Legal trials can often be interesting events. The current trial of Conrad Black on fraud charges has made for interesting press. It seems like the international media cannot get enough of what he and his wife will say. They hang on every word. But this is not unusual. From Donald Trump, to Tony Robbins, the professional speaking circuit commands millions in speaking fees. Everyone from former sports stars to ex-presidents, seem to command an audience hanging on their every word.
This is understandable. Many people assume that once someone makes it big in a particular field, listening to their advice might produce like result in themselves. What is curious is that many times the advice is not new, it was just a combination of the right timing and promotion that causes some to make it big.
When the Apostle Peter wrote to those in Modern day Turkey he was concerned that their new birth though faith in Jesus Christ would result in growth. A God implanted desire to stretch in love needed to be grounded and empowered by Truth. As Peter would leave them, the people of Asia Minor needed to be rooted in truth in order to grow.
Lived out truth produces growth. Health produces lasting growth. You should notice the verse I put on the bulletin, the name of my blog, and on my card: It is Jesus’ words from:
John 8:31-32 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (ESV)
• It reflects what a true disciple is and the power of the word of God
The Old Testament saints also expressed a strong desire for the Word of God. Job declared:
Job 23:12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips, I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food. ESV
The opening psalm declares:
Ps. 1:2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. ESV (19:9–10, 40:8).
The prophet Jeremiah cherished God’s revelation in a difficult time:
Jer. 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts .“Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart” ESV
Please turn to Ps. 119
The believer’s delight in God’s Word is the dominant theme of the longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119. About midway through the chapter, the psalmist summarizes his delight in and dependence on God’s Word:
Psalm 119:97-104 [97]Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. [98]Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. [99] I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. [100]I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. [101] I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. [102] I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. [103] How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! [104] Through your precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way. (Ps. 119: vv. 16, 24, 35, 47–48, 72, 92, 111, 113, 127, 159, 167, 174)
The question for us is whether we want to grow. You might respond with the question of what growth are you talking about. Exactly right. If we want to entertain, we may please some for a while, but difficulties or greater entertainment sources will eventually win out. If we want God to grow us we must do it His way. That means working out what we talked about last week of stretching our love, avoiding what will destroy that love and rooted in what God promises to bless, His word.
1 Peter 2: 1-3 shows us how 1) believers should 1) remember our life source, 2) eliminate sins, 3) admit need, 4) pursue spiritual growth, and 5) survey blessings.
1) REMEMBERING OUR LIFE SOURCE
1 Peter 2:1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. (ESV)
1 Pt 2:1a So/Therefore refers back to 1:23–25
1 Pt 1:23-25 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God, …. the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (ESV)
2 Tim. 3:15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (ESV) (James 1:18, cf. John 20:31, Rom. 10:17).
The Word, operating not as a perishable natural seed (cf. 1 Cor. 15:36–37) but as an imperishable divine seed (cf. Luke 8:11, 1 John 3:9), became the source of believers’ continued spiritual transformation and growth (Ps 119:105, John 15:3, 17:17, Rom. 15:4, Eph. 5:26, 2 Tim. 3:16–17, cf. Deut. 17:19–20, Josh. 1:8).
This is a concise reminder to Peter’s readers to remember that saving power of God’s Word in their lives as a basis for ongoing commitment to Scripture as the only power to live the Christian life (cf. Matt. 4:4, Acts 20:32, Rom. 15:4, Gal. 3:3, 4:9, 2 Tim. 3:16–17).
Please turn to Isa 55
Scripture contains many other reminders and exhortations about its indispensability as the fountain of spiritual life and power (Pss. 19:10, 119:50, 93, 140, Prov. 6:23, 30:5, Matt. 7:24, Luke 11:28, Col. 3:16).
God declared through the prophet Isaiah:
Isa. 55:10-11 "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth, it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
(cf. Heb. 4:12)
• Anywhere you seem to look today in “Christian” literature, the emphasis always seems to be on marketing and programs.
o The Church with the slickest presentation and the coolest programs seems to attract the most attention.
o Someone once said: “What you win them with, you win them to”
o If we truly take God at his word, and He promised that his word shall not return to him empty, but accomplish what he purposes, them where should be trust?
o As I said last week, when we lovingly present the everlasting, life changing word of God first through our actions, then through our words, God promises to work mighty things.
