Download DAY FIVE: APPLICATION these are personal response

1 Peter 2:1-10
March 18, 2007
Precious is a repeated word in the first 2 chapters of 1 Peter. Christ is precious, chosen by God and we, as
regenerated believers, are precious to Him because we too have been chosen by the Father. Being precious implies
that as chosen we have been selected by the Father’s love for a particular purpose. What is that purpose? How are
we identified as precious believers? What characteristics should the world not see in us and which ones should they
see? What privileges are ours as strangers/aliens/pilgrims? We will attempt to answer some of these questions in
this lesson.
PRINCIPLES: Believers are a purified precious peculiar pilgrim people with privileges and responsibilities.
AIM: As purified people may we endeavor to lay aside our old identity and to live a holy new identity
 Listen to 1Peter audio on the Internet http://tinyurl.com/33r4hz
DAY ONE: 1 Peter 2:1 People are to ‘lay aside’ sins (these hinder holiness)
1. Review: as strangers what is the command Peter gives in 1:15? What have they done in 1:22. Peter reminded
them to be holy in all their behavior; they in obedience have purified themselves---thus they are consecrated and
holy now which will be proven by their love to the brethren and to one another.
2. “Therefore” or “So” begins chapter 2. Matthew Henry writes: “One sin, not laid aside, will hinder our spiritual
profit and everlasting welfare”. List and define the 5 spiritually hindering sins from 2:1.
1. malice---means doing evil despite the good that has been received, desire to harm another
2. deceit --- deliberately tricking or misleading by lying
3. hypocrisy---means presenting good motives that mask selfish desires
4. envy—desiring something possessed by another; brings about discontent and resentment
5. slander---means destroying another’s good reputation by lies, gossip, rumor-spreading
This is a vicious circle: beginning with malice, which leads to the others.
John MacA. Says: General evil leads to deceit, because you need to be deceptive about your true character. Deceit
leads to hypocrisy, you need to put on a good front. Hypocrisy manifests itself in envy of those who are genuine
and ultimately leads to their slander.
3. What do you note about each? (hint: switch diagram—see below the diagram---note that this is an inner
problem. Beginning with mind.
Where is your
Switch Set?
The Battle is in the mind
Mind controls Will
New
Nature
Will
4 C’s Decision Process
Consider the choice
Compare it to Gods Way
Choose God’s way
Count on God for
ACTIONS
Old
Nature
Provision and Protection
our actions are
determined by our
decision process or
“where our
switch is set ”
DA switch
© David Austin, [email protected] “switch diagram”
1 Peter 2:1-10
March 18, 2007
DAY TWO: 1 Peter 2:2-3 Purified people are to “desire the pure milk of word” (a step to holiness)
4. 1 Peter 2:2 connects to 1 Peter 1:22-25. What do you learn about the Word of God from these verses?
In vs 22-25 we learn that the word is living, it is enduring, endures forever, and was the word that was
preached to these believers
In vs. 1 of chapter 2 we read that it is pure, it is milk—perfect food for an infant—and these were spiritual
infants, it is food for growth in respect to salvation. It is something that one must long for as an infant
longs for milk of the mother.
5. What was Job’s testimony regarding the ‘milk of the word’? Job. 23:12 “I have not departed from the
commands of his lips;I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my allotted portion. 24 “
6. What is the ‘pure milk of the word’ able to do? Heb. 4:12, Rom.12:2
Heb. 4:12 piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to
judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.
Rom. 12:2 transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will
of God
6. What promise is given to them that have this inner desire of the word? Eph. 3:20, Matt. 5:6
In both of these passages we learn that it is the Word that is the power that is given within us, and He is
able to do far beyond all that we can ask or even think. It leads us to righteous and to satisfy our longings.
Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who by the power that is working within us 1 is able to do far beyond 2 all
that we ask or think,
Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger 3 and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
DAY THREE: 1 Peter 2:4-8 Peter exhorts precious living stones (to perceive their holy privilege)
8. What has Peter told us so far? We are born again to a _(1:3)_hope_____ hope, born again through the
(1:23) enduring_word; and now we are coming to Him as the (2:4) living_stone.
9. Often writers speak of Christ in the singular and believers in the plural. Finish these comparisons:
Jesus is the Son, we are sons_; Jesus is the King, we are kings, Jesus is the High Priest, we are _priests_.
He is the Lamb, and we are _lambs. He is the Living Stone and we are _living stones_.
10. Between v.4 and v. 10 Peter has used several OT passages, which originally referenced Jews only, but
now he attributes them to NT believers. Connect each passage in Peter to its OT reference by the phrase
used. .
Ex. Vs. 4 = Is. 28:16 “a precious cornerstone”
v. 4 = Ps. 118:22 _ The stone which the builders “discarded” has become the “cornerstone”.
v. 6 = Is. 28:16 _ “I am laying a stone in Zion”, an approved stone,
v. 8 = Is. 8:14/15 but a stone that makes a person “trip, and a rock that makes one stumble” — any will
stumble over the stone and the rock, and will fall and be seriously injured, and will be ensnared and
captured."
