WCCS

1 Peter 2:4–10 ESV

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 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. 6 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.” 7 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,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 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. 10 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.

Context

Lets dive into what is going on here.

Peter: Simon Peter

This is one of Jesus first Disciples. He is know for being a bit active and sometimes hot headed.

despite his short comings Peter was one of Jesus closest friends and became the corner stone of the church.

Peter is writing from Rome where is is the figure head of the church.

he writes to people thousands of KM away in Asia minor which is modern day turkey

We is writing to a group of people who are called to be holy and live a life pointed to Jesus despite the circumstances

Peter uses the word Elect to describe this Group which means a people chosen by God.

and no mater the situation that they are in God will be with them and they should remain faithful

Theme is hope and confidence

Living Stones

In the old testament the people of God went to the temple to worship God and present sacrifices.

however the sinfulness of the people sometimes put them in situations where the temple was destroyed or they were cast away from the presence

Isaiah 28:16 ESV

16 therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’

God spoke through the prophet Isaiah to the people of israel prophecying that their would a be a new stone (what the temple was made of) that would be the corner stone in the new heavenly city on that would never pass away

Psalm 118:22 ESV

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

This stone would be rejected by people

Jesus is rejected and killed but became the corner stone of the new presence of God with Humanity

Our text opens up with the great line “as you come to him”

this is the same way the priests approached God

as we approach God who is not distant or dead but as we approach Jesus who is alive and active.

the living corner stone of the faith is Jesus, we can approach his presence the same way the preist did

We are also being built up in this same fashion to be built up into what peter calls the spiritual house

this means we are be building up in the spiritual house in creation which God has made for us meaning that for those who are in christ we get to participate in what God is doing in creation

What are we

chosen race:

regardless of ethnicity we belong to God. that is our identity

It also means that the God of the universe has chosen you to bless creation with

God chose you and loves you and is enabling you to love and bless other

Royal priest hood:

The priest job was the mediate between god and humanity

meaning they were the ones who talked to god most, prayed for the people, loved the community and pointed people to God

God had desired Israel to be this nation of priest Ex 19:18

Exodus 19:6 ESV

6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

What was once just for Israel now is extended to all who believe in Jesus.

priest lived lives that were different then the people they were marked by their holiness and their connection to God

we get to live this life of holiness and point people to God

How: loving ,praying, serving, not going along with the world but following Jesus example

People for his own

We belong to God and nothing will change that

1 Peter 1:3–6 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

no mater the trials or what the world says you belong to God

proclaim excellencies

why did god do this? so that we may make his name great and tell people of his Goodness, this is the priestly call

You may say im to small or young but you have a priestly calling

darkness to light

we have moved from the darkness of this world to Jesus glory

now we get to share that!

Now we are a people

we once didnt belong but now through God we all can belong and have life and life abundant