Stones in God’s Temple
April 15, 2022
Commentary
Peter listed five sins that his readers were guilty of (v. 1). (1) hate, (2) hypocrisy, (3) envy, (4) jealousy and (5) slander. Sadly, many who claim to be “Christians” lack any appetite for God’s Word. They will only eat if some else feeds them (v. 2). Often, when a child lacks an appetite, they have been eating the wrong things. These five wrong attitudes will hinder our appetites, thus preventing spiritual growth. As babies desire milk, believers desire the Word of God (v.2). Only milk satisfies the desire of a hungry infant. A healthy Christian is a hungry Christian.
Jesus is alive and He gives life to believers (vv. 4-5). He was rejected by men but chosen by God. As believers in Christ, we are also rejected by men and valued by God. We who are becoming more like Christ are being built up together into a spiritual house. Christ is the chief corner stone (v. 6), the support on which the rest of the building depends for stability. Those who reject Christ will ultimately face Him as their judge (vv. 7-8). In the world today, many are going through an identity crisis. We need to choose whether we will find our identity (1) in who the world thinks we are, (2) in who we believe we are, or (3) in who Christ says we are. In Christ we are (1) a chosen race, (2) a royal priesthood, (3) a holy nation, (4) God’s people, (5) proclaimers of God’s excellence, (6) those called out of darkness into the light, and (7) those who have receive mercy (vv. 9-10).
Application
It is important that I know who I am in Christ. It is not who the world thinks I am or who I think I am but who Christ knows I am.
1 Peter 2:1– 10 (NET)
1 So get rid of all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 And yearn like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation, 3 if you have experienced the Lord’s kindness.
4 So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, 5 you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it says in scripture, “Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will never be put to shame.” 7 So you who believe see his value, but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, 8 and a stumbling-stone and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy.