I Peter 2:4-10
Living the New Life – Your Identity
Scripture reading –
Pray
Intro
√ A new life!
Now that we are born again by Grace to a new life in Christ…
…Peter calls the Christian to action in chapter 2.
Thus, he begins to lay out for us what we need to know about living this new life.
We need a new diet (vs. 1-3)
We need to recognize that we have a new identify & purpose in life (vs. 4-10)
We need a new attitude (vs. 11-25)
Good stuff because the new life to which we’ve been called is opposite everything we knew from the old life!
√ Last week – baby
Peter used the metaphor of a baby desiring pure milk to teach us how new Christians are to grow up in holiness…
…by the Word of God.
But, Christians are not to remain babes in Christ, rather, they are called to grow up to maturity in Christ.
Ex. What do you want to be when you grow up?
Or, as my friends liked to tease me…
“What do you want to be if you grow up?”
The spiritual application which Peter discusses in verses 4-10 is what are Christians supposed to be when they “grow up” in Christ.
God not only saved us from something (sin & death), He saved us to something (a life of holiness)!
Ap. God saved you with a purpose in mind! One of the most exciting things in life is to seek out what it is that God has called you to!
As you do the things which are revealed in general revelation of His Word, then He will reveal to you the specific revelation of your calling.
√ So, what is we’re supposed to do to spiritually grow up?
First of all we must recognize our new identity.
Our identity (vs. 4-5a)
1Pet. 2:4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,
1Pet. 2:5a you also, as living stones,…”
√ Coming to Him
In some of the modern translations vs. 4 begins…
“Come to Him”
Important that we understand that Peter is not referring to “coming to Him” for salvation.
Rather, the Greek indicates that this “coming to Him” is a personal, habitual approach.
That is to say…
…Peter is calling us to a daily intimate personal fellowship with Jesus Christ.
We come to meet with Him in private communion each day so that we can receive all that we need to grow up spiritually.
Makes perfect sense! That is, the first step to growing up spiritually has to be regular and intimate fellowship with Jesus the source of holiness!
Why?
Because we’re called to be like Jesus! Our new identity is to be like Him. That happens as we spend time with Him on a regular basis.
Ex. Joining the Marines!
Boot camp will change the way your look, the way you think, the way you act.
Their goal is to change you, mold you, into a new person – a Marine!
Ap. You and I are called to be like Jesus, He is the perfect model of holiness. As we spend time with Him we’ll find that we’ll begin to think like Jesus, act like Jesus, speak like Jesus.
It’s absolutely vital that we see ourselves identified with Christ.
√ A living stone
Isn’t that an interesting word picture! A “living stone”! It’s a unique figure of speech, limited to this one verse in scripture.
However, Peter uses similar figures of speech in a number of places to communicate spiritual truth.
I Peter 1:3 - “a living hope”
I Peter
I Peter 2:4 - “a living stone”
Here Peter’s telling us that this living Stone has life in itself and gives that life to those who come to it!
Ex. The Rock in the wilderness
Peter may have had the Rock from the wilderness journey in mind when he wrote this passage.
Exodus 17; no water – God instructs Moses to strike the Rock with his staff and water comes forth providing life to God’s people.
Numbers 20; no water – this time God tells Moses to “speak” to the Rock that water may come forth to provide life to God’s people.
The type – Paul tells us that Jesus is the Rock!
1Cor. 10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
The picture as Peter uses it here reminds us that Jesus alone can give us life!
He was “struck” for us on the Cross-providing life to all who come to Him.
Now, Jesus doesn’t need to be “struck” again. Rather, the person desiring life simply speaks to Him – the “living Stone” who gives life to all who ask.
In our own daily experience we don’t find life in Christ by re-crucifying Him! Rather, we simply come to Him each day and find life through the intimate fellowship we have with Him.
Ap. If you lack “life” – go to the Rock, that living Stone, and you’ll find a fresh supply each day as you fellowship with Him.
√ You’re a rock!
Note that Peter ties our identity to Jesus with the words…
“you also, as living stones” vs. 5
Listen, normally it’s not a compliment when someone says to you…
“You’re a rock!” J
…but in this case it is!
