Holy Race - Responsibility Series

Theme: Holy Nation – Responsibility

Text: 1 Peter 2:1-12

Greetings: The Lord is good and his love endures forever.

Introduction:

We are having the annual theme “Be Ye holy”, in this month, we are now meditating on the theme of Holy Race.

Israelites had this title for many centuries but when they failed to fulfil the desires of the Yahweh, it was passed on to the nations whoever put their faith in Christ. So, if we are in Christ, then we are privileged race, we are the prestigious race, and now we are the race with responsibility.

Apostle Peter scribed two epistles to the diaspora of the Christians who were persecuted, scattered and living with fear of survival, fear of death. These believers were scattered around Asia Minor especially in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. He addresses them as chosen, destined for kingdom of God, and so are sanctified by the spirit (1 Peter 1:1-2).

Now as we read chapter 2 of the first epistle of Peter, we find that Peter gives a general exhortation to holiness. It begins with an exhortation to lay aside everything that spoils their personal holiness and community peace and holiness. We are called to live holy in the context of extreme wickedness of the world. Our role model is Jesus Christ for suffering, for obedience and for holiness. yet we need to be grounded in Christ and in his principles. The privileges of being a holy nation demands the responsibilities as children of God. (1 Peter 2:21-24).

Peter emphasises many things for our holy living, but I would like to limit to three words for our meditation: Rid yourselves, Relay on the living stone, and now we have to proclaim his praises.

1. Rid yourselves

Sacred smoker:

Baptism continued in smoking because he said he had baptised cigars.

Peter urges to lay aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking.

Malice is all sorts of wickedness (James 1:21, 1 Corinthians 5:8). It is an anger resting in the bosom of fools, settled, overgrown, retained till it inflames a man to design mischief, to do mischief.

Guile found in words. It comprehends flattery, falsehood, and delusion.

Hypocrisy is a counterfeit piety, and counterfeit friendship. It’s against Honesty. Honest is lovely, fine, attractive, winsome.

All envies grieving at the good of others, being against welfare of another, at their abilities, prosperity, fame, or successful labors. Envy is an outcome of a man who remains in self promotion, self interest, selfish.

Evil speaking is defaming another, and backbiting (2 Corinthians 12:20, Romans 1:30). It means evil-speaking; it is almost always the fruit of envy in the heart; and it usually takes place when its victim is not there to defend himself. Few things are so attractive as hearing or repeating spicy gossip. Disparaging gossip is something which everyone admits to be wrong and which at the same time almost everyone enjoys; and yet there is nothing more productive of heartbreak and nothing is so destructive of brotherly love and Christian unity.

Abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. (V.11). Webster's definition of abstain is “to refrain deliberately” and often with an effort of self-denial from an action or practice.

Illustration:

Python(Pai-than) was growing with a man, both became friends playing with one another. Latter, for nearly three days the python haven’t ate anything but simply coiling the man every time while sleeping. The man consulted a vet doctor. He told snake handler to leave the python in the forest because the has starved not because lack of hunger but prepared her stomach for a tasty food that was nothing but that man. She was coiling him day and night and having trial of where he will fit in his stomach when she swallows you. Many of us are playing with paithnz, that is nothing but a severe sin.

Rid yourselves through accepting who you are, acknowledging the sinful nature and habitual sins and confessing everything that hinders your spiritual life.

John MacArthur says it’s a "cut to the chase" asking "Do you want to put to death the lusts in your heart? Then stop entertaining them. He simply says abstain. Quit doing it. You have no business even indulging in such thoughts. Put them away at once. You yourself must do this; it cannot be done for you. There is no point waiting for some heavenly power to erase this sin automatically from your life. You are to stop it, and stop it immediately. It is internal.

2. Relay on the Living Stone

Illustration:

In the bygone years, the villagers had Sumaithangi or load bearers. Those days a traveler who goes for a long way with bags, carry loads from one place to another they will keep on those load bearer stones to keep a load for a while. Jesus is our sumaithangi or load bearer.