The Stone and the Chosen
Notes
Transcript
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—5 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.
Our study of 1 Peter continues tonight and we see a significant shift in focus.
What have we learned so far?
The people were scattered because of persecution. They felt like strangers in the land because of their faith.
They were reminded of the living hope that they have in Christ.
They were called to prepare their minds for action by placing their hope fully on grace.
They were instructed to rid themselves of the sinful “clutter” that might keep them from experiencing all that God had for them. They were instructed to find nourishment in God and to grow in their salvation.
Tonight the focus shifts to a new direction. We move from spiritual nourishment… to security and honor.
The chosen people of God were displaced and living apart from one another. If you have ever found yourself in a position of being alone in a stance or isolated for your belief, then you know it can be an unsettling feeling for sure.
There’s a familiar ideology that we don’t speak of often, but we understand clearly in our every day walk: we find safety in numbers. We find a sense of security in numbers.
It is easier to stand as a group… then it is to stand alone. And church, that is why it is so important that we build a connection with a local house of worship. For faith sake, our fellowship is very important.
Consider this truth for a moment. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Now it is no accident that the enemy is compared to a lion. Lions hunt by doing what? By looking for the weak or the injured. They hunt by finding the one that is isolated from the rest of the group.
Satan knows… the easier target is the isolated or disconnected target. But those who belong and are part of the group are much more difficult to attack. Why? Because they stand together as a group… as one body… making it more difficult for the enemy to attack just one.
So… how was a community of believers expected to find the security or safety that comes with numbers… if they had been scattered throughout the region because of their faith?
These people had lost the sense of security that came with closeness in proximity. And some of us may know what that feeling is like tonight.
Maybe you’re the only believer in your office.
Maybe you’re the only church goer in your family.
Maybe you’re the only Christian in your circle of friends.
Maybe you’re the only person of faith on your block.
Maybe you’re connection is reduced to an online experience or social media presence only.
Maybe… you know what it feels like… to be the only one standing for faith in your context.
How do we combat the feelings of insecurity that may arise with such a position? How does a person remain established in Christ, when it feels like the world establishment stands against you?
The answer is more simple than one might think and the main text we read a moment ago makes it clear. We come to Him. We come to the One the text identifies as… the living stone.
Now, that might seem like a rather odd nickname for someone… the living stone. Why would Jesus be identified as a living stone… and not just any living stone but specifically the One that was rejected by humans BUT was chosen by God?
First off, special attention must be given to way the stone is described… as living.
As we draw nearer to Easter Sunday, it is important for us to remember that JESUS IS ALIVE. He is NOT some lifeless statue or motionless idol.
This description of Christ is not trying to lower our view of Him as nothing more than a monument or shrine, Such things are cold and dead. Jesus… is neither one of these things.
Secondly, the reference to Christ as a living stone is used in a construction format.
In that day, stones were extremely important in any building project. Because they were strong, they were used in important elements such as the foundation - that which the rest of the building would be built upon.
What do we know of foundations? In order for a building to be safe and secure, it must be constructed on a firm foundation. The foundation must be strong and must be able to stand against the fiercest of storms.
Weak or unstable foundations show signs of their inability to stand throughout the rest of the building.
Walls begin to crack. Things begin to lean. Doors do not close well. Cement floors begin to separate as things shift and settle.
That which is underneath the building is what gives it strength and security to stand.
And in the case of the believer, Christ, the living stone, is who our lives are to be built upon.
With Christ as our foundation… we can find assurance and security in the truth that… we are NEVER alone.
Although they were scattered, they were never separated from Christ. Although they were strangers to the culture, they were no strangers to God.
Our security comes not from our circumstance, but comes from who we serve and in who we’re called to be.
Christ becomes the foundation of our lives when we serve Him above all else.
When we hear His Words and do what they say (Matthew 7) then our lives are built on the rock that can weather the fiercest storm or stand against any attack.
With Christ as our foundation we become a people like no other people on earth - a holy priesthood - as our main text made clear.
A priesthood indicates not one… but many. Many who are one in Christ. And although distance was a very real factor in the lives of the believers that Peter was writing to, they were bound together by their faith and belief in Jesus.
Tonight we are talking about the security and and the safety we have as God’s chosen people. We are going to talk about the importance of building our lives on the living stone and living our lives as a holy priesthood.
First, I want to talk about the building process. This process happens...
From the Inside Out
From the Inside Out
Look back at 1 Peter 2:5. There is something important we need to look at regarding the… building process if you will. With any building process comes the starting point. And where we start we greatly impact the level of security and safety we feel daily.
