash, do your homework, etc. As teenagers we get instructions from parents, teachers, and coaches. As adults we get instructions from spouses, bosses, the government, doctors, dentists, accountants, etc.

In this week’s E-news sent from the Association Office is this announcement: New Instructions for Samaritan’s Purse “Operation Christmas Child” Boxes are available at the associational office, very person who packs a shoebox needs a brochure, which tells how to pack it, what to include, things to leave out, and also contains the boy/girl labels for the boxes. National Collection Week is November 13–20. Life is full of instructions. Instructions are given for our good to help us and not hurt us.

Attention men: Instructions are placed in the boxes of toys, swing sets, bicycles, cabinets, rockers, tables to help us use all the parts in all the right places so that they product can be put together properly. As Christian’s we are given instructions to live by and we must obey God’s instructions because we love Him. John 14:15 Jesus says, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

Peter declared God’s instructions to an infant church. Christian’s are to live free from entangling sins and long to grow more like the Savior. To challenge the church to rid themselves from sinful ways and grow in their love for the Lord and His word. Have you put off the sin in your life? Do you love the Lord and long for His word? What place does the Lord Jesus have in your life? These verses give us some instructions to the church.

I. The Christian’s duty (1)

Duty is a part of life! Responsibility and accountability is a part of life. Soldiers in the armed forces have a duty to serve the country. Police officers have a duty to protect and serve. Employees have a duty to their employer to do the best job they can. Politicians have a duty to their country and constituents. Players have a duty to their coaches and teammates to be the best player they can be.

Peter reveals the Christian’s duty in verse 1 of chapter 2 by saying, “Therefore, laying aside” Peter had previously reminded the believers that they had been born again by the incorruptible word of God that lives and abides forever. He also reminded them that the world is passing away and all the glory of man is passing. Peter called the believers to have and keep the proper perspective as they dwell here below. We should heed this exhortation as well!

Peter begins chapter 2 with the word “Therefore” which refers back to what he had already said. Because of the fact that the believers had been born again by the living word and because we are passing away we have a duty to lay aside! Lay aside:

to put away (literal or figurative)-cast off, lay apart (aside, down), put away (off).

This is the same word that the writer of Hebrews used in Hebrews 12:1–2 which says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” This word is an imperative that would mean “put away once for all” the sins that may be in your life. The word means “to strip off, to loose, to get free from.”

“The believer is commanded to separate himself from sin. This act of separating himself from sin must be a once for all action, as the tense of the participle suggests. There must be a complete right about face.”

Peter tells the infant church that they must rid themselves of their former conduct. There are to lay aside “all” of these things. This command does cover everything specifically, but Peter gives general terms that cover many attitudes and actions. The believers of that day and of this day understand the will of the Lord and what He commands for us to lay aside. We are to lay aside all that would hinder the work of the Lord and our witness for the Lord. We are to lay aside anything that would be doubtful and questionable and reprehensible. Peter in this verse tells the church to put off all ungodly attitudes and all ungodly actions.

We look first at the attitudes.

A. To put off all ungodly attitudes (1)

“Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,”

The Christian’s duty is to put off all ungodly attitudes. As believers we have the Spirit of Christ and we have the mind of Christ therefore we should have the attitude of Christ. We should not be haughty, but humble. We should not be boastful, but bold. We should not be malicious, but merciful. We should not be deceitful, but delightful. We should not be envious, but encouraging. Peter tells the church that it is God’s command for us to lay aside all malice. Malice: trouble, evil, malice, naughtiness, wickedness. This word carries with it the idea of desiring to harm someone else.

There is so much maliciousness in the world, but it should not be named among the saints of God. Malicious attitudes promote malicious behavior. We are not to be malicious in our thinking or our behaving.

There are malicious acts of violence all over the world. These are the results of malicious attitudes that are engrained in these folks from an early age. But we are no different in that we have or have had malice in our hearts toward others. We may not blow up a car killing several people, but our attitudes towards people leaves turns them away from the Lord and His word. We may not physically assassinate someone, but we verbally attack others and we show the wickedness and evilness in our own hearts.

As Christian’s we are to lay aside all malice! Peter tells the church to lay aside all malice and all deceit. Deceit; a trick (bait), i.e. (figurative) wile craft, deceit, guile. This word means “guile, dishonesty, falsehood, and treachery.” The word picture is to set a trap to catch an animal or bait a hook to catch a fish.

We catch them by trickery! As Christian’s we are to lay aside all deceit.

