Peter

1 Peter 1  2  3  4  5  2 Peter 1  2  3

 

 1 Peter 2

 

  • 1 Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

Malice is having bad thoughts against other people, trouble, badness or depravity.

Guile is to be deceptive or tricky or to try to fool someone. Hypocrisies is another form of deceit, trying to pose or have the appearance of being good but in reality very crafty and deceitful. pretending to be something that we are not.

To envy, feel bad toward a person because of their position or possessions etc.

Evil speaking means to gossip, backbite, speak evil of someone.

As Christians, bitter water should not proceed forth from our mouths. A good way to avoid this is to spend more time with the Lord and studying the word.

  • 1 Peter 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Grow on the word starting with the simple part that is easy to understand and then go on to the more meat of the Word. A comparison is a baby that needs milk to start the growing process. The entrance of the Word brings light. Daily study of the word is essential to Christian maturity and growth.

  • 1 Peter 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
  • 4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

Jesus Christ was chosen of God and precious. Men rejected Him but that did not make His ministry null and void because God has set Him at His own right hand and made Him the author of our salvation. What some have rejected is the only way of salvation. To reject the Son of God is to reject our own souls and eternal life.

  • 1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Believers are compared to lively stones in a spiritual building made by God. We offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. We actually become priests to God when we become believers in Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament the priests had to be the ones to offer sacrifices to God in worship. They led the way to worship and a priest was a vital necessity to lead the people in worship and the teaching of the word. Through Jesus that wall of separation is broken and no longer is a priest needed because we can now offer up spiritual sacrifices to God in praise, worship, singing and service. This is for all believers, not just a few.

We now can study the word and seek God ourselves as individuals or in groups and churches. We don't have to wait until Sunday, a feast day or any planned event. We can now seek God ourselves without interpreters or prophets. Now we worship in spirit and in truth. We don't have to go to Jerusalem, to a priest or wait for Sunday morning service.

  • 1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Jesus is the high priest the chief corner stone, elect (chosen of God), precious. All those that believe will not be in confusion or troubled. A sound mind is promised to all that believe. Some times we have to fight like mad to keep a sound mind but we must keep going and realize soundness of mind is ours, through the Holy Spirit after we have received Jesus Christ into our lives.

  • 1 Peter 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

Jesus is precious to believers but to those who do not believe, He is a rock of offense, a stumbling block. Notice how in our world today, people get more offended at the name of Jesus than if you say God. Although some are offended at that too but the name of Jesus really makes them angry.

I've seen different reactions to the preaching of the gospel, some receive, some ignore, and some get violently angry at the gospel. Notice how no other religion except Christianity bothers the anti God groups. They only feel threatened by the truth. They don't seem to care about anything else. They never try to ban any other book other than the bible. In fact they yell "censorship" if you try to ban the vulgar filth that is in other books, TV or the Internet but they would not lift one finger to defend a movement to ban the bible. I am wondering how long we will have the freedom to put these bible lessons on the Internet. For some reason nothing bothers them except truth.

  • 1 Peter 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Jesus is a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence. The disobedient, rebellious and people who want to walk in their sins will not want anything to do with the bible or Jesus Christ. In fact the preaching of Jesus as the way of salvation angers them. Notice the same bunch of unbelievers do not mind a watered down preaching of Jesus that accepts sin. The kind of gospel they do not want preached is one that calls for men to repent and believe the gospel. The message of repentance that brings true salvation is the objection.

It is the godly in Christ that suffer trouble by unbelievers not the "get along with everybody and accept everybody and everything, live and let live" type. The same Jesus that said "Let Him that is without sin cast the first stone," which I have heard quoted a lot, is the same Jesus that said to the same woman, "Neither do I condemn thee, Go and sin no more." I seldom hear the "Go and sin no more," quoted by those that speak about the "He that is without sin," part. Jesus forgave and did not condemn the woman taken in adultery but He did not stop there like some suppose, He demanded a changed life, He said to her to go and sin no more. She was to repent, (change) in order to not be condemned and be saved. If we are going to preach the gospel, we better preach all of it.

  • 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: We are called out of darkness into the light.

We are called into a royal priesthood. We now can show forth praises, worship and adoration for our God and His Son Jesus Christ. Sin now has no place in our lives.

  • 1 Peter 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

We are not serving sin and Satan no more but have a new master, we were saved by His mercy and grace, we didn't earn it. We were delivered from darkness and brought into the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are not to go back under that old bondage anymore.

  • 1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.

Abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul. Sin wars against our soul. That is why it is so dangerous. That is why Jesus came to save us from sin. Jesus knew that sin was destroying God's creation. The soul that sins shall die eternally. Jesus came to stand in the gap to stop sin's destruction. He came to forgive, yes but also to deliver us from the corruption and bondage that sin brings to our souls.

After becoming a Christian we still have the power to choose whether to abide with Christ or go back under the bondage of sin. We need to learn to refuse, reject, resist and abstain from all appearance of evil. We wonder why we have not the power and faith that we should have. Could it be because we are allowing other desires and priorities to rob us of our first love for Jesus? Could other things be crowding in our lives and pushing the love of God out? Do we desire to spend an hour reading the studying the word more than time spent in front of the television? What are our priorities? We should hunger and thirst after the things of God.

