Taste the Goodness of the Lord / 1 Peter 2:1-12

Finding your identity and knowing what you base your identity upon is part of maturity. Can you articulate your identity? Who are you? That identity directs you down a pathway where you find your purpose in life. Did you enjoy the video of the homeless man finding a purpose in guarding possessions of another person?

Last week the challenge was to stake your heart on the reality of God. In this New Year, I challenge you to pursue reading through the Bible, daily. Believers, “followers of Jesus” we must be growing in our relationship with God. (AMEN?)

One basic requirement to grow more intimate in a relationship is quality communication. Our communication in pursuing a deeper intimacy with God is found in the basics: prayer, reading God’s Word and sharing/discussing what you are learning and living in the community of believers.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 2

Using many OT quotations and allusions, Peter continues to encourage his readers in their Christian conduct. Christians should respond to God’s saving act in Jesus with behavior that honors Him—they should act like they are indeed His people and representatives.

1 Peter 2:1–12 ESV

1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 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. 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 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.

Prayer

Like Newborn Babies

Get Rid of Bad Behavior: Malice, Deceit, Hypocrisy, Envy and Slander

Long for Pure Spiritual Milk (This is the milk that Christians drink to mature in the faith.)

Purpose is to Grow Up into Salvation

Condition: You know, remember, tasted that the Lord is good

Like Sojourners and Exiles

Abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage against your soul.

Keep your conduct (among the Gentiles) honorable

When they call you evildoers,

they see your good deeds and

glorify God on the day of visitation.

Living Stones

Christ’s worth (cornerstone) in God’s eyes despite the world’s rejection of Him

1 Peter 2:4 ESV

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,

Believers (living stones) function as building blocks in the spiritual house of God (the temple); they do this by virtue of their new life in Christ

1 Peter 2:5 ESV

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.

A Holy Priesthood: the ultimate purpose of priests is to offer God praise and thanksgiving

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

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.

APPLICATION: CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK OF OTHERS AND THE WAY WE THINK OF OURSELVES.

Tim Keller: The Reasons for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

Raise your respect and love for all people

The Biblical doctrine of the universal image of God, therefore, leads Christians to expect nonbelievers will be better than any of their mistaken beliefs could make them.

Humble yourself, stop thinking highly of yourself

The Biblical doctrine of universal sinfulness also leads Christians to expect believers will be worse in practice than their orthodox beliefs should make them.

CONCLUSION: