Published on
May 31, 1997 in
1 Peter.
Read Introduction to 1 Peter
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.”
I Peter 2:4-8 presents the Lord Jesus as three stones: a “living stone,” a “precious corner stone,” and a “stone of stumbling.” Jesus is a living stone to the believer because he sits in the heavens. He is a priest forever. We are in him and we are therefore priests. Now we come to Jesus as the “chief cornerstone.”
Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
Verses six to eight are a series of citations from the Old Testament. Peter now gives three citations from Scripture to prove his point. These citations deal with Jesus as the great stone.
This is an allusion to Isaiah 28:16. This is documentation of the fact that Christ is the living stone. In chapter 28 Isaiah pronounces a woe against Ephraim. Ephraim perverted herself with drink and became known for drunkenness (vv. 28:1). They distorted the beauty of the Lord (vv. 6,8). Because of this, Isaiah predicted the Assyrian invasion. In spite of Ephraim’s rejection the Lord placed in Zion a “chief cornerstone.” If anyone were to believe in him, God would deliver him from the Assyrian invasion. If anyone in Ephraim were not to believe on Him, they would stumble over Him.
“Contained” indicates that this is not an exact quotation but this reference strives for the essence of the idea. The truth of who Jesus is lies within the Word. The only way we will capture the preciousness of Jesus is to study the Word.
The appeal is to what is written (“Scripture”), not what is spoken. Scriptural proof for what we believe is crucial for documentation of what we believe. The Word is the norm and standard for what we believe.
Principle:
We need to substantiate what we believe from Scripture.
Application:
Much teaching to Christians today cannot be substantiated by the Word of God. Many Christians today are loosed from the moorings of Scripture. If the Lord Jesus and the apostles quoted Scripture as authoritative, should not the modern Christian as well?
Published on
May 30, 1997 in
1 Peter.
Read Introduction to 1 Peter
“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.”
through Jesus Christ
It is Jesus Christ who mediates our acceptance by God. We cannot mediate acceptance by God on the basis of who or what we are.
In the Old Testament access to God was the privilege of a few professional priests. Among them only the high priest could enter the holy of holies and that only once a year. In the New Testament the privilege of access to God belongs to every believer. The Christian is at once both the temple (I Corinthians 6:19-20) and the priest. It is also our task to build bridges to God for other people.
Through Jesus Christ, the new and living way, every Christian has the right of access to God personally.
We can go immediately into the presence of God without a mediator. If it were not for the work of Jesus Christ on the cross we could not go directly into the presence of God. Because of him God admits us into His presence.
“Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2).
Principle:
Jesus Christ earned our right to have access into the presence of God.
Application:
Often Christians do not pray because they feel that they do not have the right to pray. They feel that they are not good enough for God to listen to them. This is to miss the whole point. To feel “good enough” implies that God accepts our prayer on the basis of who we are and what we have done. This is not the basis of God receiving our prayers.
The basis of God accepting our prayer is the work of Christ on the cross. He earned the right of our access to God. That is why we come to God “in Jesus’ name.” We come to God on the authority of what Jesus Christ did, not what we do.
If this is true, why not exercise your right to pray without guilt?
Published on
May 29, 1997 in
1 Peter.
Read Introduction to 1 Peter
“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.”
acceptable to God
“Acceptable” is a double compound word. “Acceptable” comes from three Greek words put into one word: 1) good or favourable 2) face to face [what one can accept to oneself] and 3) to receive. “Acceptable” then means what one can receive favourably to oneself, face to face. When we offer sacrifices to God He readily accepts them because of Jesus Christ. God receives our gifts to Himself with pleasure.
This term means that which is very favourably accepted. God is very pleased with offerings to Him (Romans 15:16). Offering of the whole person pleases God very much. God is pleased when He detects spirituality in the lives of those who love Him.
Principle:
We please God by our spirituality.
Application:
Do you want to put a smile on the face of God? We can put a smile on His face by offering spiritual sacrifices to Him. When we give everything that we are to Him, it honours Him.
Published on
May 28, 1997 in
1 Peter.
Read Introduction to 1 Peter
“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.”
to offer up spiritual sacrifices
“Offer up” means to bring up. The Old Testament priest brought his sacrifice up to the altar. God wants us to bring up our offering directly to him. The offering here is ourselves. God wants us to bring our whole person to him.
Under the Old Testament economy the priest offered an offering upon a brazen altar. In the New Testament we offer ourselves to God with our spirituality.
The Christian brings “spiritual sacrifices” not animal sacrifices. Spiritual sacrifices are activities of the believer that the Holy Spirit animates. These are the things that we do in the power of the Spirit.
“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:15-16).
Principle:
We are priests that offer spiritual sacrifices to God directly without mediation.
Application:
The Christian makes his worship an offering to God. Worship should not be a burden but a joy and privilege. We cannot force worship. We must bring to God the offering of ourselves voluntarily.
