The Lord Jesus Christ

1 Peter 2:4-10

Introduction:

If you were going to describe the Lord Jesus to someone what would you say?

Peter is going to take some time to tell his readers about the Lord Jesus

I. The Great Person of Jesus Christ

1. He is a living stone v. 4

The two words living and stone do not go together

There is no life in a stone

A. Meaning

1) Jesus gives life where there is not life

John 14:6

Ephesians 2:1-10

2) Rolled away stone is a symbol of His life

3) Life that He gives is different from other types of life

B. Character of a stone:

1) Everlasting John 1:1

2) Invincible 1 Timothy 1:17

3) Gives strength to uphold v. 6 and Matt. 7:24-29

2. He is chosen by God and precious v. 4

He did the will of the father

See 1 Peter 1:20-21

3. He is disallowed by men v. 4

God became man, lived 33 year, taught, healed, and yet was rejected because He was not what they wanted or expected

People today reject Him as well, contrary to what they think He should be

4. He is precious to believers v. 7

1) He is life Col. 3:4

2) He is sustenance John 6:53-58

3) He is the one who called us 1 Cor. 1:26-31

4) He is our example 1 Peter 2:21

5) He is our sufficiency 2 Cor. 8:9 Through Him we are rich

5. He is a stumbling block v. 8

The Jews stumbled, how many today are doing the same?

Govt. symbol in California, had other god’s on it but ACLU made them change just the cross

II. The transformation that He brings vv. 9-10

1. A new position: From not being a people of God to being a people of God

Romans 3:10-18 our condition before Christ

Ephesians 2:1-10 our condition before and after Christ

It blows my mind to stop and think about being made a “people of God”

Having a special position/relationship before God

What an honor that is

2. New benefits

1) Lively stones v. 5

Again the idea of stones being made alive

He uses us as building stones within His Church

Lively stones are built on the Living stone

2) A Royal Priesthood v. 9

In OT the priests along could go before God

Word the ephod with the names of tribes on it

Now we can come boldly to the throne Heb. 4:16

3) A holy nation/peculiar people/ people of God v. 9

For what purpose? Represent God before men

Show forth His praises before men