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Bible Studies / New Testament / 1 Peter
Verse-by-Verse Bible Study

1 Peter 2:1–10

Illustrations of Salvation  

1 PeterNew TestamentEnglishHiligaynon Version Available
These are the original teaching notes from this passage.

I Peter 2:1-10

Review …

  • Concluding the FIRST section…
    • Chapter 1-2:10 – The Grace of God and Salvation…
    • Chapter 2:11 – 3:12 – The Grace of God and Submission…
    • Chapter 3:13 – 5:14 – The Grace of God and Suffering
    • Be HOLY…
    • In light of our – LIVING HOPE / INHERITANCE / and SALVATION…
    • We must [imperative] be HOLY – by placing our HOPE fully in the GRACE of God DAILY…
    • As we are HOLY – we will reflect Jesus to a lost world!
    • HOPEFUL – God will judge all men according to their works…
    • Therefore we should conduct our time here in the FEAR of the Lord…
    • Not trusting in empty MONEY or RELIGION – which has no power to save us…
    • Instead put our HOPE in Jesus – who redeemed us from the power of sin!
    • LOVING – [imperative] AGAPE – one another…
    • Because we are born again – and have the transforming work of the Spirit…
    • Through the eternal Word of God – which has the power to help us LOVE one another!
    • John 13:35 – “All will know that you are My disciples – if you have love for one another.”

Illustrations of Salvation…

  • 1st – Lay aside… vs. 1
    • Cast off…
    • Therefore – laying aside…
    • THEREFORE – in light of the commands to be HOLY – HOPEFUL – and LOVING…
    • LAY ASIDE [ἀποτίθημι] – to cast off – toss these things out the window!
    • Hebrews 12:1 – “Let us lay aside [ἀποτίθημι] every weight – and the sin which so easily ensnares us – and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…”
    • The Christian life is a not a sprint – it is a MARATHON…
    • Often – we START off well in our race – but we do not all FINISH well…
    • Because we treat the RACE like a sprint – get tired and give up…
    • We need to CAST OFF any weight – the sins – that would slow us down…
    • So we can finish the RACE – receive the prize – Jesus Christ – Philippians 3:14
    • 1st – Malice…
      • We are given a list of FIVE things that will keep us from FINISHING the RACE…
      • All MALICE [κακία] – the desire to do evil / cause trouble!
    • 2nd – Deceit…
      • All deceit [δόλος] – to deceive – from a word to bait…
      • Try and LURE someone – in an effort to get from you what you WANT!
      • We enjoy going fishing at MCC after church for lunch…
      • But you have to feel sorry for those fish – the worm drops in the water…
      • And they are LURED out of their safety – because to their DESIRE for the worm!
    • 3rd – Hypocrisy…
      • Hypocrisy [ὑπόκρισις] – to be TWO faced!
      • The word hypocrisy comes from the Greek stage – those who wore masks…
      • The idea was who they looked like on the outside – was not who they really were!
      • We should not pretend to be one thing on Sunday – and another every other day of the week!
    • 4th – Envy…
      • Envy [φθόνος] – the desire for things we do not have!
      • People are rarely HAPPY with what they possess – they always WANT more…
      • Envy is not about what we NEED – it is NOT being content with whatever we have…
      • Since God promises to provide what we NEED – Matthew 6:33
      • When we are ENVIOUS – we are calling God a LIAR…
      • And it will cause us to be BITTER towards the LORD – and jealous of others!
      • James 3:16 – “Where envy and self–seeking exist – confusion and every evil thing are there.”
    • 5th – Evil speaking…
      • All evil speaking [καταλαλιά] – to talk down to others…
      • It carries the idea of tearing others down in an effort to build ourselves up!
      • Did you even notice when people gossip – it is always about BAD things…
      • People like to TEAR others down – in an effort to make them look GOOD…
      • But they are deceiving themselves – and need instead to examine their own lives…
      • God will not excuse our SIN – just because we think someone else is a bigger SINNER!
  • 2nd – Newborn babes… vs. 2-3
    • GRACE for SALVATION…
    • Having CAST off the things that will keep us from FINISHING the RACE…
    • As we conclude the FIRST section of the book – the GRACE of God for SALVATION…
    • We are given THREE illustrations that define our RACE…
    • Newborn babes – Living stones – the People of God!
    • 1st – Milk of the Word… vs. 2
      • As newborn babes – desire the pure milk of the word – that you may grow thereby!
      • NEWBORN – only here NT – infants…
      • How are we to be like NEWBORNS – in our desire for the MILK of the Word…
      • That we MAY [subjunctive] grow through reading our BIBLES!
      • From the moment infants are born – they immediately – constantly NEED milk…
      • They have to eat 8-12 times each DAY – just to survive – they CRAVE milk!
      • The idea is we should CRAVE the Word – long to be in it all throughout the day…
      • If we did not eat for a couple of days – we would know it – start to CRAVE food…
      • Yet so often we go days – weeks without spending time in the Word…
      • One of the results of our salvation – is we should CRAVE the Word like a newborn baby!
      • Psalm 42:1-2 – “As the deer pants for the water… My soul thirsts… for the living God…”
    • 2nd – PURE milk… vs. 2
      • PURE [ἄδολος] – only here NT – the negative of the word DECEIT [δόλος]
      • There is a trend today to replace breast milk with formula…
      • It is an imitation – DECEPTION – of what is the very best for the newborn!
      • God created us to WORSHIP Him – satan tries to get us to WORSHIP anything but the LORD…
      • He tries to CONVINCE us living for money – pleasure – fame – is good enough…
      • But everything satan does is only a COUNTERFEIT – copy of what God intended…
      • It is the knock off IMITATION of the genuine product – looks similar but it does NOT last!
    • 3rd – TASTE… vs. 3
      • SINCE you have tasted the Lord is gracious!
      • GRACIOUS [χρηστὸς] – to be GOOD – useful – pleasant…
      • Once we have TASTED His WORD – seen the GRACE of our Lord [κύριος]
      • Nothing in this world will ever be enough for us – nothing else will FULFILL us!
      • Matthew 11:30 – “For [His] yoke is EASY [χρηστὸς] and [His] burden is light.”
      • We can try to be FULFILLED by buying THINGS – but possessions get old and break…