I met someone once that really stirred my heart. She was asking all kinds of questions about the bible, desiring to know more. There was such a hunger and thirst for the word that I haven't seen in a long time. I hope she is never robbed of that first love for Jesus that she seemed to have had. This is the way we need to seek to be. At the very time the Holy Spirit starts to prod our hearts, we should drop everything and listen. This doesn't mean that we can neglect to support our families. We must not neglect time with our children and just take off somewhere but it does mean that we should just find more time to seek just Him, more time to pray, more time in the study of the word He provided for us to read.

"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they SHALL be filled."

  • 1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Our very lives should reflect the Lord: in our speech, in our daily business dealings, in our service, in our worship. We must not take the worship time with God lightly. Then the false accusers will not have anything of truth to say. Our lives will influence others. Believe me, the unbeliever will notice anything hypocritical, weak or fault that we may have. The devil will make sure that they see our faults. Let us have works that reflect the Lord we claim to serve.

  • 1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme.

This means we obey the law of the land and not to rebel. The only exception of course is if the law of the land is opposite of the law of God. For instance, abortion, sexual immorality, adultery etc. is contrary to the written word of God. We must always speak out against sin and preach the gospel. If we are forbidden to preach the gospel we have to obey God rather than man. When it comes to paying taxes, obeying traffic laws, and other ordinances, we are to obey them as we obey God. If we think certain laws are wrong then we have a right to vote (at least here in the USA) and we can vote the people out of office who make bad laws that are contrary to the law of God.

  • 1 Peter 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

We are not to speak evil of our governors, presidents and lawmakers, etc. If they are not good governors, pray them out. The same goes for church leaders. Never are we to backbite, gossip, pick apart their sermons etc. If they are bad, pray them out. If God doesn't move them out, maybe we should search our own hearts to make sure we are not the ones in the wrong.

  • 1 Peter 2:15  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: Continuing in goodness in the midst of evil will put the evil men to silence.
  • 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

We are to be servants of God, not use our liberty in the gospel as a license to sin. When religious people claim Christ and partake in sin using religion as a cloak, you bring more reproach upon the name of Christ than out and out sinners do. We must stay in the spirit of humility. When God starts to bless us, we must remember who gives and not think we are above other people. I realize it takes money to spread the gospel on radio and television. It takes money to send out missionaries. We should give where the needs are without grudging. At the same time those that are raising money need to remember that to put pressure and hound people by phone and make them feel guilty if they do not give is not the biblical type of giving.

There are missionaries, and other ministries that do not do these things and have great needs too. We need to pray about our giving and give to those to whom the Lord lays on our hearts. This doesn't mean we hold back until the Lord speaks but we should stay in tune with the Holy Spirit and try to discern who to give to. We must not forget our local church.

  • 1 Peter 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
  • 18. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
  • 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
  • 20. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

Our God sees every persecution, every injustice and everything we suffer for the gospel's sake. He is not turning a blind eye to anything. This should also serve as a warning to those who may be unkind, prejudice, and cruel to those to whom they consider lower or unworthy. Whether it is one of another race, creed, or those who are poor. No where are we to be cruel and unkind. Even correction can be done kindly and with the spirit of meekness.

  • 1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.

Jesus was the prime example of suffering when He did not deserve it. He opened not His mouth in protest. He did what He came to do without complaint. He didn't fight for His rights or call on the angels for deliverance. With the power that Jesus had over sickness and demons while He walked the earth, don't you think He could have gathered enough followers to overthrow governments and rule the world at that time? Anyone with that type of power could have done so. Yet He did not come for that reason. He came to bring the message of salvation. He came to bring the message of repentance. He had to take care of the sin question in man before He could become the ruler of the world. He had to die for all of our sins. At His Second Coming He will rule the world. He now has every right to do so.

  • 1 Peter 2:22  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

He did not sin in any point. If He had of sinned, His death on the cross could not have counted for us. The sacrifice would have been defiled and unworthy. The just had to suffer in place of the unjust in order for it to count for our behalf. The wages of sin is death. Someone had to pay the wages that did not deserve to pay for them.

  • 1 Peter 2:23  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
  • 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

He took in His own body every foul sin that man or woman has ever committed in the past or in the future. When we exercise faith in Jesus Christ, faith in His death, burial and resurrection, we then can have the price that Jesus paid for sin count for us. We now can be worthy of eternal life, not by our own works but by the works of Jesus Christ. We become holy and righteous because Jesus is Holy and righteous. We become partakers of His righteousness by faith in the finished work Jesus did.

See how much He did for us. See how much we should not want to defile ourselves with sin and no become entangled in sin again once we have accepted the Lord as savior. We are a new creature, His blood has covered our sins, we partake of His righteousness, and we become temples of the Holy Spirit. We should abstain now from all appearance of evil because of the indwelling presence of the Lord that now abides within us.

" Resist the devil and he will flee from you, draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you. "

1 Peter 3

 
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