Have you made yourself an offering to God? God wants us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1). The characteristic sacrifice of the New Testament believer is a spiritual sacrifice.
We can offer ourselves to God at any time under any circumstance. Our sacrifice is not limited to time. Neither is it limited to content.
Published on
May 27, 1997 in
1 Peter.
Read Introduction to 1 Peter
“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.”
a holy priesthood
What is the point of the “spiritual house?” The Greek reads “for a holy priesthood.” The reason we have a spiritual house is so that we can function as priests. The reason we are spiritual buildings is so that we might exercise the right of our priesthood privileges.Our translation does not translate a word found in the Greek, the word “unto” – “unto a holy priesthood.”
It is God’s purpose that each Christian becomes a priest. A priest acts on behalf of another. Since every Christian is a priest, every Christian can act on the behalf of every other Christian or even non-Christians.
The characteristics of a priest:
1. he has access to God
2. his task is to bring others to God [a prophet brings God to the people; a priest brings the people to God]
3. he brings offerings to God
The functions of the New Testament priest is to
- confess, 1 John 1:9
- pray, Hebrews 4:16
- sacrifice:
the body, Romans 12:1
praise, Hebrews 13:15
money, Hebrews 13:16
obedience to leadership, Hebrews 13:17
Principle:
God expects us to exercise our privileges as a priest.
Application:
We often question our purpose for existence on planet earth. This verse says that one purpose for our existence is to function as priests.
Do you intercede for others? Do you pray for the lost? Do you represent Jesus Christ to those who do not know him? These are functions of your priesthood.
Published on
May 26, 1997 in
1 Peter.
Read Introduction to 1 Peter
“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.”
This verse begins a section dealing with the believer’s status before God.
you also, as living stones
The phrase “as living stones” identifies us with Christ. He is the “living Stone” and we are “living stones.” We live because we share His resurrection life. Christ is the life (John 1:4; 5:25; 11:25; 14:6); we share in His life. The Christian life is not religion but a vital relationship with God. God does not build His church out of dead materials. He builds it on our position before Him in Christ.
Jesus is the Stone. Peter was a little stone (a chip) off the great rock Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:18).
are being built up a spiritual house
“Built up” is literally to build a house. Peter uses this term in the metaphorical sense of edification. God is in the act of building up believers in their spiritual growth (Romans 14:19; 15:2; 1 Corinthians 14:3, 5, 12, 26).
“Being” indicates that it is God that does the building (Jude 20; Ephesians 2:21-22). Nothing can hinder this building. God is in the process of laying each stone Himself.
“Spiritual house” refers to the church. God did not make this building out of literal stones. He builds this building by adding Christians to the church. Every time a person receives Christ as his Savior, God places a new stone in the building. One day this building will be finished then He will come again.
The purpose of a house is for someone to live in it. God dwells in this house. God made his residency in the temple in the Old Testament. In the New Testament he lives in Christians. He dwells in the lives of his people (I Corinthains 6:19). He is a guest in our lives.
Principle:
Spiritual growth comes with the application of positional truth to experience.
Application:
God constructs the church on the basis of positional truth. Our status before God is positional truth. Positional truth is true for both the spiritual and the carnal believer (I Corinthians 1:2,30). Positional truth protects the believer from ultimate judgment (Romans 8:1). Positional truth guarantees eternal life to those who possess it (Romans 8:28-29).
God bases spiritual growth on positional truth. Have you edified your soul by God’s provision of positional truth? Have you applied your positional truth to experience? Do you realize that you have status in God’s eyes?
Published on
May 25, 1997 in
1 Peter.
Read Introduction to 1 Peter
“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious.
but chosen by God
The ‘but” throws a contrast between man’s opinion and God’s opinion about Christ. In God’s eyes Jesus is both tested and approved as genuine.
”Chosen” means chosen out and selected (Ma 22:14; Luke 23:35; Ro 16:13; Re 17:14; 1 Pe 2:9). God picked Him out from among everyone else (Luke 23:35). Even though men reject Him, God views Him as select. God elected Jesus to go to the cross. As a result of His work on the cross we can share His election and destiny (Isaiah 42:1). Jesus ranks with God. God put Him in a place of administrative priority.
In the final analysis it is God’s approval that is necessary, not man’s.
and precious
“Precious” means to hold in honour, hold as very valuable or worthy. 1 Corinthians 3:12 talks about “precious stones.”
God holds Jesus in high status and that demands that we both honour and respect Him. The word “precious” means honourable. He is worthy in the esteem of God. He is also worthy in the judgment of all who believe on Him.
Principle:
God holds Jesus in high estimation.
Application:
If God holds Jesus in such honor, we should highly prize Him as well.
