1 Peter Lesson 4

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The Book of 1st Peter
LESSON 4
1 Peter 2:1-10

"Exhortation to Submission as your Priestly Service"

J. Deering, AncientPath.net

THE OUTLINE

A. 2:1-10 - Exhortation to priestly service

1. 2:1-9 - THROUGH GROWTH

2:1-3 - Growing up in the Lord 2:1-3
The figure is that of a babe who longs for suitable food (milk). A note may be helpful on this theme:

a. 2:1 - The preparation for growth
("laying aside" things which would contaminate "the milk")

b. 2:2 - The prescription for growth

i. Regular feeding with unadulterated "milk of the word."
Consecutive satisfying of hunger.

ii. Proper air, i.e., prayer, the heavenly atmosphere of the believer’s life.

iii. Proper exercise, i.e., witnessing to others

c. 2:3 - The pre-requisite of growth
(cp. 1:22-23, i.e., saved)

d. 2:5, 9 - The purpose of growth
To build up Church; to offer proper praise as believer priests

2. 2:4-10 - Offering up worthy worship
(in the true Church, which is God's temple in this age, Ephesians 2:20-22; Acts 17:24)

2:1-9 - THROUGH GROWTH

2:1-3 - Growing up in the Lord
The figure is that of a new born baby who longs for suitable food (milk). Peter is not pointing out that Christians (even new ones) are not considered to be babies. The imagery is about how each individual in the Lord should be eagerly seeking after growth in Christ and the Scriptures. More on this when we get to verse 2.

2:1 - The Preparation for Growth

("laying aside" things which would contaminate "the milk")

1 Therefore,

putting aside

all malice and

all deceit and

[all] hypocrisy and

[all] envy and

all slander,

From a biblical view of growth, we can here see that at least five things can complicate, or even prevent, growth as a Christian. Every Christian is under the authority of God, His Holy Spirit, His Son, and the very revealed and written Word of God. We saw back at 1 Peter 1:16 that we (believers) are to be “Holy, because “He (God the Father) is Holy,” For we are to be Holy like Him – as His children.

Then comes the Exhortations - showing us how we can begin… to be holy:

First is the general requirement that holiness is not a simple position or attitude that we can put upon ourselves and then do as we please. NO, Holiness is a characteristic, an ATTRIBUTE of God Himself. Being “saved” through His Son gives you a “proclaimed” holiness, however attaining to actual holiness is going to require, as I like to call it, voluntary and willing active faith.

I’ll leave that to you to figure out where you are in your own life with Him. Each of these exhortations will require an in-depth struggle between our desires and holding that active faith position deep within ourselves. We will fail, but we will need to pick ourselves and our active faith up and… keep trying to surrender ourselves and press on to the position of holiness through our own individual active Faith path.

[YOU] Put aside - ALL:

The next big step is understanding that “All” means “How much contamination can we tolerate in our attempts to become The Holiness of God? Peter sets the record straight here… [You – evident in the Aramaic language], Put aside ALL. That’s a tall order, but you have been selected to be a child of almighty God, so make every attempt to put aside all:

1 - Malice: The deliberate intention to do evil, ill will, or a deep-seated desire to cause harm to others. It is an attitude of the heart characterized by bitterness and a spirit of revenge and or entitlement. Put it aside, move its place of residence out of your life.

2 - Deceit: The intentional misleading, tricking, or hiding of the truth to trick or harm others. It includes lying, and fraud. Put it aside, move its place of residence out of your life.

3 - Hypocrisy: Biblical hypocrisy is a spiritual performance where outward actions are done to impress others rather than to honor God. Put it aside, move its place of residence out of your life.

4 - Envy: A painful, resentful longing for another person’s possessions, success, or blessings, combined with a bitter wish that the other person did not have them. It is a sin of the heart that shows a lack of trust in God’s goodness. Put it aside, move its place of residence out of your life.

