Holiness in an unholy world... (6)

Like living stones...

Let’s start by reading our passage this morning, and then we can dive in and see how it applies to us today.

1 Peter 2:4–5 NIV

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

As you come to Him...

In these verses, Peter is not speaking to conversion, he’s speaking to those who have already come to faith in Jesus Christ, those who have believed that He died for their sins.

As you come to HIm...

How are we to come?

With full assurance...

Hebrews 10:19–23 NIV

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

With confidence...

Hebrews 4:16 NIV

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

In the Old Testament when Esther came into King Xerxes throne room, he had the authority to have her put to death. She came pleading for her people, the Jews because a wicked man, named Haman wanted to see the Jewish race exterminated.

If King Xerxes extended his sceptre, she was safe, but if he wasn’t in the mood or if he was bothered by her, she would be punished.

When we come into God’s presence, He isn’t bothered. He has invited us to come into His presence.

With thanksgiving...

Psalm 100:1–5 NIV

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

With humility...

1 Peter 5:5–7 NIV

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Sometimes, we can fall into the trap that God is busy like we are. Maybe as children, we got the impression that our parents were too busy, or we might tell our kids to wait, but God is never too busy.

Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV

‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

1 Peter 2:4 NIV

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—

Next week I want to look at Jesus as the living Stone - rejected by humans but chosen by God.

1 Peter 2:5 NIV

you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Like living stones...

My Uncle and Aunt have been living in a stone house since about 1963. I loved going there and admiring the house and barn.

Each stone was picked. It one had to fit to make the house and the barn. Maybe they had to be cut so that they would fit in place, but each building needed to have the stone which started the foundation. Our Stone is Christ.

Matthew 16:13–19 NIV

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Stones and mortar made for strong structures that would last a long time. In this part of the country, we live in an area that doesn’t have a lot of old structures. If you were to go to Eastern Canada, you’d see buildings that might be hundreds of years old. In Europe and Asia, you will see structures that are thousands of years old.

I used to pick stones by hand, but later I used a stone picker. I had a neighbour that picked hundreds and hundreds of loads and he used to say that the stones that he picked were chosen and precious because they were all hand picked.

You are living stones...

You are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood.

1 Corinthians 3:16–17 NIV

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

Together, we are part of this temple not built with hands. In Ephesians two, Paul goes on to explain how God has brought Jews and Gentiles together as one in Christ, and he says this,

Ephesians 2:19–22 NIV

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

God builds a spiritual house through Jesus Christ

Have you ever shopped at Home Depot? Lowes? Or some other home repair-improvement type store?

If you have you've inevitably seen the piles of lumber tossed aside that are broken, cracked, warped, crooked, or just plain look bad. These piles of lumber go ignored as faithful builders go for the 'perfect' building materials. After all, who in their right mind would ever use "bad" materials to build a house? You just don't do that - you don't start with a bad foundation because you know it won't last.

So it's funny that Jesus builds a very different way. He uses the crooked sticks, the broken sticks, the lame lumber, the stuff that everyone else is looking past and in many cases tosses aside. It's almost like he DELIGHTS in using materials that everyone else thinks are 'useless'. It's almost like he's loading up his proverbial cart with all the crooked, broken, and warped wood that he can and he's parading it around - inviting others to question his decision making.

"How are you going to build a house with THAT!?!"

"Are you blind? That wood is warped, you'll never pass inspection!"

"There is a huge pile of perfectly good material over there, use that."

You can almost hear Jesus' voice, "No, I'm going to build my house. And nothing is going to stop me."... "These crooked, warped, broken pieces of wood are perfect and they're are all mine." And off he goes, building the spiritual house, one broken stick at a time. One warped 2x4 at a time. One rotten floor joist at a time. And believe me, IN CHRIST we will all pass the inspection as we stand redeemed and justified in HIM alone. What a beautiful picture of the grace of God through the redemption of His son.

"As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 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." - 1 Peter 2:4-5 (Sermon Central, Matthew Redder)

A holy priesthood...

Revelation 1:4–8 NIV

John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 1:6 NKJV

and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

This is what we call the priesthood of all believers. Each and everyone of us has this calling. Each of us can come into the presence of Almighty God through the blood of Jesus.

In Exodus 19:6

Exodus 19:4–6 NIV

‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

This is what God said to all Israel, not just to Aaron and his children, not just to the tribe of Levi, but to all the children of Israel.

Through Jesus, we have been grafted in to the family of Abraham. This is what Galatians 3:26-29 says,

Galatians 3:26–29 NIV

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

1 Peter 2:5 NIV

you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Offering spiritual sacrifices...

These offerings are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

You may have heard of the first two brothers mentioned in the Bible: Cain and Abel. God accepted Abel’s sacrifice, but He rejected Cain’s.

Our’s is acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Our bodies...

Romans 12:1–2 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Walk in love...

Ephesians 5:1–2 ESV

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

As we follow God’s example, we lay down our lives for others.

John 15:13 NIV

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Our generosity...

Hebrews 13:15–16 NIV

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

When we give to those in need, it pleases God. Paul the apostle commended the believers in Philippi because they gave to him in his time of need. This is what he said,

Philippians 4:18–19 NIV

I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 19:17 ESV

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

Even if nobody else sees what you do, the Lord sees and He will see to it that He blesses you.

How will He bless you?

Ephesians 1:3 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

Proverbs 11:25 NIV

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Luke 6:38 NIV

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Is it always money? Not necessarily, but God is able to bless you in ways that you can’t even begin to imagine.

Ephesians 3:20–21 NIV

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

If you ever come to the place where you wonder if God has blessed you, just take a few minutes and write it down. I’m sure that you’ll be surprised.

To close, our purpose as these living stones is to bring glory and honour to God.

Ephesians 2:10 NLT

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Chiseling away… Davon Huss

All our lives God works on us, chiseling away those parts of our life that hinder us from fitting into His eternal temple. Our Christian life is a work in progress. Jesus Christ is changing us from a useless stone to a useful one.

Before Michelangelo created the masterpiece we know simply as “David,” Agostino d’ Antonio had worked diligently but unsuccessfully on a large piece of marble. He gave up his effort and said, “I can do nothing with it.” Some others tried after him but failed. This piece of marble was laid in a rubbish heap for 40 years.

Out strolling one day Michelangelo saw the stone and believed that it had great possibilities.

We know what happened. From that seemingly worthless stone was carved one of the world’s masterpieces of sculpture- David. For Michelangelo, the job of the sculptor was to free the forms that were already inside the stone. He believed every stone had a sculpture within it, and the work of sculpting was simply a matter of chipping away all that was not a part of the statue.

When Jesus looks at us, He sees not a rough piece of rock but He sees inside of us the potential to be a beautiful dressed stone useful in his temple. As the Master Sculptor He is able to chip away all that is not a part of what He wants us to be. This work of transformation is accomplished only by the One referred to as “The Living Stone.” F. B. Meyer says, “Stones touch the Stone and become jewels.” Stones useful in building God’s house.

May we be willing to let God chip away on us so that we will be living stones useful to do His will.