December 4, 2011
Evening Service

I Peter 2:6-25

 

Review:

1Pe 2:1-5 KJVR  Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,  (2)  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:  (3)  If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.  (4)  To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,  (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.

 

The rest of chapter two:

Continuing with spiritual sacrifices:

1Pe 2:6-25 KJVR  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 

• Isa 28:16 KJVR  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
• The Apostle Paul said in Eph 2:20 KJVR  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

 (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,  (8)  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 

• This statement ( whereunto also they were appointed ) has caused great controversy.  It takes us into the teachings of pre-destination, and election.  The Apostle Paul goes to great lengths in the book of Romans, chapters 9-10-11.  I believe it can all be summed up in the FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD.  However, it is clear that God used some people to show forth His power, and glory.  The term ( God hardened his heart ) is used in the case of Pharaoh, of Egypt.

(9)  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:  (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.

• Peter appears to be talking to gentiles in this passage.

  Then Peter encourages them to:

Abstain from fleshly lusts:

(11)  Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;  (12)  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

• Once these, or any other peoples accept Jesus as Savior, then comes into the idea, Phi 3:20 KJVR  For our conversation ( or citizenship )  is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:
• Then we can say with the song writer, this ole world is not my home, I’m just a passin through, my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.
• It also goes along with the Hebrew writer when he states;  Heb 11:13-16 KJVR  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  (14)  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.  (15)  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.  (16)  But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
• Peter is saying, “you are just passing through this ole world, but while you’re here, live the type of lifestyle that would make people glorify your God.”

Submission to the government:

(13)  Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;  (14)  Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.  (15)  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:  (16)  As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 

 

(17)  Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 

 

Submission in business:

(18)  Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 

• You see it’s teachings like this that makes Christians a peculiar people.  The world doesn’t teach you this kind of a thing.  It teaches greed, selfishness, and get as much as you can and it doesn’t matter how you get it.

(19)  For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 

(20)  For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently?

• Peter is saying this is what you deserve because of your actions, or faults.

but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 

• Here again contrary to the worlds attitude, and expectations.
• We talked this morning about laying some things down.  This may be an area, or subject where we are weak, and we think “I just can’t lay down like a whipped dog, and take it.”  But this is God’s expectation for us Christians.  It is what makes us a peculiar people in the eyes of the world.
• Also, if we are having trouble doing this or any other teaching, God will help us overcome, in His time.  The Apostle Paul sought the Lord three times for some problem in his life, and the Lord told him each time, “My grace is sufficient for you.”   It’s all about GRACE, UNMERITTED FAVOR.  IF WE WERE PERFECT, OR COULD DO EVERYTHING ON OUR OWN, WE WOULDN’T NEED HIS GRACE.

(21)  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  (22)  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:  (23)  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 

• This is why when we talked about hypocrisy this morning I told you this is not something we want to get wrapped up in.  Don’t allow this word to keep you from serving God.  We don’t always know all the circumstances in one’s life, but God does, and He will righteously judge us all.

(24)  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.  (25)  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

 

Paul put it like this:  Rom 6:4-11 KJVR  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  (5)  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:  (6)  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.  (7)  For he that is dead is freed from sin.  (8)  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:  (9)  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.  (10)  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.  (11)  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

(25)  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

 

Christian, you have placed yourself into the hands of Almighty God.  He not only is the Shepherd, and Bishop of your souls.  He is your Heavenly Father, and is preparing a place for you to be with Him one day soon.