And,

Slander: The making false or maliciously damaging statements to harm someone’s reputation. It encompasses any speech intended to tear others down, including malicious gossip, and backbiting. or spreading true information with a hostile intent. Put it aside, move its place of residence out of your life.

Again, the emphasis is that our God is Holy… and therefore WE are to be Holy - as we are His.

2:2 - The Prescription for Growth

2 like newborn babies,

long for the pure milk of the word,

so that by it

you may grow in respect to salvation,

1) The Desire for Regular feeding with unadulterated "milk of the word." Consecutive satisfying of hunger.

Peter is not saying that you are a newborn baby, but he is using that image as a metaphor to teach us what we need. Most of us in our lives have had the opportunity to observe a young baby who is very hungry. The extensive noise making (crying usually) to get your attention to “FEED ME.” In the early months and years milk is the sought-after sustenance. As growth comes, so does a continual change in diet. But the imagery is all about the “Word of God” being the center focus of the verse. The end of the sentence is the reason for the emphasis of “Longing for that which is PURE - which is “The Word of God.” That reason is that “YOU may GROW in respect to SALVATION.” You don’t just have it, you grow in it. You don’t want to end up in your life as a baby just entering Heaven. You do want to end up in your life as a biblically mature someone who knows and understands why and what you have been saved for.

2) Proper air, i.e., prayer, the heavenly atmosphere of the believer’s life.

Prayer comes in all kinds of definitions. Some are “Prayer Warriors,” Their lives are filled with cards and notes with church members, friends, relatives, etc., whom they find great honor and pleasure praying for. Then there are some who do their prayers in the morning and evening and the Hello and Goodnight to the Lord God. Some of us have a continual prayer conference with the Lord much of the day without a truly formal morning beginning or late-night goodnight. Whatever your prayer life… make it heart-felt and with confidence that He hears you. And remember to not hold things “behind your back” when coming to Him - He can see all things and know all things, and He won’t be very happy if you think you are concealing things from Him.

1) Proper exercise, i.e., witnessing to others.

Like the prayer life there are many ways to witness to your family, friends, loved ones, neighbors, etc. The key is to actually spend time witnessing to others. Some spend their time in personal contact, some write cards and letters, some use Christ witnessing in their job locations, some spend their time creating witnessing documents (Tracts, Sunday sermons, Sunday school, youth groups, men’s and women’s groups, home bible studies, writing biblical studies) - there are literally millions of ways to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ - and you are to explore those the Lord gives to you as avenues to witness of His Grace and Love and the Salvation that has been made available to all who would believe. “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher.” Romans 10:14 How shall they know without YOU telling them?

2:3 The Pre-requisite of growth

(cp. 1:22-23, i.e., saved)

3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

Be aware that this verse starts with the word “IF.” This is a BIG “IF.” Are YOU SAVED? Are YOU a BELIEVER? For only then will you have “TASTED THE KINDNESS OF THE LORD!” And, we have to take a look at ourselves and our lives for the “Kindness of the Lord,” is most often shown upon those who are or have been in a difficult tribulation time. We’ve said before that Peter’s letter is all about becoming aware that God’s plan for you may, and often does, include testing, trials, difficulties, and losses. It often is only through such testing times that we come to realize how wonderful, gracious, loving, and caring He really is. The older we get “In-Christ” the more obvious becomes the “Joy” of knowing Jesus, His Father, and His Spirit, our God. And once again, Hebrews 12:2, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

And just a reminder from a previous lesson:

1 Peter 1:22-23

22 Since you have [already]

in obedience to the truth purified your souls

for a sincere (Lit. unhypocritical) love of the brethren,

fervently love one another

from the heart, 23

for you have been born again

not of seed which is perishable

but [of seed which is] imperishable, that is,

through the living and enduring word of God.)

We’ll do verse 4 after 5 & 9

2:5, 9 - The Purpose of growth - To build up Church; to offer proper praise as believer priests.

