THE ENDURING WORD – THE GOSPEL’S WORD!
1 Peter 1:22-2:10
The Apostle
Peter is the author of just two of the letters that make up the body of the
Doctrine of Christ. His influence; however, as an Apostle, an elder, and as
a servant of Jesus Christ the Lord is felt throughout the first century.
To
Christians of Hebrew descent and scattered throughout Asia Minor (pilgrims
and sojourners), Peter would write concerning his understanding of the
inheritance that the kingdom of God has provided. Just look at
1:3.
·
Peter was
impelled (encouraged) by God’s abundant
mercy!
·
He was
jubilant that a child of God is
begotten
from the same nature of the Parent, from above!
·
And maybe
above all, he was warmed in his heart concerning the
living hope
that he and all Christians share. Better described as
a lively hope,
or
actively alive
towards the confidence of that which will surely come to pass (already
demonstrated in the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord).
After the
foundation of hope and the great responsibility of living in the great
kingdom of God, as dear children – (kingdom
imperatives)
1.
Peter now
describes the power which has created the knowledge of God’s mercy, begotten
us as dear children, and given us this hope!
2.
Then; he shows the power in the transformation of the construction material
of this great kingdom (from worthless to pure!); you and me, from darkness
to light!!!
FOCUS
OF THIS LESSON
Read:
2:1-10
Desire
the Word to Remain Pure and Grow:
Lay Aside –
Since purification has been accomplished in obeying the truth; lay aside
your former dispositions and especially that which is inconsistent with our
love for the brethren.
“Lay Aside”
– “Putting Away”; indicates a
definite and decisive act with permanent results!!! This understanding is
from a single Greek verb signifying separation (apotemenoi).
This is a
subject that is often emphasized and given much elaboration in the
instruction of the New Testament –
Romans 13:12 –
“cast off the works
of darkness”;
Ephesians 4:22-31
“put off concerning
your former conduct”;
Colossians 3:5-9
“put off the old man
with his deeds”;
James 1:21
“lay aside all
filthiness and overflow of wickedness”.
Five things
are specifically mentioned here:
·
Wickedness
– Malice – malicious spirit.
·
Guile
– Deceit – craftiness in order to trap.
·
Hypocrisy
– deceitful intent in action.
·
Envy
– jealousies grown to full action.
·
Evil Speech
– slanderous and defamatory statements of others.
Remember to walk in darkness is to be without God!
Instead –
desire the word!
The
significance of new born babes; has already contextually been established in
the fact that we have been reborn of incorruptible seed!!! Now we need the
sincere or pure word (milk) to grow!
This
designates the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its dual nature – Conversion and
Doctrine!
This
portion of the text in emphasizing the desire (the instinctive need for
nourishment); signifying the need to grow!
Note:
Vs.3
–
An exact
quote from the Septuagint –
Psalms 34:8. “Tasted”
is a pointed reference to milk as the word = God is gracious through the
word, in birth, and in growth!
It also
signifies that the need for the word of God should be instinctive (as a new
born babe desires – this is instinctive!).
Grow
into What?
A Spiritual
Temple!!!
Describe
the earthly temple –
1
Kings 5:13-18;
chapter 6-7.
The
glory of the earthly temple diminishes significantly in comparison to
the glorious and precious stones (you and me), that God has used to
construct His spiritual house in Christ!
Chosen by
God and precious – living stones!
Ephesians 2:19-22
A Royal
Priesthood!!!
“Be holy,
for I am holy”
1
Peter 1:16
This is once again a comparison made for significance – if the Levitical
priests had to be holy in order to make acceptable sacrifices, how much more
for you and me as a royal priesthood (each of us in Christ)?
1 Peter 2:9
What is the
word of a priest of God?
Acceptable
sacrifice to God –
Vs.
5,
Romans 12:1-2.
“Proclaim His praises”
– who called us out of darkness into His light!
1
Peter 3:15;
1 Peter 4:11
“If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of
God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God
supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to
whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.”
Summary
–
·
All of us
at one time were not a people unto God; but through obeying the truth, the
pure seed, we have been born to God!
·
Having
obtained mercy, we must put off that malicious and unclean prior character!
·
We must
take our place in the glorious spiritual temple of God through Jesus Christ,
and without fail, offer ourselves continually as an acceptable sacrifice to
God! Giving continual praise to Him, having called us out of darkness!