Jesus - Saves

AdamsEve · Chief Honcho Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Posts: 1342

A Holy People

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1 Peter 2:1
“ Therefore ” when they obeyed the truth of the gospel and were purified (1:21).

“ Rid yourselves ” it implies that Peter is assuming that the Christians he is addressing have made a real break with pagan vices. When they stripped off the old life and made a new beginning in repentance and faith.

He is probably reminding them of their baptism, which was the focal point of their commitment to Christ

Vice lists such as this were common in the ancient world and also in the NT ( Mark 7:21-22; Rom 1:29-31; 13:13; 1 Cor 5:10; Gal 5:19-20; 2 Peter 2:10-14. )

1 Peter 2:2
“ new born ” A major characteristic of a healthy new baby is its instinctive yearning for its mother’s milk.

Christians are to crave what is “ pure ” in contrast to the “ deceit ” of the old life. The “ spiritual milk ” is probably a reference to the Word of God.

To “ crave the unadulterated spiritual milk of the word ” The continuous nourishment from the “ milk ” causes the newborn to “ grow up in
[ their ] salvation. ”

Salvation is the present possession of Christians as well as their future goal ( 1 Peter 1:5, 9 ).

After conversion, their lives should be marked by continuous growth ( 1 Cor 3:1-4; Heb 5:11-14 ). This growth comes from the teaching about Christ and God the Father that is at the core of the Word, or the Bible.

1 Peter 2:3
“ Now that you have tasted ” implies that they have tasted the goodness of the Lord.

The image of “ tasting ”...

Psalms 34:8
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

In his writings, Peter applies ( “ Lord ” ) to Jesus, who is the exalted Lord. Once a person has come to taste the graciousness or goodness of the Lord, he should have a continuing appetite for spiritual food.

1 Peter 2:4
“ As you come to him ”, by the concept of Christians’ finding in Christ great value. not as food but as a rock or a stone.

Jesus Christ is identified as the “ living Stone ” which refers to his stability as the risen Lord. God’s raising of Jesus from the dead shows Jesus’ value and God’s choice of him. The “ rejection ” of Christ is, first, the valuation of Jesus by the nation ( Matt 26:14-15; Acts 2:22-24; 3:13-15; 4:10-11 ) and, second, the current rejection of him by the disobedient in every land.

1 Peter 2:5
Jesus’ great prophecy to Peter ( Matt 16:18 ) concerned Jesus’ building of his church. Peter sees, in the coming of individuals to Jesus the Rock, the building of a new spiritual edifice. Solomon was amazed at the thought of God’s gracious condescension in dwelling among his people and in a house ( temple ) that Solomon built ( 1 Kings 8:27 ). Now God’s presence on earth is replaced by his indwelling of all believers
( 1 Cor 3:17, 6:19 ).

“ Are being built ”

The thought is that when anyone comes to Christ a new stone is added to the “ spiritual ” house. The use of the word “ spiritual ” does not mean that what Peter is speaking of is less “ real ” than a material house or material sacrifices.

The material sacrifices and temples that were shadows of the reality to come are now superseded.

The NT speaks of the offering of “ faith ” ( Philippians 2:17 ), gifts as “ a fragrant offering ” ( Philippians 4:18 ), “ your bodies as living sacrifices ” ( Rom 12:1 ), “ a sacrifice of praise ” ( Heb 13:15 ), the conversion of the Gentiles as “ an offering acceptable to God ” ( Rom 15:16 ), and Paul’s coming death as “ a drink offering ” ( 2 Tim 4:6 ).

The great new truth Peter states here is the revelation that “ through Jesus Christ ” through his work on the Cross, every Christian is part of a new priestly order.

It means that every Christian has immediate access to God, that he serves God personally, that he ministers to others, and that he has something to give. It does not mean that each Christian has public gifts of preaching or teaching.

In this verse Peter is stressing the fact that through Christ the believer is able to worship and serve God in a manner pleasing to him.

1 Peter 2:6
Isaiah 28:16 refers to God’s foundation stone, carefully chosen and very costly, placed in position in Zion.

The picture is from the building of a temple. At great cost and care the corner foundation stone was obtained, moved, and laid.

One stone in a quarry that was sixty-nine feet by twelve feet by thirteen feet There are similar large foundation stones in many sites in the Middle East.

Once this large foundation corner stone was in place, the rest of the building was determined. Isaiah uses this figure to encourage his people to build on the Lord himself, the one who is immovable and unchangeable, rather than on lies and falsehood.

God has set Jesus in Jerusalem as the foundation of the new temple. Whoever builds on this foundation will be established and will never be ashamed ( 1 Cor 3:10; Eph 2:20 ).

