October 30, 2016
Morning Service

I Pet. 2:1-10

 

            With all that is going on in our world today concerning morality, I thought it might be good to see what the Bible had to say on this subject.  Certain Scriptures we must remember when doing this kind of a search.

We must accept the authority of the Scriptures.  Remembering that what we have is by faith, and faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

1.       Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

2.     2Pe 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

3.      2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4.      1Co 14:37  If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

The Lord chose Paul to write 2/3 of our N.T. and seeing that Paul made the above statement, we accept what he wrote to Timothy; 

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

So I will accept what the Bible says concerning the subject of living a moral life.  Now it’s up to me to study to find what God’s expectations are on this matter.  I chose to begin with Peter, to whom the keys of the kingdom were entrusted.

            Last week the encouragement was;  Peter backing up what Jesus said;

1Pe 1:23-25  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  (24)  For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:  (25)  But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

 

CHAPTER TWO:

 

1Pe 2:1-25  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. 

·        Because you have been born again of incorruptible seed lay aside these corruptible traits in your life.

·        The same type of admonition that Paul wrote in his letters.  Paul said it a little differently, but meant the same.  Paul used put off the bad traits, and put on the good things of God.

·        Milk, meaning the easily understood things of Christ’s teachings.  When we grow we will understand the deep things that God wants us to understand.

·        And certainly we have tasted the good things of God, and understand that He is gracious, merciful, not willing that any should perish, but that all should repent, and be saved.

(4)  To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 

Isa 28:16  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.

(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. 

·         Is this who we accept being?  Is this our goal, after being born again of incorruptible seed?

·         Christian, do we understand that we are to have the traits of our Heavenly Father?

·         John said, “behold what manner of the love the Father hath given unto us, that we should be called the sons of God.”  Sons?  Then we should have the genes of our Father, Who is God.  Many times we get so wrapped up in the cares of this world, that we forget who we are, and Whose we are.

·         We may be in this world, but we are not of this world. 

(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. 

·         Isa 28:16  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.

·         Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

·         Christians are built upon the teachings of the Apostles, and Prophets, with Jesus Christ being the head Teacher.  These are who we are to follow, and obey.

(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 offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

·         It was prophesied that the Jews would not accept Jesus to be the Messiah, or the Head Corner Stone.

·         Psa 118:22-23  The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.  (23)  This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

·         According to Paul in the Roman letter the Jews were blinded by God, so that all mankind could be accepted into the family of God.  Rom. 11.  This is the meat of the Word.  The milk is, understanding, repentance, baptism, living holy for God, and the basic things which we have discussed this morning of being built upon the foundation of the Apostles, and Prophets, and Jesus being the Head Teacher, how we fit into the work of the church.  Look at how we are described:

(9)  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people;

·         What makes us this way?  By understanding, and obeying the Word of God.

·         Christian, you are to be different than the world, and they will think you are peculiar.  You love, where they hate;  you forgive, where they hold grudges, you pray, and worship the living God, where they worship the things of this world.  YOU ARE PECULIAR TO THEM, but to God you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and an holy nation, THE CHURCH. 

BECAUSE YOU ARE THESE THINGS TO GOD;

that ye should shew 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. 

·         We praise, and worship Him because He has accepted us into His wonderful family.  And how marvelous it is when we take time to read how important each one of us is in the functioning of the church, the body of Christ.

 

JESUS OF NAZARETH, OUR GOD, AND OUR SAVIOR,  LET US CONTINUE IN YOUR LOVE, AND GRACE, TO LEARN THE THINGS YOU WOULD HAVE US TO KNOW.  THANK YOU.  AMEN.