James Gray wrote:
Illustration: The Bible! There It Stands!
Where childhood need a standard, or youth a beacon light. Where sorrow sighs for comfort or weakness longs for might, bring froth the Holy Bible, The Bible! There it stands! Resolving all life’s problems and meeting its demands.
Though sophistry conceal it The Bible! There it stands! Though Pharisees profane it, Its influence expands, It fills the world with fragrance Whose sweetness never cloys, It lifts or yes to heaven, It heightens human joys.
Despises and torn in pieces, By infidels decried-The thunderbolts of hatred the haughty cynic’s pride- All these have railed against it. In this and other lands, Yet dynasties have fallen, and still the Bible stands!
To paradise a highway, The Bible! There it stands! Its promises unfailing, Nor grievous its commands, It points man to the Saviour, The lover of his soul, Salvation is its watchword, Eternity its goal!
Believers should 1) REMEMBER OUR LIFE SOURCE
2) ELIMINATE SINS
1 Pt. 2:1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. (ESV)
Striving to eliminate sins is prerequisite to sustaining the desire for God’s Word.
Clinging to sins drives one in the opposite direction from the truth that exposes and confronts sin and demands righteousness. Peter used an imperative participle to command his readers to get rid of the sins in their lives. The verb rendered put away/aside (apothemenoi) applied to any kind of rejection, and sometimes referred especially to stripping off soiled garments, which is the analogy
Paul had in mind when he admonished the Colossians:
Col. 3:8-9 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices (ESV)(cf. Eph. 4:22, 25, Heb. 12:1, James 1:21).
In ancient Christian baptism ceremonies, those being baptized customarily took off and discarded the clothes they wore to the ceremony. Following their baptisms, they put on new robes they received from the church. Exchanging clothes symbolized the salvation reality of laying aside the old life and taking up the new (Rom. 6:3–7, 2 Cor. 5:17, Eph. 4:24). If such a transformation really occurred in someone’s life, he should be putting away/aside all (all used here three times to emphasize totality) sins that are a hindrance to fully desiring God’s Word (Heb. 12:1, cf. 2 Tim. 2:4).
All malice is the first category of sin Peter lists. Malice (which in English has the idea of desiring to harm someone else) is an all-inclusive word (kakia) for sin referring to general wickedness and baseness. (Rom. 1:29, 1 Cor. 5:8, Eph. 4:31, Col. 3:8, Titus 3:3).
• It gives the picture of wanting to harm someone, “stab them in the back”.
o Do you harbour a resentment against someone, confess it first to God and then be reconciled with this person.
Second, believers are commanded to eliminate all deceit, a term (dolos) literally referring to “bait” or a “fishhook.” It denotes guile, dishonesty, falsehood, and treachery (2:22, 3:10, cf. Mark 7:22–23, John 1:47, Rom. 1:29).
Third, Peter lists hypocrisy (hupokrisis), which originally identified an actor who wore a mask. It refers to spiritual insincerity and pretense (cf. Ezek. 33:31–32, Matt. 15:7–9, 23:23–24, Luke 18:11, 2 Cor. 5:12).
The word describes any behavior that is not genuine or consistent with what one really believes or says he believes (Matt. 23:28, Mark 12:15, Luke 12:1, Rom. 12:9, Gal. 2:13, 1 Tim. 4:2, James 3:17).
Envy (phthonos) defines the attitude of those who resent others’ prosperity (cf. Matt. 27:18, Rom. 1:29, Phil. 1:15, Titus 3:3). It often leads to grudges, bitterness, hatred, and conflict (cf. 1 Cor. 3:3, 1 Tim. 6:4, James 3:16). It is like you are looking out with binoculars, ignoring what is all around you and focusing only on what you don’t have.
• It may be a talent, opportunity or possession.
• It is a slap in the face to God. It implies that He made a mistake and you deserve something that you don’t have.
o You ignore the blessing that He has given you and don’t use what is provided for you to act with.
Lastly, Peter mentions all slander (katalalias), an onomatopoeic word designed to sound like the whispers and tattles reported behind someone’s back in gossip and backbiting (2 Cor. 12:20). It referred essentially to defamation of character (cf. 2:12, 3:16, James 4:11).
Peter’s list of specific sins is not exhaustive but certainly is representative of evil. In fact, the first term, all malice, could encompass all the sins so that his readers were called to confession and repentance. This clears the way for an unhindered desire for the truth of God.
