Priesthood of Believers

1 Peter 2:1-5

As we come to our text this morning, in order to fully appreciate the passage before us we will look at whom the apostle addressed this letter.

He calls them aliens (outcasts of society), who have been chosen, redeemed by God and sealed by the Spirit of God for a salvation that has not yet revealed itself.

It is to these believers that Peter is encouraging to be sober-minded and not turn back to the ways they used to conduct themselves.

They are instead called to live with reverence and fear of the Lord, knowing the imperishable seed of salvation that God has imparted to them.

They are to live with this fear and reverence because Christ the Lamb of God, who has eternally existed has come and by His blood redeemed God’s people.

And according to Peter, we who have been purified by obedience to the truth of the Gospel have been given a sincere love for the brethren, and that because of this work we should love one another fervently.

We have just laid out just a fraction of the apostle Peter’s description of not only these people but Christian’s and the guiding factors that determine their walk, love for the God who saved them and for His people.

To say it concisely, a believer is someone redeemed by God through obedience to the good news about Jesus, who has been changed and given a love for God and His people, and is now committed to loving His people.

After reflecting on the work of God in His redemption of mankind, Peter now turns to instruct the people.

V.1

Peter instructs us to be putting aside malice, which is premeditated wickedness that lies in our hearts and finds its expression in the next terms:

He says to get rid off:

Deceit- Stop lying about yourself or leading people astray, but as a prime benefactor of the truth of Christ, lead others to Him

Hypocrisy- Stop lying about being overly righteous, and admit your brokenness, for when we acknowledge our brokenness we find freedom.

Someone who truly belongs to Christ will acknowledge their weakness.

And to go along with this stop saving face at church, but instead be sincere in weakness and humility.

Envy- Don’t let your heart be corrupted by jealousy and waiting to be elevated above your neighbor, but instead pursue humility.

Slander- Do not seek to tear down others but bare their burdens and uplift them.

See that all of these things are divisive and work against us loving our neighbor.

In addition to laying aside these sinful demeanors, Peter gives a command that is positive

V.2

He says as newborn babes long for milk, so should Christians long for the very word of God. For it is by the word we grow up into our salvation, and we find the nourishment for our soul we so desperately long for.

He goes on to say that by the word we grow up into our salvation.

Salvation happens at the point of conversion, but it is an ongoing process that is complete at our glorification.

The truth Peter is reminding us of, is that we cannot grow in our faith apart from consuming the word of God.

You will remain bitterly weak in your faith, and like a ship tossed to and fro in the sea apart from a dedication to the word.

For it is by the word that your weakness and deficiency is revealed, while at the same time the power and restorative love of God is put on display.

By being a student of the word you are shown your weakness and are in reaction sent fleeing to the mighty God who in His love and mercy has chosen to redeem you.

Let us be careful not to dismiss all of this from verse 3

V.3

Peter says these things are to be true of us , and we should pursue them if we have tasted and seen the kindness of God.

If you have truly seen your need for Jesus, then you won’t be able to avoid the Word.

Most people have such a low view of scripture and the church because they don’t really grasp who Jesus is.

Church is so much more than something we do, and in the next few verses we will briefly unpack this.

So when we have truly tasted and seen the kindness of God, what occurs?

V.4-5

Peter says that as we come to this living stone (Christ) which mankind has rejected, for He was crucified by the Jews and His gospel referred to as foolishness by the rest of the world, we are being built as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, in order that we may offer spiritual sacrifices that God views as acceptable through the work of Jesus.

When we have tasted and seen the kindness of God, God says that He is building us into a spiritual house, in which Christ is the cornerstone, or the stone that ties everything together.

He also says God is building us into a holy priesthood, that he expands on just a few verses later, by calling us a chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, and a people for God’s own possession.

But focusing on this priesthood, it is by belonging to it that we serve God.

Every single one of you, if you belong to God is a priest of the almighty. You don’t need anyone to go before God for you.

So what is the function of this priesthood? Or what does it mean to offer spiritual sacrifices?

This is worship. From the beginning man would offer sacrifices as a sign of worship to God.

Now through Christ who has made every single one of his children a priest, we offer up worship to the one God who has redeemed us.

What is this worship? Or the duty of the church?

Caring for the body of Christ, we honor God when we seek the good of our fellow believers. This why Peter initially instructed us to avoid divisive behaviors.

Do not look at a church for just what you can get out of it

Next Peter says that God calls us who are in the light to proclaim the excellencies of God to those in darkness.

You weren’t saved just to show up on Sundays, but have been taken ahold of as a slave of Christ in order care enough to snatch others from the fire.

Finally, it is worship with the gathering of the saints where we most directly declare His glory. As we gather to praise God we get just a glimpse of heaven, because we along with other redeemed sinners proclaim the glory of our God and Savior Christ.

Don’t miss that last part though, our praises are only acceptable to God because of Christ. If you are here just trying to be a good person, to put it bluntly your offering is filth to God.

God loves you and is willing to forgive you and redeem you because of Jesus, not because you earned it, so cling to Him to give Him glory because of the unearned mercy and love God so freely gives because of Christ.

Put off divisiveness, cling to the word of God, proclaim the gospel, and worship God faithfully.