People are deceptive with their children: Parents make promises that they never intend to keep. Children are deceptive with their parents: they lie about school work, chores, friends, etc. Men and women are deceptive with their employers: they call in sick when they are not sick, they do not give a full day of work, and they do not put forth their best effort. The world is full of deception! The devil is a liar and a deceiver and those who are under his control will reflect his nature.

The Bible tells us not to be deceptive. Don’t be deceptive with your spouse, your children, on your job, or with the church.

Peter tells the church to lay aside all these attitudes of malice, deceit and envy. Envy:

Remember that Peter is telling Christian’s to lay aside all malice, all deception, and all envy. These attitudes can get into the life of a Christian and hinder our spiritual progress and hurt us physically as well. Envy will destroy a person!

• Proverbs 14:30 says, “A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.”

• Proverbs 23:17 says, “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day;”

The fact is that Christian’s can have envy in their heart toward other Christian’s or other churches. We are not to be jealous of what God is doing in another church. We are not to envy the work and blessings of God on another flock. We are to lay aside all envy. Christian’s have a duty to put off all ungodly attitudes.

We also learn in verse 1 that Christian’s are:

B. To put off all ungodly actions (1)

“Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,”

Through the Holy Spirit of God Peter exhorts the church to put off all ungodly attitudes and all ungodly actions. Christian’s are to lay aside all hypocrisy. Our actions toward others are to be real and genuine, sincere and open. Hypocrisy: hupokrisis, hoop-ok’-ree-sis; from Greek (hupokrinomai); acting under a feigned participle i.e. (figurative) deceit (“hypocrisy”), condemnation, dissimulation, hypocrisy. Those who are hypocrites have their true identity covered up. The word refers to acts of impersonation and deception. This word was used of the Greek actors who would play a part on the stage. Hypocrites are playing a part on the stage of life. They may be fooling some people, but they can never fool the Lord.

Peter tells us clearly that there should never be any hypocrites who name the name of the Lord. We are instructed to lay aside all hypocrisy. We are not to pretend that we like someone, pretend that we are something when we are not, pretend that we’ve done something that we have not done, or pretend that we give something that we have not given. The strongest words of the Lord Jesus were to the religious hypocrites of His day.

The Pharisees were strongly rebuked by Jesus because of their hypocrisy. They would make long prayers, they would wear the flowing robes, they would look pious, they wanted the best seats in the synagogues, they wanted the praise and honor of man, they wanted others to look up to them. They were hypocrites! Have you laid aside all hypocrisy in your life? Are you the real deal?

Christian’s have a duty to lay aside all hypocrisy and evil speaking. Evil speaking:

defamation backbiting, evil speaking, or speaking down. Speaking bad about someone else may have been a part of our lives before we came to Jesus, but it should never be a part of our life in Christ. We are to repent of those ungodly actions. When we speak evil of a brother or sister it shows the condition of our heart. It shows that we are not right with the Lord Jesus. It shows that we have not laid aside those things. If we don’t have anything good to say about someone we don’t need to say it. It we have to talk to someone about someone else talk to Jesus about them. It is so easy to get caught up in speaking evil about someone or listening to the evil about someone.

• Ephesians 4:25 says, “Therefore, putting away lying, ‘Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.”

• Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

Some people are talkers and some are not. Some people tend to talk more than others. Those who talk a lot or love to talk have more of an opportunity to mess up in this manner. Though we all can speak evil of another! That’s why we must lay aside all evil speaking! It is our duty to lay aside evil speaking once and for all. We must be resolved to watch what we say and how we say it! If an evil thought comes to our mind about anything or anyone we must immediately take it to the Lord and request His help to rid ourselves of it before it comes out of our mouth. Jesus told us that from out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks! If we have evil in our hearts towards another it will come forth from our mouths. We must make sure our hearts are right with Jesus. Peter gives instructions to an infant church. In verse 1 we’ve learned about the Christian’s duty.

In verse 2–3 we see:

II. The Christian’s desire (2–3)

A. Their passion for desiring God’s word (2a)

“as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,”

Peter tells them the reason that should lay aside these things is because they’ve been born again by the living word of God. Then he proceeds to exhort them to desire and hunger for what is godly.

Peter gives a word about the Christian’s desire. Peter gives a vivid illustration concerning their passion as Christians. Newborn:

just born

Babes:

Peter gives a word to the church describing the Christian’s desire for the word of the Lord.

Desire:

Peter tells them what they are to desire. They are to desire “the pure milk of the word.”

