9-12-21 “Born Again Into The Spiritual Household Of The Living God’ and “The Living Stone”

Review of last week’s teaching:

I. If God is all-powerful and all-good, how can evil exist? The answer lies in the definition of “good”.

a. He is perfecting His love in us

b. Remember even Jesus willingly suffered on our behalf

II. Prepare for action (vss. 1:13-17)

A. Minds (thoughts), self-controlled, hope on future grace when Christ is revealed

III. Always remember whose you are (vss. 1:17-25)

A. The Father has redeemed us (freed us from bondage to sin and the Devil) – water into wine!

B. Through Christ’s blood – communion!

C. The evidence is deep love for one another, which is a witness to outsiders

“Born Again into the Spiritual Household of God” (1 Peter 1:23-2:8)

I. We are born again (vss. 1:23-25)

A. Not of imperishable seed

B. Of the Living, enduring Word of God, which is preached about Christ

C. No longer the same as the grass and flowers, we are born again to eternal life

II. Heed these behavioral warnings and wisdom (vss. 2:1-3)

A. Rid yourselves of these:

1. malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, slander.

B. Be like newborn babies seeking:

1. pure spiritual milk

2. healthy growth in salvation

3. for the Lord is good!

a. Triumphs vs. Trials – which outweighs which?

b. Sufferings (temporal) compared to Glories (eternal)

 

III. The Living Stone

A. Jesus is the Rock – of the sanctuary/temple, of refuge, and of stumbling (Isaiah 8:13-17)

1. Same chapter that promises Immanuel, God with us!

2. The “scandalon, makes fall” – stumbling vs. falling

a. The parable of the Tenants (Luke 20:13-19)

b. Beware taking offense at Jesus (John 6:61,67-68)

3.Psalm 62:1-2, “my Rock and salvation”

4. The Cornerstone (vs. 2:6 from Isaiah); Ephesians 2:19-22, “We the Temple”

B. We are like living stones

1. Built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, making spiritual sacrifices in Christ

C. What about Peter, isn’t he a rock too?

1. Jesus nicknamed him “Petros”, Peter, but why? (Matthew 16:18)

2. Rock is “petra”, and Jesus said upon this “petra” He will build His church

3. What “petra” is Jesus talking about? Four interpretations:

a. Peter himself, and only himself

b. Peter as the first pope

c. Peter’s statement of faith concerning Jesus (Matthew 16:16)

d. The pagan shrine at Caesarea Philippi

1. Natural rock face with idol niches

2. “Gates of Hades” subterranean spring/cave

 

D. Concluding thought regarding 1 Peter 2:8

1. They stumbled and disobeyed, for which they were destined

a. That the scriptures would be fulfilled

b. Perhaps some later repented…?

2. This is a warning NOT to persist in unbelief!