Published on
May 24, 1997 in
1 Peter.
Read Introduction to 1 Peter
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious.”
rejected indeed by men
The Greek term for “rejected” is a combination of two words. The first word means “respected on the basis of proven worth.” That is, to scrutinize or put a person to the test to decide whether or not to approve of or accept that person. The second word means “from.” That is, the person failed the test. “Rejected,” therefore, means to reject as the result of disapproval.
This test is carried to the point where there is no need for further testing. As a result, one comes to a settled conclusion that the person tested does not meet the requirements of the test. Therefore, one disapproves of and repudiates the person. People reject Jesus after they give him a trial run based on their own standards.
Men reject Christ after a thorough examination. They disapprove of his credentials. They declare Him useless after careful scrutiny. He does not qualify as worthy in their estimation. He is unfit for their lives. They judge Him as not worthy or genuine and thus reject Him.
Most men reject Christ. They oppose fellowship with Him (Isaiah 53:3). In their judgment Jesus does not meet their test. Now the Stone remains in this condition (perfect tense), that is, in a state of being tested and rejected.
Principle:
Man uses himself as the test or standard to determine the validity of Jesus Christ.
Application:
Man sets up his little tests to prove whether Jesus meets his requirements. However, the issue should be: is the test right or not? It is deadly to use the wrong test. Israel did this. She thought that the Messiah would be born in a noble family, that he would have wealth and become world-famous. That was her test but she used the wrong method for finding truth.
Are you using your opinion to determine how a person should get to heaven? “Well, I have my opinion how about a person should become a Christian.” Why should you use your opinion rather than the Word of God?
The right test for determining how a person goes to heaven is the Word of God.
Published on
May 23, 1997 in
1 Peter.
Read Introduction to 1 Peter
“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious.”
Peter now turns to how the Christian should respond to his new life in Christ. He begins with the believer’s privileges in Christ. We are in a new status quo with God. We can draw on what we already have. We do not have to earn or deserve privilege from God.Those who have new birth are a new building (vv. 4-8) and a new people (vv.9-10).
Coming to Him as to a living stone
This coming is not our initial coming to Christ in salvation. It is the close, intimate fellowship with the Lord. There are none of us so close to the Lord that we could not be nearer. We want to close the gap between us and the Lord more every day.
“Coming” conveys the idea of coming forward toward or going near to a reference point. In some places it means to move forward toward someone and they responding reciprocally. In some places “coming” signifies a consent, implying a coming to agreement (Acts 7:31; 1 Timothy 6:3; Hebrews 4:16; 7:25; 10:22). Sometimes it conveys the idea of taking the initiative in association with someone (Acts 10:28). The focus of “coming” is upon the initiative.
Note the word “coming” in the following passages:
“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22).
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
The words “to whom” and “coming” have the same word that means face to face. This is intimate fellowship with the Lord. Therefore, “coming to Him” is not coming to him in salvation. This is coming to him in worship.
The grammar indicates that as we come to Christ, we come personally and habitually. This is intimate communion between us and the Lord. We have access to him as a perennial privilege.
Christians can fellowship with the living Stone. In chapter one, verse three, Peter talks about a “living hope” and in verse 23, he refers to the living Word. We do not normally think of a stone as living. We think of a stone as dead. We have a phrase “stone dead.” This makes the paradox of the living Stone all the greater. Jesus the Stone lives because He rose from the dead. Isaiah calls the Messiah a stone (Isaiah 8:14; 28:16).
The living Stone is a contrast to the pagan temples with their ornate stones. However ornate these stones might be, they were still dead. We can have fellowship with Jesus the living Stone because He is a person and we can enter into vital fellowship with Him.
Not only does the stone live but it also gives life. We can share His resurrection life in time. A stone depicts strength and solidity.
Principle:
There are none of us so close to the Lord that we could not be closer.
Application:
Jesus has eternal life in Himself. He is the living Stone. Those who accept Him as their personal Savior begin eternal life at that time. We begin eternal life at the moment we trust in Christ.
To this Stone, God asks us to come. This is not a physical coming into His presence but a coming into fellowship with Him. We come to Him by faith.
Are you daily in fellowship with the Lord by faith?
Published on
May 22, 1997 in
1 Peter.
Read Introduction to 1 Peter
“if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”
that the Lord is gracious
“Gracious” primarily signifies “fit for use, able to be used.” Therefore, graciousness is good, virtuous, mild, pleasant (in contrast to what is hard, harsh, sharp, bitter). “Graciousness” is suitable and pleasant to us (Matthew 11:30). It is something easy to bear.
God’s character is kind, gracious, serviceable, pleasant, good (Luke 6:35; Romans 2:4).
Principle:
We cannot cultivate divine love for others until we first recognize God’s love for us.
Application:
Our Lord Jesus Christ is gracious to us. He is in himself infinitely good to us even though we violate him with our sin. He is the fullness of grace.
“And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:16).