      • We can try to be FULFILLED with MONEY – but there will always be something more to buy…
      • Because we were NOT created by God to be FULFILLED by the things of this world…
      • We were created by God to KNOW Jesus – and WORSHIP Him – John 17:3
      • And only when we live for Jesus – will we find we are SATISFIED – John 4:14
      • Psalm 34:8 – “Taste and see that the LORD is GOOD [χρηστὸς in LXX].”
  • 3rd – Living Stones… vs. 4-8
    • 1st – Jesus is the STONE… vs. 4
      • Coming to Him as to a living stone – rejected indeed by men – but chosen by God and precious!
      • Jesus is the STONE that was REJECTED by men – they put Him on the cross…
      • CHOSEN [ἐκλεκτός] – man REJECTED Jesus – but God CHOSE Jesus to save mankind…
      • PRECIOUS [ἔντιμος] – to be held in honor – VERY important!
      • Philippians 2:9 – “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.”
    • 2nd – We are STONES… vs. 5
      • LIVING stones…
      • You also – as living stones – are being built up a spiritual house – a holy priesthood…
      • To offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ!
      • LIVING stones – we are the BUILDING material for a SPIRITUAL house…
      • We are the TEMPLE of God – His PRIESTS – who offer SPIRITUAL sacrifices!
      • I Corinthians 3:16 – “Do you not know that you are the temple of God…”
      • Churches are NOT made out of wood and concrete….
      • God uses something far more precious – He uses us to build His house…
      • And God has a purpose and plan for each of us in His house!
      • Being BUILT…
      • BUILT – we are being assembled [present / passive] into the house of God!
      • When King Solomon built the FIRST Temple – all the STONES were prepared off site…
      • They were finished in the quarry – then just assembled on the Temple Mount…
      • Each stone was a perfect fit – they did not even need mortar between the stones!
      • I Kings 6:7 – “The temple – when it was being built – was built with stone finished at the quarry – so that no hammer or chisel or any iron tool was heard in the temple.”
      • Did you ever wonder why God did not take us right to heaven when we got saved…
      • Why leave us here on earth where we must go through trials and temptations…
      • The reason is because we have a lot of ROUGH edges that need to be polished off…
      • We are NOT going to be CHISELED and shaped in heaven – the work takes place HERE…
      • God puts us through trials to SHAPE us into the people He wants us to be…
      • So that when we arrive in Heaven – we will already be a PERFECT fit!
    • 3rd – THE Cornerstone… vs. 6
      • The SCRIPTURE – Isaiah 28:16
      • Behold – I lay in Zion [Jerusalem] a chief cornerstone – elect – precious!
      • CORNERSTONE – the key STONE – sets the angles and location of the building…
      • ELECT – PRECIOUS – the same words used to describe Jesus – I Peter 2:4
      • Anytime you build a house – you need a set of blueprints to follow…
      • With so many pieces – so many different parts that have to fit perfectly together…
      • If you do not have a blueprint for a major project – it will end in disaster!
      • The blueprint God has given to the church – is the Word of God…
      • The church of God is built upon the foundation – instruction of the Bible!
      • And Jesus is the CORNERSTONE – the most important piece…
      • He is the STONE that SUPPORTS and is the FOUNDATION of the church!
      • Matthew 16:18 – “On this rock I will build My church…”
      • There are a LOT of ideas today about HOW to build a CHURCH…
      • In order for a CHURCH to grow – you need to entertain the people…
      • In order to get money – hold fundraisers to compel the people to give…
      • All ideas that come from the WORLD – nowhere to be found in the WORD…
      • Unfortunately many churches today look to the world rather than to Jesus…
      • As a result theses churches are not on a good FOUNDATION!
      • No SHAME…
      • And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame!
      • Will NOT – [οὐ μὴ subjunctive] – the most powerful negation in Greek…
      • IMPOSSIBLE for those put their trust [present] in Jesus – to be disappointed…
      • To those who BELIEVE in Him – He is an unshakable FOUNDATION!
      • Matthew 7:24 – “I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
      • We will NEVER be disappointed when we choose to make Jesus our FOUNDATION…
      • That does not mean things will always turn out the way we expect…
      • But we can be absolutely certain – that whatever happens – we are UNSHAKABLE!
    • 4th – REJECTED… vs. 7-8
      • The DISOBEDIENT…
      • 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!
      • DISOBEDIENT [ἀπειθέω] – those who REFUSE to BELIEVE…
      • Jesus is the stone that the builders REFUSED – Psalm 118:22
      • According to tradition – when Solomon built the first Temple…
      • The first stone sent to the building site was the chief CORNERSTONE…
      • When the workers received the STONE – they were not ready – set it aside – forgot!