The text below shows that our outline pulls apart verses 5 & 9 for this part. I included the other verse numbers to help keep the possible confusion at bay.

5 you also,

[you] as living stones,
[you] are being built up

[you] as a spiritual house

for a holy priesthood,

to offer up spiritual sacrifices

acceptable to God

through Jesus Christ

9 But

you are a chosen race,

[you are] a royal priesthood,

[you are] a holy nation,

[you are] a people for God’s own possession,

so that you may proclaim

the excellencies of Him

who has called you out of darkness

into His marvelous light;

The Bible teaches us that there is more to what we normally think of as our lives. It teaches us that all human beings are eternal in nature. We were created that way. It is apparent from the scriptures that God had a plan for us since before the “foundation” [creation] “of the world.” As a summary, I would tell you that evil was allowed into our world as a planned part of God’s program so that men and women would have to choose between absolute good and absolute evil in order for a salvation-based system to work. The Son of God, Jesus-God, was asked by His Father, the Lord God if He would be willing to offer His life, in human form (begotten) as a substitute penalty payment for a “Believer’s” sins. God the Son came to earth being born in human form as the baby Jesus. Lived His life, taught belief in Him, and was put to death on the Cross by the Jews and Romans (Gentiles) of His time. Then, any man, women or child who faithfully and spiritually receives Jesus as their Savior is then covered at the end of their lives with Jesus having paid for their sins, thus receiving God’s Salvation. Then those who have received this Salvation are granted a new life, in the place called heaven, for eternity (forever). Those who have not chosen Jesus to be the payment for their sins, will be judged and sent to a place away from God, where they will pay for their sins - forever.

Thus, verse 5

you also,

[you] as living stones,
[you] are being built up

[you] as a spiritual house

for a holy priesthood,

to offer up spiritual sacrifices

acceptable to God

through Jesus Christ

So now, if you are a believer, In Jesus Christ, then you become a “living Stone.” You may remember that Simon became Peter, a Greek word for “rock” or “stone.” In Christ you have become a “Living Stone,” under the inheritance of becoming a member of God’s own personal Royal Family. Now comes the metaphor… as a living stone, and joining other living stones (the church) you are being built up into a “Spiritual [rock] House” (the Temple of God - where He lives) and you are, all of you, a Holy Priesthood, and your place in this Temple priesthood is to Offer Up to Him Spiritual Sacrifices which ARE Acceptable to God Through and By Jesus Christ! …

Every time I think through this last paragraph I have to just sit in wonderment. When God came to the earth to live with His people, He did so in the Tabernacle or Temples. Upon our salvation, we become now the “Church” rather than the Tabernacle or Temple, and He then lives in us (the Holy Spirit God). The sacrificial Lamb’s blood shed upon the mercy seat (then occupied by the Lord) which offered the salvation to those upon whom it was sprinkled is now us, as we are the new tabernacle, filled with the presence of God, and we have also become His Priesthood. Then… God took His Tabernacle everywhere He went, always full of the Mercy Seat, and on, and on the Bible story goes about God, His Son, His Spirit, and His very own Spirit filled begotten adopted sons and daughters.

Jumping ahead for a moment:

The Results of Growth,

verse 9

But [Because of Jesus, the Christ]

you are a chosen race,

[you are] a royal priesthood,

[you are] a holy nation,

[you are] a people for God’s own possession,

so that you may proclaim

the excellencies of Him

who has called you out of darkness

into His marvelous light;

Because of HIM

YOU ARE

A Chosen race

A Royal Priesthood

A Holy Nation

A People for God’s Own Possession

So That You

[Chosen, Priesthood, Nation, God’s possession]

Because of HIM are to proclaim:

His Excellencies

His Calling of YOU out of Darkness

His Calling of YOU into His Marvelous Light

Verse 9 goes on to magnify everything we have seen in verse 5. It is in us that the plan and program for the salvation of mankind is now nearly complete - Rapture of the saints; Tribulation; Kingdom age (the reunification of Israel as the chosen nation); Judgment… Eternity.

