Living in a New Household
1 Peter 2:1-10
“Tell me about yourself.” Most of us have been asked that question at an interview, a party or some other social function. How do you answer? What makes you who you are? Who you think you are will determine how you behave, since it’s difficult to consistently act in a manner different than what you perceive yourself to be.
Occasionally, Christians need to be reminded of who they are and what is expected of them. They know they are God’s people, but they don’t always act like they are. They take their relationship with God for granted and give little thought to their behavior. As a result, they do not grow as believers or in their relationship with God. When these Christians are reminded they are God’s people and what is expected of them, they have to make a choice. Will they change or not? If they do change, they will forsake their sinful behavior and determine to grow as believers.
That’s the message Peter strives to convey to his audience in 1 Peter 2. In 1 Peter 2:1, Peter encourages the believers to do away with five sins of dispositions and speech. This behavior characterized the old life that followed after the flesh. Rather than following fleshly impulses, they should be like newborn babies desiring spiritual nourishment. It should be noted that these were not infant Christians, as many had been saved for decades. It is a reminder that we should always hunger for the nourishment of the Word, just like infants long for milk, regardless of how long we have been Christians.
In 2:4-8, Peter encourages believers to come to Him (speaking of Jesus, who is called the Living Stone). Christ is the living, resurrected Savior and Lord, and He gives life to others. When we place our trust in Jesus as our Savior, we become living stones ourselves, part of a spiritual house (i.e., the church) and able to offer spiritual sacrifices to God, which means doing things that are pleasing to Him. Peter’s audience, along with believers of any era, can take comfort that Jesus, the Living Stone, was rejected by men also.
Living in a culture that rejects Christ and His followers can be discouraging. So in the final metaphor, found in 2:9-10, Peter reminds believers of their new identity. In contrast to the disobedient and unbelieving world, believers are the chosen or elect of God. We proclaim the praises of God as we worship. We were once outside of the family of God, but now we have been brought in, and we are His people. Therefore, we should not be ashamed of who we are, but proclaim His praise to the world.
Sands– Lessons in the ETB series for the fall quarter are being written by Alex Sands, pastor of Kingdom Life Christian Center, Greenville.