5 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… believers are being built into a spiritual house - a house that is being built on the foundation or living stone of Christ. A house… that is being built from the inside out.
Kristy and I have had the opportunity to work on a few different houses over the years. And most of the work we have done would be what I call cosmetic or surface-level work.
We have changed flooring, painted walls, refinished trim, tiled a bathroom, wired a few switches and yes… even plumbed a few water lines.
The work we did always began with something in place… I’ve never built a house from the ground up. And… in all of the repairs or remodeling we have done over the years… we have never had to repair or replace a foundation.
When it comes to being built into a spiritual house, we need to understand the kind of work that is going on. This is NOT a superficial work that begins and ends with a little paint here and some new flooring there and an updated window for the living room. This is a COMPLETE overhaul that begins at what our life is built upon.
When it comes to the spiritual work that Christ desires to do in our lives, it does NOT begin with what is on the outside… it begins with what is on the inside. Jesus begins in our heart… Jesus begins the building process in our innermost being.
Christianity is not a mere patter of life that focuses on outward behavior alone. If our faith has been reduced to nothing more than proper behavior modification, then I would suggest that house was built on the wrong foundation!
Jesus does in fact care about how we live our lives from day to day.
He gave us things like the Be-Attitudes, He gave us commands, and… HE LIVED AS THE EXAMPLE OF HOW WE SHOULD LIVE!
The very term Christian means what? Christ-like. Jesus cares very much about our behavior, our attitudes, and the way we conduct ourselves with others.
But Jesus cares even more so… about our heart… about the place from which our attitudes and behaviors are formulated.
When our lives are surrendered to Christ, He doesn’t ask that we clean up the outside first, instead, His Spirit moves in and begins to do a work in us from the inside out.
No one begins building a house by erecting the walls before laying the foundation. And… in the case of spiritual renewal… God doesn’t come into our lives and simply touch up walls and repaint ceilings… He completely renovates our soul, our mind, and our heart through the work of His Spirit and the truth of His Word!
And it is all built on what? The Living Stone who is Jesus Christ! The living Stone God has given us… the stone that the world rejected.
6 For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
8 and,
“A stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.
When we come to know Christ as our Lord and Savior… He begins a new work within us… a work that begins on the inside… and I want you to see what Scripture has to say about the new work that Jesus is doing...
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
So think about this… Jesus doesn’t start a building process He doesn’t complete!
How many times do we start work on the surface, tearing into walls, pulling off the trim, and so on, and the work gets delayed… or the work comes to a screeching halt.
If Jesus begins a good work in you… Jesus will complete that good work.
But again… do not mistaken superficial behavior modification for good work. If the work isn’t coming from the inside out… chances are… the work isn’t being done by Jesus.
Legalism is not the house we need built. Traditions or going through motions is not the house we need built. Such homes are built with materials other than the Living Stone given to us by God.
When God builds the house… it is a house full of life. When God builds the house, it is a house that can stand. When God builds the house… it is a house full of His Spirit.
And as the spiritual house is built, it is done so to become…
A Holy Priesthood
A Holy Priesthood
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
The text re-emphasizes something very important here… The Living Stone, who is Christ, is building believers into a spiritual household… a holy priesthood. A term that indicates not one… but many. Not a person… but a people.
In the Old Testament, the priesthood was restricted to a qualified minority - they were the descendants of Aaron from the Israel tribe of Levi.
Their unique responsibility was to offer sacrifices to God on behalf of the people and to make communication between God and His people possible.
This was an exclusive group… so what changed that enabled all believers to become a part of this holy priesthood?
Jesus changed it all through what He did for us on the cross.
Now, though Christ, Every true believer has been made a priest to God! “Well, pastor, I don’t feel like a priest and I struggle to understand the significance of this term.”
The significance comes in the access that we now have with the Father! Because of what Jesus has done… we get to enjoy the presence and closeness of God!
And with this title also comes the obligation to live holy lives.
This is NOT lived out through legalistic methods, traditions, or rituals. Obligation is really the wrong way to look at it.
As we draw closer to God, I believe our desire will be to move away from the things and ways of this world. Our desire to honor God will compel us to live holy and righteous lives.
Believers will live in obedience to God.
They will refuse to conform to pattern of this world.
They will be a people of prayer.
They will be a people of praise.
They will serve God with whole hearts and willing hands.
They will be a people who live and proclaim the Word of God… a people who stand for His truth… a people who will lead others to Christ.
That is the spiritual house… the chosen people… Christ is BUILDING us to be!
