September 24, 2023
Morning Service

In chapter one, Peter reminded us of all that God has given us through Jesus.  He has given us a living hope, an unchanging inheritance, and deep joy that is inexpressible and full of glory.  After setting that foundation for us, he challenged us to live as “obedient children not conform ourselves to our former lusts, but at He who called you is holy, you also be holy in your conduct.” (1:14-15) Our reaction to His gift to us is for us to begin a transformation in our life to become more like the One we are following.  When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and begin our journey following Him, there is a change that will occur in us.  We are no longer the same, we are reborn to start over fresh in the eyes of our Creator as His children.  Peter said “having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.” (1:23) We were born with many of the attributes of our parents, and not all of them are good.  Certain health problems and tendencies toward addictive behavior are handed down from generation to generation (corruptible seed).  God, however, is changing that having us to be born again to a new way of life that resembles His perfect attributes (incorruptible seed).  Peter continues this challenge as he ends chapter one with this reminder; “now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”   He begins chapter two pointing back to this fact, because this gospel was preached to us and it lasts forever, then do this:

 1Pe 2:1-3 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, (2) as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, (3) if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

            First Peter is very practical in commanding us to get rid of these attributes in our lives that do not represent who we are in Jesus.  Malice is harboring evil thoughts against another person.  This can grow into grudges and a secret desire for revenge or ill will to come upon that person.  It is up to the Lord to judge others, we are to be longsuffering and forgiving.  Deceit is any kind of dishonesty or trickery.  When we try to spin something to justify what we are doing knowing it is wrong; cheating on exams, falsifying tax returns, or just plain not telling the whole truth about something.  We are to be honest in all aspects of our lives not conforming to the common practices of this world which looks at deceit as ok because everyone is doing it.  Hypocrisy is acting one way, but believing another.  We say one thing, but do the opposite.  We pretend to be spiritual by saying spiritual things, but our actions denounce our words.  We are called to be people of integrity, walking the walk as we talk the talk.  No false pretense or agenda, just being real by following Jesus and truly loving our brother.  Envy is jealousy.  We have a displeasure for the success of others.  It was envy that drove the chief priests to crucify Jesus so we know this can be dangerous.  We are called to rejoice with the success of those around us and be content with God has given us. Evil speaking is backbiting, slander or gossiping. It is an attempt to defame someone else in a subtle attempt to make ourselves look better than them.  If you can’t say something good about someone, don’t say anything!  Be as James tells us; swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath. (James 1:19) Guard your words!

            Secondly Peter calls us to desire/crave the pure milk of the word like a newborn cries out for his milk.  When a baby is hungry, and he lets you know it, until he gets that bottle that he craves.  Do we long for the Word of God with that desire?  Do we crave to hear from the Lord and be in His presence?  Does the milk make us desire something more to grow into all that God has created us to be?  Atlas is at that point where mild no longer fully satisfies him, he needs something more filling to sustain his hunger.  Are you hunger for more of God or satisfied with the simple milk of the Word?  Peter says “if you have tasted that the Lord is gracious,” you will desire more.

 

Mat 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

            The more you seek the Lord and read His Word, the more you desire it.  Your spiritual appetite spurs your spiritual maturity.  Peter now continues with showing us who we are in Christ.

 

1Pe 2:4-8 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, (5) you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  (6)  Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHIEF CORNERSTONE, ELECT, PRECIOUS, AND HE WHO BELIEVES ON HIM WILL BY NO MEANS BE PUT TO SHAME."  (7)  Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,” (8) and "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

            God is building a spiritual kingdom and began the building by placing the “Chief Cornerstone” into place.  Jesus is that Cornerstone. The unbelieving Jews rejected Him and now stumble over the fact the He is the Messiah and they have missed it.  Those who believe and accept Him, however embrace Him as “living stone.”  Peter tells us that we too are “living stones” being used to build God’s spiritual house.  In the OT God dwelled within the walls of the Temple, but now He dwells in the hearts of those who believe in Him. Paul told the Corinthian church this:

2Co 6:16-18 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM. I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE."  (17)  Therefore "COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM AND BE SEPARATE, SAYS THE LORD. DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN, AND I WILL RECEIVE YOU."  (18)  "I WILL BE A FATHER TO YOU, AND YOU SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY."

            God dwells within us, walks with us and has a relationship with us as a Father does with His sons and daughters.  We are not just a building of stone in which God dwells, but we are as Peter says; a “holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”  We have a calling not only to be the dwelling place of God, but are called to be priests offering spiritual sacrifices to God.  Paul calls us to “come out from among them and be separate.”  This is the call to being born again and to grow in the Lord being different than the world around us.  Peter now defines who we are in the kingdom of God.  If ever you feel you have no value or purpose, reread this scripture.  It is a powerful statement of what God has called us to individually and also as a church.

1Pe 2:9-10 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (10) who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

            It is not our physical ancestry that defines who we are, but we are defined by our obedience to answer the call of Jesus to “Follow Me.”  He has chosen you to be a “royal priest in His holy nation.”  He has chosen us to be His own “special people that we may proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.”   He chose you for “such a time as this” as He did Ester in the OT.  Think on that for a moment; God has chosen you with a purpose in mind for you.  You are chosen to serve Him here and now minister to those who are around you.  Paul told this to the Ephesians:

Eph. 2:10For we are His workmanship (NLT masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

            If you ever have those moments of wondering why you are where you are, remember this.  God has created you, as His masterpiece, for good works, which He has prepared beforehand for you to do.  He has designed your life as a journey that you may walk with Him and do His Will along the way.  We often get caught up in basing our worth in our accomplishments.  It is our relationship with Jesus that is far greater than our job, success, wealth or knowledge.  He has chosen you to be His very own and to represent Him to others.  Always remember your value comes from being one of God’s children, not from what you achieve.  Your worth is shown in what God did for you, not what you do.  I am going to close with this promise from God written to us hundreds of years ago.

 

Jer. 32:38-41 They shall be My people, and I will be their God; (39) then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them.  (40)  And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.  (41)  Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul.'

            God has promised to be with us.  He has given us unity in that we have “one heart and one way.”  He has brought us together with a purpose in mind, we are His chosen generation for this time.  It is up to us to stay faithful and fulfill all that He has planned for us using us as tools in His hands to build His kingdom.  To use us as “living stones” in the walls of His temple.