1 Peter 2:1-10
Notes
Transcript
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Since we believers are now children of God, we must act like it
We are to walk the walk not just talk the talk
guile - underhandedness
hypocirsy - not walking the walk
envies - thou shalt not covet
we should be careful to note that this is one of the 10 commandments and should therefore be taken seriously
the deal is that we should be content with what we have, in fact, appreciate it
evil speakings - judged for every idle word
sitting around talking about people can foster nurture negative seeds that can grow
we want to water the good seeds and let the bad seeds dry out
“you must be born again” - this stuff is the fruit of being born again
Christians in the roman world
Romans were at their height, sort of similar to America
Pagan influences all around them, not so much focused on morality (1 Cor for instance)
Christians had to live in this world and to be different
Christians stood out then and they stand out now
our testimony itself is kind of a form of evangelism
the theme of 1 Peter is that we should rely on God in trying times
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
“desire the sincere milk of the word”
we’re told to YEARN for the word like infants
it’s not optional, it’s vital for our growth as a Christian
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
these 2 verse say that by trusting in God and reading His word we will see that the Lord is good and delightful
think of the Gospel, by trusting in it we see that God is good and gracious through what He does for us
He comforts us, He answers out prayers
He is with us ALWAYS, even till the end - who else is like that in life?
We know what happens when we believe in the Gospel as well, mercy, salvation, heaven, the Holy Spirit
He comforts us through His word as well, there are so many verses that talk about how good God is to us
He’s the God of all comfort, after all
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
“coming unto Him, as a living stone...”
reference to Christ, the chief cornerstone of the church
talks about how Jesus was harshly rejected by His family, fellow jews, even peter at one point
but what He did for us is precious, showing God’s mercy, enabling us to be saved
Jesus tells us that the least will be the greatest in the kingdom of God
Jesus played a servant role when He was on earth
much of what we are called to do is service to others and selflessness
43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
We, as lively stones, dry bones with new life breathed into them, as a renewed, changed people
we are stones which are built together as a spiritual house
we’re “building this house” by evangelizing to new people
like when Paul said that we are different parts of a body
together we build up this house, and like a healthy body, we can do work together to build something better
Jesus talked about the mustard seed, something small turning into something great
look what the Jesus and the early church turned into, a worldwide faith
just imagine what it would be like if all Christians were working together!
we can do the same on a local level, even on a personal level
“holy priesthood” - priesthood of all believers - we are ALL to spread the gospel and give our entire lives in service to God
every single one of us, the obligation is not on just the pastor or church leaders, it’s commanded to us all
“spiritual sacrifices” - when we forgo lusts and sinning for God’s sake
no need for physical sacrifices thanks to Christ
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
a quote of Is 28.16
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, A tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: He that believeth shall not make haste.
we see Christ’s role here as “tried” - servant/sufferer
and we see His preciousness in the sight of God and to us
we also see His role as a cornerstone and foundation
additionally we see the emphasis on faith
in the prevoius verse in Is it’s talking about judgement on sinners/non-believers, therefore the “make haste” pertains to running from the judgement
in fact, like we saw in 1 John, we can be bold and confident before God at the judgement
certainly an example of tasting and seeing that the Lord is good, through trusting in Him and believing in His word
this verse also reinforces the fact that Christ is a firm foundation for us, a foundation we can rely in, take comfort in, and build upon
one incredible thing about this verse is it’s spot on prophecy
for one thing, it reinforces the fact that we have this firm foundation to rely on
it shows us that only divine inspirationo could have produced the Bible - so many authors in different times
it can be an amazing evangelistic tool
fulfilled prophecy can be just one of the tools in our toolbox for sharing the gospel - it’s powerful
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
we see an emphasis on the faith in the first part of the verse - He is precious to those who believe
42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
We see here Jesus saying that He IS the cornerstone mentioned, the foundation of our faith, the subjectt of the prophecy
it truly is marvelous, look at what this “cornerstone” does for us believers!
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
Christ, this cornerstone, is good for us, as if it was a stepping stone upward
to the non-believers - He’s a stumblingblock
theyre unwilling to believe,and those who are not children of God will be punished
they have chosen to remain in sin, God has called all men everywhere to repent
they have chosen to reject God, His word, and all He’s done for us - even with the mercy God has offered us
God loves all of us - but those who don’t believe reject that
Jesus talked about people hating Him because He called out their sins
so for the unbelievers these are some of the reasons that Christ is a stumblingblock to them
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
The Bible says that Jesus fills the king and the priest role - king and priest in israel were separate until Christ
Royal priesthood / holy nation
royal - because we’re part of the Kingdom
preisthood - because the preisthood of all believers - that we’re all called to declare the gospel and serve God with spiritual sacrifices
“If you want to exercise the priesthood of your soul, do not let the fire depart from your altar.”
GO BACK TO VERSE AFTER SHOWING
“peculiar” - we are a special people, God’s children, blessed by God, what a wonderful thing to be able to call ourselves! Children of God
“to shew forth the praises” - we are to sing God’s praises in the world, tell the world what He’s done for us, call others to Him, to put on a good testimony, to share the light of Christ
darkness to light
we were once in darkness - a dreadful one
we were sinners, lost in sin, in a fallen state
in this darkness - life is vain - you’re missing something - youre stuck in sin spinning your wheels, you have no divine purpose, you’re rebelling against your loving creator
after you die - how much worse is this darkness!
the light we are called to truly is marvelous
full of grace, mercy, renewal, forgiveness of sin,it’s the light of Christ
there is purpose, there is meaning - not only in this life but the next
we pray and can connect with God, who will lead and guide us, who will comfort us, who will always be there for us
we can be confident before God
We can’t see in the darkness, and the marvelous light of Christ shows us the way, the way to navigate through life
a life without Christ is a dark and miserable one indeed, and we should be doing our best to share the gospel with these folks
they need the marvelous light!
imagine trying to navigate through life in total darkness vs having light
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
what a glorious thing, that we can be called sons of God - just think about what a privilege that is
how much mercy it took from God to take a rebellious, fallen people and to send His only Son to die for us - not by our works, but because of His mercy
not just die for us, but be mocked all His life, living a simple life,, being rejected by His own people whom He loved, then excruciatingly tortured and crucified
all the while, He could have stayed up in heaven, being comfortable, having everything He could have ever wanted, knowing that He was right and His own people rejected Him
He did this for each and every one of us, because He loved us
now we have stepped in to His marvelous light, and are blessed enough to be called sons of God
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.