      • The stone the builders rejected – became the chief CORNERSTONE!
      • STUMBLING stone…
      • A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.
      • They stumble – being disobedient to the word – to which they also were appointed!
      • A stone of stumbling – a rock of offence – quoting – Isaiah 8:14
      • Jesus is the FOUNDATION of the GOSPEL…
      • SALVATION is found in no other name under heaven – Acts 4:12
      • Because men are DISOBEDIENT – and REFUSE to believe the WORD of God…
      • They STUMBLE – and are OFFENDED – at the name of Jesus!
      • When TRIALS come quite unexpectedly – giving us no time to prepare…
      • The only hope we have is that we have built our life on a solid FOUNDATION!
      • Then if our bank account is EMPTY – we know God PROVIDES…
      • If we get SICK – we know the great PHYSICIAN!
      • There are NO limits to what God will allow to get our attention…
      • The question is are we willing to fall on Him – admit our need – and be BROKEN…
      • Or do we insist on going our own way – He falls on us – and we are CRUSHED!
      • Luke 20:18 – “Whoever falls on that stone ROCK [λίθος] will be broken. But on whomever it falls – it will grind him to powder…”
  • 4th – People of God… vs. 9-10
    • 1st – CHOSEN generation…
      • Chosen GENERATION [γένος] – referring to our nationality – our IDENTITY!
      • We often place our IDENTITY on where we are FROM – or what we DO…
      • But our IDENTITY is that we were chosen [ἐκλεκτός] by God to be His own people…
      • Our identity is simply in Christ – and however He wants to use us!
    • 2nd – Royal priesthood…
      • There are THREE priestly lines defined in the Bible…
      • LEVITICAL – which represents the Jewish priesthood…
      • MELCHIZEDEK – which is the Priesthood of Jesus – Hebrews 7:1
      • ROYAL – to belong to the KING – which is for you and me!
      • The purpose of the priest was to be a mediator – a go between God and man…
      • God has called us to be His PRIESTS – represent Him to a lost world!
    • 3rd – Holy nation…
      • HOLY [ἅγιος] – to be SET apart for the Lord – as a nation [ἔθνος]
      • We talked last week about being set apart – HOLY – as individuals…
      • But we are also called to be set apart – HOLY as a group!
    • 4th – Special people…
      • SPECIAL [περιποίησις] – to be a POSSESSION – to belong to someone
      • God CHOSE us to belong to Him – knowing exactly who we are!
      • I know how much of a challenge I can be – how many times I make mistakes…
      • I am always amazed – that God also knowing exactly who I am – and still CHOSE me…
      • God is not surprised by our mistakes – He knew what he was getting…
      • He calls us SPECIAL in spite of all our sin – weaknesses – faults – and failures!
    • 5th – People of God… vs. 9-10
      • CALLED out…
      • That you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness…
      • Into His marvelous light!
      • PROCLAIM [ἐξαγγέλλω] – to be a MESSENGER for the LORD
      • God CALLED us out of DARKNESS into LIGHT – so we might [subjunctive] tell others!
      • I John 1:7 – “If we walk in the light as He is in the light – we have fellowship with one another – and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
      • Those who COME into the light – have fellowship with Jesus – and are FORGIVEN…
      • But those who LOVE [ἀγαπάω] the darkness – refuse to COME – John 3:19
      • Considering the consequences for rejecting Jesus – hell…
      • We need to be MESSENGERS for the LORD – going out into the DARK – to show the LIGHT!
      • Not a PEOPLE… vs. 10
      • Who once were not a people but are now the people of God!
      • When Jen and I were in Israel in 2008 – we had to pass through the Netherlands…
      • We had a long layover – and thought it might be nice to get out of the airport…
      • My passport from the US – I was NOT required to have a visa…
      • But Jens passport was from the PHILIPPINES – a visa was REQUIRED…
      • It had nothing to do with being a good or bad person…
      • We were GRANTED or DENIED solely based on our CITIZENSHIP!
      • We can ONLY be citizens of one of TWO kingdoms – Matthew 12:30
      • We either belong to the KINGDOM of God – or the KINGDOM of this world…
      • And if we try to get into heaven with the wrong CITIZENSHIP – the doors are closed!
      • But once we are BORN again – we are no longer FOREIGNERS…
      • We no longer belong to this world – we have changed our CITIZENSHIP!
      • MERCY…
      • Who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy!
      • MERCY [ἐλεέω] – helping those who in NEED
      • We used to be the ENEMIES of God – and did NOT have MERCY [perfect]
      • But when we BELIEVED – we received His MERCY [passive]
      • We became the PEOPLE of God – HOLY / ROYAL / CHOSEN / SPECIAL…
      • Through His MERCY – we have the LIGHT – and been given a new CITIZENSHIP…
      • The only question is – do we share our HOPE with others – pass on the GRACE…
      • Nothing else in life matters – only what we do with the GRACE of God for SALVATION!