He has called us out of darkness, out of the destructive ways of the world and into His marvelous light… a light brings brings life and hope! And look at what verse 10 has to say.
Before Christ, you were ALONE… Before Christ we were not a “people.” We were lost… we had yet to receive mercy.
But now that we are in Christ, we are now the what? THE PEOPLE of God… the BODY of Christ. We are a holy nation… a nation not defined by borders and territories, but a nation identified by who we serve and follow every day of our lives!
Talk about safety and security! And the best part of this is truth is that this world cannot change who you are in Christ! You are a part of the royal priesthood… and with that comes one more very important things we must consider this evening. As a royal priesthood, we are to…
Giving Offerings to God
Giving Offerings to God
5 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.
God’s chosen people are called to “offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus.”
So… what does that mean and what does that look like? First, let’s consider what it is that is to be given - sacrifices.
A sacrifice is the act of slaughtering an animal or surrendering a possession as an offering to God. A sacrifice… costs you something.
We know tonight that the payment for sin is death. In the OT days, sacrifices were made to God and blood was shed to make atonement for the sins of the people. This took place regularly as there was no source of blood pure enough to cover all sins.
But then, God sent His Son, Jesus, to give His life as the sacrificial Lamb. Because Jesus was without sin or blemish, His blood is enough to cover ALL sin… say those two words with me… ALL SIN. Therefore, our sins have been atoned for, the price has been paid once and for all.
So… what kind of sacrifice are we to give if our sin debt has been paid? What can be offered to God if the best has already been given?
The Holy Priesthood is to give… SPIRITUAL sacrifices. They are to give of themselves back to the Lord.
There are two ways in which believers give of themselves to God.
One, we give of ourselves through praise and thanksgiving. God is worthy of our worship and worthy of our highest praise! And the people of God should give Him praise, daily!
The people of God should be a people of praise! This was true even when the people were scattered and feeling like strangers in a foreign land.
I am thankful for our opportunities to come together and to praise God corporately, but church, our praise MUST extend past this venue. We need to praise the Lord daily and give Him honor!
Two, we give of ourselves through dedicated service to the Lord.
Jesus set the bar high on what our service for the kingdom should look like. In an amazing example, Jesus took on the very appearance of a servant as He washed the feet of His disciples… an act that was done out of love… an act that was considered one of the lowliest things a person would ever do.
We are to serve God and to serve others as Christ served others. We are not here to serve our own self interests or agendas. As believers, we don’t sit in the lead seat… WE FOLLOW JESUS.
The two spiritual actions are what the holy priesthood are to do. But never forget, the Word identified them as… spiritual Sacrifices.
A sacrifice… should cost us something. A sacrifice is not done out of comfort… but is done in obedience. A sacrifice is giving when it hurts to give.
I’m not talking about physical hurt or emotional hurt. I’m talking about giving when it hurts our busy schedule or when it hurts our comfort zone. I’m talking about giving that hurts the bottom line or hurts our personal plan.
David understood this principle in the OT when someone offered to give him what was needed to be sacrificed. His reply in 2 Samuel 24:24 was
24 But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.
If it costs us nothing… it isn’t a sacrifice.
The holy priesthood, the peculiar people spoken of are to be a people of praise and service. They are a people who follow Jesus, a people whose spiritual house is built and founded on the Living Stone that is Jesus… a foundation that brings us security and safety no matter what circumstance we find ourselves in.
The world rejected Christ. Jesus is the stone that the world has cast out… but for believers… He is our capstone… He is EVERYTHING important regarding the building of our spiritual house.
If the house is built on anything else… it is anything but spiritual. But if the house is built on the Word who is Jesus, then it can weather any storm, praise Him in any circumstance, and serve Him in any culture.
In Christ, we are NEVER alone. And I am thankful for that truth tonight!
We are no strangers to God! Our security and safety i found in Him!
And tonight, maybe you feel your security and safety has been shaken. Maybe your foundation… has been compromised. Maybe instead of standing on the rock… you find yourself sinking in the sand.
Christ is calling you… He is leading you back to Him. He wants to take you out of that miry clay and set your feet on the rock to stay. But He must do the building. He is NOT here to spruce up the outside… He wants to change you from the inside out.
Will you let Him in? Will you allow Him to be your foundation tonight?
Prayer - Help us, Lord, in the areas in which we have compromised,
Secondly, can we ask God to help us to be the holy priesthood He has called us to be?
A priesthood that lives and proclaims His Word.
A priesthood of praise.
A priesthood of serving God and serving others.