This means that there is not the slightest element of anything evil in God’s word. Peter refers to the word of God as something that is used to nourish us, strengthen us, and help us.

Word:

It is clear from the context that Peter has in mind the believers desiring and craving the word of God which lives and abides forever. Just as newborn babies intensely crave their milk so too must the born again Christian intensely crave the word of God.

Before babies can speak words they can speak through their cries. They let you know when they are hungry. They long for that milk. A warm bottle of milk can shut up the loudest cry and sooth the fussiest baby. A baby that is healthy will intensely crave and desire milk. A baby that doesn’t have an appetite is sick. A Christian that doesn’t crave the word of God is sick. There’s something wrong with us when we will not pick up God’s word and read it.

A healthy infant is a hungry infant. A spiritually healthy Christian is a hungry Christian.”

Are you a healthy Christian?

When we don’t read God’s word daily it shows a lack of love, desire, and our spiritual condition. Our passion is misplaced!

Peter tells the church that they are to have a passion for the word of God like a newborn baby has for milk.

• Psalm 1:1–2 says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.”

• Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.”

Someone might say, “Pastor, I’m not a newborn babe. I’ve been a Christian for years and I’ve read through the Bible before and I don’t have to read it every day like some.” Now a person who says that is showing their spiritual ignorance and spiritual arrogance. FACT: We all need to read the Bible for daily edification, instruction, inspiration, and direction.

Peter instructs the church to have a deep passion for God’s word just as a newborn baby has a strong desire for their milk.

And you know, “It is sad when Christian’s have no appetite for God’s word, but must be ‘fed’ religious entertainment instead.” As Christian’s we are to have a passion for God’s word. We are to desire the word of God. Peter reveals the Christian’s desire. We learn about their passion for desiring God’s word.

In the last part of verse 2 we see:

B. The purpose for desiring God’s word (2b)

“as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.”

Peter tells us about the purpose for having a passion for God’s word. We are to desire the pure milk of the word so that we may grow. Grow:

increase. This is a passive verb in the Greek which could be rendered “that it may grow you.”

We are to take the pure milk and intake the pure milk of the word that we may grow thereby. It is God’s will for every Christian to grow in their faith, knowledge, and likeness of Jesus Christ. The purpose for loving the pure word of God is so that we may grow.

Being born again is the beginning of an eternity of knowing God. Being saved is not all there is. After we’re saved we are to learn the word, love the word, and live the word. God has left us on earth for a reason. We are His people and we are to accomplish His purposes on earth. We are to share His love, His word, and bring others to Him that they may be saved and grow like Him. We are to be passing on and passing down our faith to other generations.

Just as a newborn babe craves the milk so too are Christians. The baby that drinks plenty of milk will grow to be healthy. The Christian that feeds on the word of God will grow to be healthy. As we love the word, take the word, and feed upon the word we will grow.

See, Weightlifters spend hours in the gym working out, stretching, lifting, running, and eating right. They are not born with those huge muscles. It takes discipline, accountability, sweat, and time for them to grow. To grow in our faith it takes time in the word! We’ll find that as we get into the word that the word will get into us.

Peter. He writes, “Our new life in Christ cannot grow unless it is nourished regularly on the Word of God. There is no substitute for this.

Peter reveals the purpose for desiring God’s word. We’ve learned about their passion in desiring God’s word, the purpose for desiring God’s word,

and lastly we note:

C. The prerequisite for desiring God’s word (3)

“if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

Peter gives the prerequisite for desiring God’s word.

Peter was telling the church that they will not love the word of God and grow if they have not first tasted to see that the Lord is gracious. The only way that we can truly desire the word of God like a newborn baby desires milk is for us to be born into the family of God. We have to be born again. We have to be children of God to have a passion and desire for the word of God.

Peter tells the church that this should be their desires if or since they have been born again. If: this is a fulfilled condition and could be rendered “since.” Peter was not doubting that they had tasted that the Lord is gracious, but was expecting the proper response because they had tasted that the Lord is gracious. Psalm 34:8 says, “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”

. When we have experienced the Grace of the Lord and know Him by experience we will desire Him and His word. There is nothing or no one better than Jesus! Amen!

We are to respond properly if we have been born again we need to act like it! The writer of Hebrews describes those who had been under the word, participated in the fellowship of the church, been brought to the point of repentance and rejected the Son of God.

Hebrews 6:4–6 says, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

When we know that He is gracious and better we will want to live for Him and honor Him.