1 Peter 2:7
“ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. ”

Here the Greek literally reads, “ For you, therefore, who believe [is] the honor. ” The honor for Christians is linked to their union with Christ. Since Christ is honored by God, so will all who participate in Christ.

Peter wants believers to find Jesus as precious as he does.

For unbelievers two other “ stone ” citations from the OT are strong warnings.

Psalms 118:22
The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;

Jesus, who was rejected by men, has been exalted by God. ( Mark 12:10-12 )

1 Peter 2:8
The second warning quotation is from Isaiah 8:14,

Isaiah 8:14
and he will be a sanctuary; but for both houses of Israel he will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare.

Those who refuse to believe in Jesus as Messiah stumble — “ which is also what they were destined for. ”

What is “ destined ”? The unbelief of men or the stumbling that is the result of the unbelief?

Peter equates unbelief with disobedience.

Peter probably means that the appointment of God embraces both the setting forth of Christ and his work and the rejection by men.

Peter’s preaching in Acts 2:14-40 makes the same emphasis.

Scripture in other places teaches that human disobedience is within the plan of God ( Rom 11:8, 11, 30-32 ).

Nevertheless it must be recognized that though human disobedience is within God’s plan, it does not become less blameworthy ( Acts 2:23 ). It is important to recognize also that human disobedience is not necessarily final or impossible.

Paul says, “ God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all ” ( Rom 11:32 ).

1 Peter 2:9
“ But you ” contrast with the disobedient who were mentioned in vv 7-8.

Peter applies to the church various terms originally spoken concerning Israel ( Exod 19:5-6; Deut 4:20; 7:6; Isa 43:20-21 ).

This does not mean that the church is Israel or even that the church replaces Israel in the plan of God.

Romans 11 should help to guard against that misinterpretation.

The functions that Israel was called into existence to perform in its day of grace the church now performs in a similar way. In the future, according to Paul, God will once again use Israel to bless the world ( Rom 11:1-16, 23-24 ).

“ chosen people ” stresses God’s loving initiative in bringing the church to himself.

“ Royal priesthood ” may be understood as “ a royal house ” “ a body of priests ”.

Both titles stress the dignity of the church because of its union with Christ.

Jesus is King, and all in his “ house ” belong to a royal house.

Calling the church “ a body of priests ” emphasizes its corporate role in worship, intercession, and ministry.

“ Holy nation ” shows that God has “ set apart ” the church for his use.

The title “ a people belonging to God ” stresses ownership.

The Church does not exist for its own gratification its to bring Glory to God.

Titus 2:14
who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

“ That you may declare the praises ” gives the purpose of grace to men.

The Father “ him who called ” ( 1:15 ) is revealed by Jesus in his death and resurrection.

1 Peter 2:10
Peter closes this section with the words of Hosea, ( 1:6, 9-10; 2:23 ) are put together.

In their original context they describe God’s rejection of disobedient Israel followed by future restoration to grace.

Here Peter applies them to the salvation that has come to the Christians. Once they were not a people ( is used for Israel ), now they are “ God’s people ”.

Recap

God is the Master Craftsman and His plans are not or can not be thwarted by anyone or anything.

V1 lists five attitudes in three groups...

1/ “ malice “ desire to do harm to or act wickedly toward someone motivated by greed, jealousy or spite to name a few.

2/ “ deceit “, “ hypocrisy “ “ envy “
Falsehood or general dishonesty,
Act a part in a play or pretender.
Where envy and selfish ambition are found, there is bitterness and begrudging disorder and every evil practice are found.

3/ “ slander of every kind “
Back stabbing, deceitful, strife, discord, resentment.

Can you identify any of these in yourself?

v2 “ spiritual milk “

New borns' need milk “ nourishment “ to live and grow. Christians also need “ nourishment “ which is God’s Word to live and grow in Christ, “ spiritual diet “.

Eventually we need to move from milk to meat.

You will not grow from the junk food of the world you need to grow from the “ living Word of God “

1 Corinthians 3:2
I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.

Hebrews 5:13-14
Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Other than Jesus are there more that God considers precious that people reject?

One stone does not make a building. Jesus is the cornerstone and Christians are the stones that build on that, it is not the church building but the House of God.

What does it mean to you that you are a “ stone “ in God’s House?

The building isn’t the church — the body ‘ people’ is.

Our trials in life are the smoothing down so we will fit better in the body and is shaping us for eternity.

Prayer;
Dear Father in Heaven I pray we are a solid — dressed stone and that we prove to be a stone in Your Church that can stand the measure of time. That we know we are now alone, that there are many more that are in the same building and of the same equal value. That no stone is more important than another except the cornerstone — capstone. Thank You Lord. Amen

TGIF

_________________
Acts 4:12
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name
under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”