Now we take on the verses 4, 6, 7, 8, 10.

WORTHY WORSHIP

2:4-6-7-8-10 - Offering up worthy worship (in the true Church, which is God's temple in this age, (The Purpose of Growth)

Ephesians 2:20-22

“Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, ²¹in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, ²²in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”

Acts 17:24

“The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;”

(2:4, 6,7,8, 10 - Still working on Worthy Worship)

As Living Stones

4 And [you] coming to Him

as to a living stone

which has been rejected by men,

but is choice and precious

in the sight of God,

Here, we jump into the explanation of the Temple metaphor. God is building His “human” temple. It is made out of “Living Stones.” Those living stones are those men and women who have been saved while on earth. We are “coming” to Him (the Lord Jesus Christ) that we should be seeing in the metaphor as a “living stone” who has been rejected by unbelieving men and women - but in reality is absolutely the Choice of God, and has been found to be Precious in the sight of God for absolutely, willingly, and with great power, the planned will of God for the salvation of men and women as “The Church.”

6 For this is contained in Scripture:

“Behold,

I lay in Zion

a choice stone,

a precious corner stone,

And he who believes in Him

will not be disappointed.”

The Old Testament has three major instances of this “Corner Stone.” Psalm 118:22 - “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;” Isaiah 28:16 - “So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.” These references set before us the promise that God will supply one of great strength and durability to become the One whom all things important to God will rest upon. Speaking of course of Jesus Christ, the very Son of God.

The third Old Testament reference, Jeremiah 51:26, tells us that Babylon (the source of all evil power - as a nation, as a system, as a person) will never be the source of the cornerstone. You will also find this concept in much of the book of Revelation.

Here is six references to the Corner Stone in the New Testament: Ephesians 1:20-22; Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; and here in 1 Peter 2:6-7.

7a This precious value, then,

is for you who believe;

Verse 4 points us to this “precious value.” He, the Lord Jesus, is “Choice and Precious” to God the Father. It should be, of course, that children should be “choice and precious” in the eyes of their fathers. But consider this: God the Father’s desire is to “save” millions of millions of men and women over the centuries of human life here on this planet. God the Son answered that call by placing himself on a cursed wooden cross, becoming the perfect Son through obedience and then giving up His life in order to satisfy His Father. That is a choice and precious Son!

7b but for those who disbelieve,

“The stone which the builders rejected,
This [who] became the very corner stone,”

8 and,

“A stone of stumbling and

a rock of offense”;

for they stumble

because they are disobedient to the word, and
to this doom they were also appointed.

Here is the negative or downside of God’s offer of salvation. It says that unbelief is a rejection of God’s precious offer. They see the Christ as a “stone of stumbling.” In the Old Testament this refers to stones thrown in to pathways in fields in order for travelers to stumble upon - they find Him offensive.

Their rejection of God’s precious Son as the source of their forgiveness causes them to be appointed to doom (to perish). Their appointment is caused by rejecting or coming to the end of their life without making Him their choice.

10 for

you once were not a people, but now

you are the people of God;

you had not received mercy, but now

you have received mercy.

Verse 10 is a continuation of the first part of verse 7: “This precious value, then, is for you who believe;”

For YOU - did not belong to God as a part of His family, His people.

But ! - Now you - are part of His family - His Holy Children.

For YOU - were not the receivers of His mercy.

But ! - Now you - are the receiver of God’s mercy.

What a wonderful place to leave this study. Life’s most important choice is whether or not to rely upon a savior to free us from evil and sin - but there are a lot of “saviors” out there. It is the choosing of the right savior that is the most critical choice in your life. God, through His Word and His Holy Spirit offers to each and every person the opportunity to believe. However, the choice is yours to make. Making the wrong choice or making no choice at all… will keep you from acquiring the Grace of God and His Son Jesus as your savior.

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2026-09-05