Peter tells us that having been born-again to a new life in Christ…
…that we are born-again with His image stamped upon us!
Just as Jesus is the Living Stone, the person who gives their life to Him is now like Him.
√ So, our new identity is to be like Jesus – to be Christ like. What then is our new purpose in life?
To serve God as His priest!
Our purpose ( vs. 5b)
1Pet. 2:5b …are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
√ A holy priesthood
“are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood” vs. 5
Remember that I said…
God not only saved us from something, He saved us to something!
What did He save us to do?
Firstly, as “living stones” we’re all part of the “temple”
of God (I Cor.
…we’re also called to serve in it!
Those who serve God are called “priests”.
Sounds a bit uncomfortable for all of us ex-Catholics!
But, the truth is that God calls all Christians to be priests!
What do priests do? Peter tells us in the last part of vs. 5…
“to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Our job as Christians is to offer “spiritual sacrifices” to God, which Peter defines in part in vs. 9 as praising God.
“Praises” in vs. 9 can also be translated…
“eminent qualities, excellencies, or virtues”
…the point is that part of our new purpose in life is to live such that the heavenly qualities of our Father are evident in our life.
Ex. I tell me kids, “you’re a prince/princess of the king”
Therefore, you must act accordingly. That’s why there are things we don’t do, or say, or partake of…
…because we represent the King.
Ap. What are you going to be when you grow up?
Now you know! You’re a priest of God called to live a life that brings glory to Him.
Building or falling (vs. 6-8)
1Pet. 2:6 Therefore
it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in
1Pet. 2:7 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,”
1Pet. 2:8 and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
√ Built upon Christ
Really important that we recognize the foundation of the Church. We’re the “living stones” which make up the Church…
…but notice that Peter tells us very clearly that the Rock upon which the Church is built is Jesus Christ!
Very significant because Christians often argue over what Jesus meant when He said to Peter…
Mat.
Ex. Did Jesus mean He would build the Church with Peter as the “rock” foundation; or did He mean that He would build the Church upon Peter’s testimony that Jesus is the Christ?
Well, here we have Peter’s own commentary on the subject! He tells us clearly that we are the “living stones” which make up the Church, but it is Jesus Who is the foundation upon which He will build His Church.
√ Falling
Peter makes it clear that everyone has but two choices when dealing with Jesus.
Either they obey, and build. Or they disobey and fall.
As we’ve already noted Peter calls Jesus the “Chief Cornerstone”.
Ex. Cornerstone
That rock which is the visible support on which the rest of the building stands.
With it in place the building stands secure.
Without it, the building is doomed to fall.
The spiritual application is that every person must chose what they will do with the Chief Cornerstone.
Will they obey God and place their trust in Jesus Christ?
Or, will they disobey God and reject the solid foundation He has provided for their salvation.
To reject Jesus is a fatal mistake because it is equivalent to disobeying the message of God. Thus, that person “stumbles” or falls which leads to eternal condemnation.
Ap. What Rock is more secure that Jesus Christ?
“My child, you can trust the Man that died for you. If you cannot trust Him, whom else can you trust?”
Our identity (vs. 9-10)
1Pet. 2:9 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;
1Pet.
√ Our identity
Peter closes this section by once more calling our attention to who we are in Christ.
Note your identity in Him.
A chosen generation
A royal priesthood
A holy nation
His own special people
The people of God
Wow! Or as one of the gals at Innisfree says…
“It just slays me!”
By simple faith in Christ, God has taken us who were…
Cast away's
Slaves
Unwanted
Unloved
Orphans
…and made us His very own special people!
Ap. Have you been rejected?
Perhaps by your parents?
A spouse?
A friend?
Never chosen by anyone for anything!
God has chosen you to be His very own special treasure!
In view of that, who cares what anyone else thinks! If you live to please God you’ll never fear what people think of you.
Close
√ You have a new identity and purpose in life.
Called to line up with Jesus Christ and serve Him who saved you with His own blood.
I Peter 1:1-2
√ You were created to praise God…
Rev. 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Our sin nature refuses to honor God because it wants the praise and worship for SELF.
But, there is no satisfaction in life until you do that for which you were created!
Praise the Lord!