02/21/21 – 1 Peter 2:1-10
2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings,
2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
2:5 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.
2:6 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.
2:7 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,
2:8 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.
2:9 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;
2:10 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.
1
When we come to God, we can’t sit on the fence. We have to put aside our old ways and let God mold us into the new person we will become.
Matthew
9:16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
Jesus told Nicodemus “Ye must be born again”. That is where we’re at. When we’re saved, God has given us a new life. We get to put away the things of our old life and start again from the beginning.
2
Babies when they’re born need milk to grow. In the same way, we need to be taking in the Word of God. The more we take it in and make it a part of who we are, the stronger we will become.
Matthew
18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 18:3 And he said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
One of the first lessons of faith is that all strength and wisdom comes from God. In our own strength we can do nothing, but in God’s strength we can do all things. As long as we let the pride of life rule in us, we are limited to what we can do in our own power, which is nothing of any lasting value.
3
Once we can humble ourselves and set aside that sin of pride, God is willing and able to extend His grace to any of us. We just have to be willing to accept His word and will in our lives.
2 Peter
3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
We sometimes look at other people and wonder why God doesn’t act on the sin in their lives. We sometimes look at the sin in our own lives and think we’re getting away with it. Either way, God is just being patient. He’s giving us a chance to realize we’re wrong and to repent.
4
God has provided one way to return to Him. If we listen to Him, that foundation will give us sure footing as we walk through this dangerous world.
1 Corinthians
3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Whatever we do, it has to start with the cornerstone of Christ. No other foundation will last.
5
The sacrifices of the Old Testament were to pay for sins. If you came to the temple to offer a sacrifice, you were supposed to be repenting of your sin and doing it in obedience to God’s word. If you just brought something to be seen of men, or to try and bribe God, it was worthless. God knows our hearts and our motives and that’s where He wants us to obey Him.
1 Samuel
15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
All sin is equal to God because it all starts with the pride of thinking we know best. The first act of obedience God is looking for now is for us to admit that we’re sinners and accept the sacrifice of His son. After that, we have to begin to turn away from the sin in our lives and allow God to rebuild us from the inside out.
6
Just as people would go to the temple and go through the motions thinking it did something for them, many people go through the motions now and think they are ok with God. Many of them are what we would think of as good people, but we can only judge the outside.
Matthew
7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
God has provided one path and one foundation that we can use to build our lives. Anything else will be swept away when the storms of life come.
7
Many in this world consider the Bible a book of fables. They may say Jesus was a good man, or even say they try to follow His principles in their lives. They think they are too sophisticated or too civilized for the cross.
Others think the path of the cross is too simple. That they have to clean themselves up before God will accept them. We have to realize, there’s nothing we can do to save ourselves. God has already made the ultimate sacrifice to save our souls, and only He could do it. Once we know that, we can truly see how much He loves us.
1 Corinthians
1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
8
Jesus often confronted the Pharisees about their mistaken beliefs. They didn’t want to believe Him because He was going to take away their position, power and pride. Many people don’t want to believe Him today because they don’t want to give up whatever pet sin they hold.
Matthew
21:42 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? 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
When we surrender and fall on the stone of Christ in repentance, He will break the old man and allow us to begin our new life. If we try to stand on our own pride, one day that stone will fall and show us how small and powerless we really are.
9
We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. We have to begin to show love to the world by first showing it to other believers. In First John we’re asked, “if we don’t love our brother that we have seen, how can we love God that we haven’t seen?” We’re given a blueprint for our behavior in First Peter…
1 Peter
3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 3:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
We’ve all heard “Charity begins at home”. In God’s word, charity means love. Our love has to begin in the household of faith, and then extend to the unsaved world.
10
Through Christ, we are all united into a single family. We all have the same Father, and we all have our jobs to do. We should also remember that we have a common enemy and we are to help each other in time of need. Even in those times of trouble we can still have peace. We know that God is in control and He is working everything out for our eternal good and His glory.
1 Peter
5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 5:11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.