Growing In Our Salvation

Introduction

At the end of World War II, there were many businesses in Germany that had major structural damage because of the bombings that took place. One business man, who’s building was damaged, put a sign on the front door that read “Business As Usual.” Too often, it’s easy for us who proclaim to be Christ-Followers to put a sign around our lives that says “Business As Usual.” However, when God saved us and we proclaimed that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, we should no longer desire to have a sign that says “ Business As Usual”, but a sign that says “Under New Management.”

As we continue our study in 1st Peter, Peter is going to emphasize the importance of growing spiritually. He is going to share what causes us to grow spiritually and what can hinder us. Peter will also emphasize the importance of growing on the right foundation and the urgency to fight the war that is within. So join me in chapter 2 of 1st Peter (Page 660) as we look at the first 12 verses.

1 Peter 2:1–12 CSB

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, if you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by God—you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame. So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected— this one has become the cornerstone, and A stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.

(Prayer)

Spiritual Nourishment (1st Peter 2:1-3)

We see Peter starting a sentence again with “Therefore.” This means, Peter is referencing back to the last paragraph in chapter 1 about being born-again. Peter is making a point to the believers “now that you are born-again you should know the following.” The first thing he wants us to recognize is our need for spiritual growth. Let’s re-read verses 1 and 2;

1 Peter 2:1–2 CSB

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation,

Peter gives us a warning of what should be in our spiritual diets and what shouldn’t be.

I remember growing up and during dinner time my mom would emphasize the importance of eating our vegetables. One vegetable I really don’t care for is cooked broccoli. I would give my mom a hard time about eating it. However, if she put a Reese’s peanut butter pie on the table, I would have no problem eating it. I desired the sweet rich pie that doesn’t help my body over the vegetable that provides the nutrients my body needs.

Peter in theses verses is telling us to get rid of the spiritual junk food that is sin and crave the the truth of God’s word. Peter lists 5 “spiritual junk foods” we should avoid.

1.) Malice-Bad behavior; hateful spirit which desires to hurt people.

2.) Deceit- Trick or to bait.

3.) Hypocrisy: Pretending to have qualities or beliefs you don’t really have.

4.) Envy: Resentment toward the success or possessions of others.

5.) Slander: Saying false words that damage a persons reputation.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, these are things we should not desire but as Peter says we should “desire the pure milk of the word.”

With Rachel and I about 10 weeks away from welcoming our first child into the world, one of the things we will recognize is the baby’s desire to want milk. Why? Because she will be hungry. Now, how will she act when she desires it? Will she be calm, cool, and collective? That’s wishful thinking. No, she will cry for it until she gets the milk.

As a believer, our souls should desire the milk that is the truth of God’s word. Our attitudes shouldn’t be “Man, I have to read the Word of God” instead it should be “I get to read the Word of God!” We can fall into the mindset of reading the bible as a chore for a couple reasons;

1.) We truly don’t desire the Word.

2.) We get distracted and allow “junk food” in.

3.) We take the Word of God for granted.

The Foundation (1st Peter 2:4-10):

Now that Peter has talked about the importance of growing, he now shifts the focus on where the foundation of our growth begins. Look at verses 4-5;

1 Peter 2:4–5 CSB

As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by God—you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Notice in verse 5 that Peter says we are being built up to be holy priests through Jesus Christ. Peter is reminding the believers that the foundation of our growth is built on Jesus Christ. He then quotes Isaiah 28:16 in verse 6;

Isaiah 28:16 CSB

Therefore the Lord God said: “Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.

Cornerstone: the first stone laid in the construction of a building at the outer corner of two intersecting masonry walls.

According to a blog called “The Little Known Purpose of The Corner Stone”, when a building is first constructed, the cornerstone is the first stone be set during the building process. Careful measurements are taken to ensure the cornerstone was square to ensure the proper alignment for the remainder of the building.

If you are going to grow in your faith, you need to start with the right cornerstone, the right foundation. Peter warns us that there are people who will and have rejected the cornerstone of Jesus Christ and in verse 8 he quotes Isaiah 8:14

Isaiah 8:14 CSB

He will be a sanctuary; but for the two houses of Israel, he will be a stone to stumble over and a rock to trip over, and a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

To the unbeliever, the cornerstone of Jesus Christ will be in their way and they will try to get rid of Him. For centuries, since Jesus came and ascended, many have tripped and stumbled over Him and have even tried to smash the cornerstone that is Christ. While it’s easy to look down on the unbeliever, let us be careful to examine our own lives (the ones who claim to be a believer) if we are truly building our lives on the foundation of Christ. Jesus Himself challenges us to examine our foundation. Turn with me to Matthew 7 starting on verse 21;

Matthew 7:21–29 CSB

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’ “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, because he was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.

The Wrong Foundation:

Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD): Works and Good People Get To Heaven.

Prosperity Gospel: If you believe in Jesus, He will make you a millionaire.

Self-Help Gospel: Jesus died to make a better version of yourself. You aren’t a sinner, you just need “help”.

Signs and Wonders Gospel: If you are truly saved Jesus, you will be able to preform signs and wonders.

All Religions Save Gospel: That we all believe in the same God.

My Sexual Preference Gospel: Whatever I desire sexually is okay.

While there are many who fall for these false foundations and many who reject Jesus Christ, we should never look at them as “those people.” We should look at them with a broken heart because we were once “those people”. Look at verses 9 and 10

1 Peter 2:9–10 CSB

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Urgency (1st Peter 2:11-12):

There is a war for your soul.

Romans 7:14–25 CSB

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold as a slave under sin. For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate. Now if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good. So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one that does it, but it is the sin that lives in me. So I discover this law: When I want to do what is good, evil is present with me. For in my inner self I delight in God’s law, but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.

How do we fight this war?

Romans 13:12–14 CSB

The night is nearly over, and the day is near; so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk with decency, as in the daytime: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.

Satan promises the best, but pays with the worst; He promises honor and pays with disgrace; He promises pleasure and pays with pain; He promises profit and pays with loss; He promises life and pays with death.—Thomas Brooks

Ephesians 6:12 CSB

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.