We Are Different

I have a somewhat odd question: who here had (or has) a pet rock?

ILL: Cookie Monster’s Question: Is rock alive?

Transition: In our passage this morning, we find some living rocks that help us see how holiness makes a difference in us.

Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-10

1 Peter 2:4–10 ESV

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.

Pray

Last week we looked at the command to be holy and we saw that holiness, like electricity, needs a circuit. We talked about the basic elements that make up the circuit of holiness. We saw the righteous judge serves as the power source - the One who empowers holiness. We looked at our holy living as the load - the thing that does the work. We saw that holiness works out in reverence to God throughout our whole lives. We found that great salvation as the motivation behind our holy works, and Christ as the model for how we are to live. We saw how love is a major way holiness is demonstrated, and how God’s Word is foundational to the whole process. We examined our own hearts, seeing that our spiritual health is the conduit for holiness, and that whether we are spiritually disciplined or not impacts how holy we become. Now that we’re “plugged in” to the context (pardon the pun), let’s look at the impact that pursuit of holiness has on us.

Christ is the Living Stone, Rejected by Men But Chosen by God

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,

Coming to Christ is not a “one-and-done” sort of thing - it is a continual coming that persistently thirsts for his presence and is never satiated. It’s a coming to stay, not just to “visit.” It’s a coming that cannot be truly fulfilled until he comes again and we are with him for eternity.

Rejected - in worldly wisdom, men refuse the Rock of Ages,

But in the sight of God - but Jesus is both chosen (elected) and precious in God’s esteem

Those Who Reject Christ Stumble

1 Peter 2:7–8 ESV

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.

Psalm 118:22–23 ESV

22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

Isaiah 8:14 ESV

14 And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

But We Who Believe in Christ Are Different

We Are Living Stones Being Built into His Temple

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.

We Are a Holy Priesthood Worshipping with Honor

1 Peter 2:5–7 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. 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,”

We Are a Peculiar People Proclaiming His Excellence

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.

Chosen Race - literally an “elected family”

Royal Priesthood - representing both civil and spiritual; with authority over men and responsibility for them

Holy Nation - we are a group of people with shared identity through Christ, and that makes us set apart for him

People for His Own Possession - we are a social group who belong to God

We Are God’s People Living in God’s Mercy

1 Peter 2:10 ESV

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.

All this brings up the question - are you a living stone? Jesus told a parable of two men - one who built his house on sand, and the other who built his house on the rock. When the rains came, and they will come, true wisdom was found out. There is no rock for us to build upon that is more firm and secure than the Living Stone - Christ himself. And he’s willing today, if you ask, to be your foundation. And not only will he undergird your life, but he’ll make you a living stone too, and build you along with his people for his glory. Will you trust him today while we sing?