11. What is a cornerstone and what are its characteristics? What then is Christ able to be and do that no
one else is? Also see Eph. 2:19-22. (for a search of the bible for all places cornerstone is used see
http://tinyurl.com/2n3ds3 )
© David Austin, [email protected] “switch diagram”
1 Peter 2:1-10
March 18, 2007
A cornerstone is the first stone set in a foundation. Against it all other stones will be set in reference to
this stone, thus determining the potion of the entire edifice.
Christ as the cornerstone, thus was the first stone to be laid, it is the one by which all others, namely the
living stone believers are set, He sets the standard of position, He is trustworthy, He is perfectly aligned
and thus we are as well.
Note Paul’s explanation: we are no longer set aside as those who do not belong but now we are a part of
the building process. The foundation was Christ as the cornerstone, the apostles He appointed, the
prophets of the OT that we study. It is a fit building, “being joined” as Peter says in 2:5 “are being built”
together into a temple where spiritual sacrifices can be offered.
Eph. 2:19-22 So then you are no longer foreigners and non-citizens, but you are fellow citizens with the
saints and members of God’s household, 2:20 because you have been built 1 on the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, 2 with Christ Jesus himself as 3 the cornerstone. 4 2:21 In him 5 the whole building,
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being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 2:22 in whom you also are being built
together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
12. What are the contrasts in vs. 6 - 8? Into which section do you fall? He who believes will not be
disappointed; he who disbelieves will stumble and fall ---and to this doom they were appointed. This
brings us to Rom. 1---God gave them over and thus their choice to disbelieve has appointed them to
destruction. Rom 9:18 So then, God has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens
whom he chooses to harden—but they had the choice to choose His way and they chose not to. Thus,
they have reaped the end of no mercy.. they have stumbled and fallen by their own rejection. Jesus
spoke about this concept to the Pharisees in the parable of the vineyard. He said that because of their
disbelief they would be cast aside and the kingdom given to another. See Matt. 21:39ff for this
parable.
13. Based upon the above mini-study; in what way are you privileged? Take time now to thank God for
this privilege and for being a chosen living stone. We are privileged to have been chosen as Peter
reminded his readers in 1:1, and we are part and parcel of the kingdom as we are being built into the
temple of God, one stone at a time.
DAY FOUR: 1 Peter 2:9-10 Peter exhorts peculiar people to show forth praises (to show holiness
14. In vs. 9, Peter gives 4 descriptions of being a living stone. To whom were these same words spoken
long ago? Ex. 19:6 God spoke these words to Moses who in turn was to speak of them to the
Israelites.
Exo 19:6 and you will be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you will
speak to the Israelites."
14a. A chosen race-what does this imply? Selected out for His purpose, selected by His love.
14b. A royal priesthood—based upon our previous OT study, what did the priests have to do prior to
offering sacrifices? They had to be consecrated, clean, washed and redressed in special garments—a
picture of the robes of righteousness. Ref: Rev. 7:9-14.
14c.. What kind of sacrifices does Peter tell the NT believers to be offering? Rom 12:1-2; Heb 13:15-16;
Phil 4:18
© David Austin, [email protected] “switch diagram”
1 Peter 2:1-10
March 18, 2007
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Romans 12:1-2 Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your
bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God 2 – which is your reasonable service. 12:2 Do not
be conformed 3 to this present world, 4 but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may
test and approve 5 what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.
Hebrews 13:15-16 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the
fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name. 13:16 And do not neglect to do good and to share what you
have, 6 for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
Philippians 4:18 For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received
from Epaphroditus what you sent – a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God.
14d. A holy nation—implies what? Set apart for service, a nation that is the messenger of God’s Word to
the world,
14e. A peculiar people ---Deut. 7:6; peculiar in what way? They were peculiar for they were chosen, here
Peter now uses this same thought for the NT believers to whom he is writing, they too were not a
peculiar/special people set apart for God. They were chosen by Him out of His love, not because of
anything they had done, or from where they came, but because He chose them because He loved them.
Deut. 7:6 For thou art a holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a
special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Israelites were
to be a special/peculiar people, set apart and chosen to be God’s message to the world of His love and
forgiveness.
Deu 7:7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than
any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
Deu 7:8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had
sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out
of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
15. How might these people of 1:1 be comforted by the words of 2:10? In 1:1, Peter tells them that they
were strangers/aliens in a land to which they were as a foreigner. Customs/lifestyle, etc. were different
and they did not seem to “fit in” there. In addition, Peter had told them that perhaps they might have to
suffer tribulation for a while. As they heard 2:10 they heard “you were once not a people, but now are a
people, not having had mercy but now did. What comfort in times of persecution, to know that they now
had an identity! They were the people of God having received His mercy upon themselves.
DAY FIVE: APPLICATION these are personal response questions…each must be answered by
the student and hopefully shared in class.
Where is your passion? Is your passion to desire the milk of the Word or is your passion concerned with
worldly matters? Give some practical methods for cultivating your passion.
What is keeping you from being a living stone, being built and shaped by the Cornerstone?
Rom. 12:1-2 tells us to offer to God a living sacrifice—which is ourselves. What spiritual sacrifice are
you offering to God?
© David Austin, [email protected] “switch diagram”