Day 2—1 Peter 2

Read 1 Peter 2

Spiritual Growth for Newborn People

Peter begins the 2^nd chapter of his letter with the word, therefore. Whenever you see a therefore in the Bible, you can ask the question, what was said before the therefore. Therefore, is a connecting word to a previous thought.

Peter had just reminded his readers that they “have been born again… through the living and enduring word of God.” This new birth changes everything. It changes the way we think, believe, and live.

Therefore, Peter says, we should rid ourselves of everything that is contrary to this new calling and this life. Prior to Christ, other motivations rule our lives. With the motivations come the tendency to sin, often without even being aware of it. Prior to Christ, our awareness of deceit, malice, hypocrisy, envy and other things is at the very least muted (1 Peter 2:1)

As newborn creatures though, we not only are awakened to sin’s presence, we are challenged to “push it away.” Instead, Peter encourages his readers to “crave” the things of God, which he compares “spiritual milk.” Newborns are nourished by their mother’s milk. Like newborns, we should crave a spiritual milk that will help us grow in the knowledge of God and his goodness (1 Peter 2:2)

You are God’s Building Project

Houses in the first century were often built of stone. Peter uses this picture to help his readers understand that they are a part of something much greater than they can possibly imagine. This house is a living house. The cornerstone is the “living stone,” Jesus. Peter tells his readers, “you, like living stones” are a part of that same house (1 Peter 2:3). Because of what Christ has done you are brought into a new and living reality. You are special. You are holy! You are a priesthood.

We are not used to that kind of language today. In fact, most of us are uncomfortable with the thought of being a priest. In the Old Testament, the priest offered sacrifices to God on the behalf of the people.  Those kinds of sacrifices are no longer necessary. Peter tells his readers that the new sacrifices are “spiritual.” One spiritual sacrifice is simple our affection, or attention, in one word, our life (Romans 12:1). It is also our testimony of God’s presence in us. We have been changed and chosen to “declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful life” (1 Peter 2:9).

So what?

Peter comes back to a familiar theme. Because of what God has done for us in Christ, we should resist sinful desires. Our lives should be and can be a testimony to the rest of the world. Our good deeds done, aren’t about us. They are a living witness to the goodness of God and prayerfully nonbelievers will see our good works and realize that the things we do are because of what, He, Jesus has done for us. May our lives lead people to glorify God! This is Peter’s hope and prayer for his readers.

This is also our motivation to submit to the human authorities of this world (1 Peter 2:13-17). As hard as we think this is, remember for Peter and his readers it was a Roman ruler who was the epitome of tyranny. Some, if not many, of them would die under these same authorities.

Even slaves are encouraged by Peter to submit. Was Peter endorsing slavery? Absolutely not.

Slavery was a terrible reality of that time and we should stand against it in every way. Many of the earliest converts to Christianity were the most powerless people of the day. Women and slaves were by far the largest part of the early church. Peter reminds his readers that Jesus understands their injustice and suffering. He suffered also.

So why should anyone submit to injustice? Sometimes active resistance to injustice to so love our oppressors, to so serve them, and so bless them, that our good deeds lead them to Christ and to life change. Change the oppressor and oppression is defeated. I think Peter’s encouragement to submit has everything to do with the hope that the oppressors of this world will “glorify God” one day because of the beautiful witness of the believer’s life (1 Peter 2:12).

It interesting to remember that Saul, who became Paul, was a persecutor of God’s people. God used him to change the world!

Application:

1. What would it look like for you to “crave” the things of God? What are some of those things that come to mind?
2. What does it do for you, to think about being a part of a spiritual house, built on Christ?
3. What does it look like for you to live out verse 11 of this chapter in Peter’s letter? Resisting sin isn’t easy. Are there some people who can help you in this?

Consider writing down a key verse or verses from today on an index card or small piece of paper and carry it with you today. Look at it as often as you can as a reminder of what we learned today.

 

Possible Verses: 1 Peter 2:9; 1 Peter 2:11, 1 Peter 2:25