Believers should 1) REMEMBER OUR LIFE SOURCE 2) ELIMINATE SINS
3) ADMIT NEED
1 Peter 2:2a [2]Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, -- (ESV)
Long for (epipothēsate) is an imperative verb that commands believers to strongly desire or crave something. It expresses an intense, recurring, insatiable desire or passion (cf. Pss. 42:1 and 119:174, James 4:5).
Its meaning encompasses such things as the strong desire a husband or wife has for a spouse, the strong physical craving that accompanies extreme hunger, the poignant longings one has for a deceased loved one, the intense desire a Christian parent has for a spiritually wayward child to repent and return to obedience, and the strong desires believers have for the salvation of an unbelieving family member or close friend.
o Perhaps you see yourself as being a Christian a long time and are comfortable with where you are and what you know. Your situation is like a muscle that has atrophied, through lack of use, it has stopped working.
o This is dangerous: If we have ceased to continue to desire to grow in knowledge and love, we are shut out from growth.
In a broad perspective:
• Your longings show what you ultimately love.
• Who or what occupies your thoughts and longing?
o Are you thoughts always drifting to hobbies or work?
Peter compares the object of their craving with pure spiritual milk.
Pure (adolos) means unadulterated or uncontaminated and often referred to farm products such as grain, wine, vegetable oil, or in this instance milk. Believers are to crave what is unmixed and pure, that provides real sustenance, namely, the pure milk of the word. The rabbis traditionally referred to God’s law as milk and Psalms 19:8–9 and 119:140 say God’s Word is pure and clean. Therefore the translation pure milk of the word is a legitimate, fair option that describes the Word as the source of pure spiritual milk for believers.
God’s Word is as essential to a Christian’s growth as milk is to an infant’s growth. For just a moment let’s look at the importance of a mother’s milk to her baby:
A mother produces [milk that contains] antibodies to infectious agents that a newborn might be exposed to.
Peter focused on the more foundational element—which believers need before they will pursue any of the other things—a deep, continuous longing for the Word of truth (cf. 2 Thess. 2:10b).
Whether believers are recent converts or more mature in the faith, craving the Word of God (cf. Neh. 8:1–3, Ps. 119:97, 103, 159, 167, Jer. 15:16, Acts 17:11) is always essential to spiritual nourishment and growth (Job 23:12).
Jesus affirmed this when He told Satan in the wilderness:
Matt. 4:4 But he answered, "It is written, "’Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’"(Matt. 4:4, cf. Deut. 8:3, Luke 4:4).
In view of postmodern culture’s relentless output of informational junk food through radio, television, films, the Internet, computer games, books, periodicals, and even so-called Christian pulpits—all of which causes spiritual malnourishment and dulls appetites for genuine spiritual food—believers must commit to regular nourishment from God’s Word.
Believers should 1) REMEMBER OUR LIFE SOURCE 2) ELIMINATE SINS 3) ADMIT NEED
4) PURSUE SPIRITUAL GROWTH
1 Pt 2:2b that by it you may grow up into salvation (ESV)
It is always sad to see a human being who is malnourished, weak, and retarded in development. But far sadder is seeing believers who are spiritually malnourished and underdeveloped. All believers should be motivated by the opportunity to grow strong and mature in Christ, enjoying greater blessing and usefulness.
May grow (auxēthēte) is a passive verb, literally meaning “it may grow you.” Peter used the same verb at the close of his second letter when he commanded believers to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18, cf. Acts 20:32, 1 Tim. 4:6). It is by the intake of the truth that the Holy Spirit grows and matures believers (cf. 2 Cor. 3:18).
Up into/In respect to salvation is the obvious objective of believers’ spiritual growth. The Word will grow them into the full, final expression of the sanctification aspect of their salvation.
Look at the two parties that act in Santification:
Phil. 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (ESV)
Please turn to Phil 3
Peter’s exhortation for believers to grow through the Word strongly implies the necessity of discontent with the present condition of spiritual development. It also recalls what Paul said about his dissatisfaction with the status quo in his life:
Phil. 3:7-14 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (ESV)
Motivation for genuine spiritual growth arises out of a righteous sense of discontent, coupled with a sincere desire to be satisfied with nothing but the Word of God.
Believers should 1) REMEMBER OUR LIFE SOURCE 2) ELIMINATE SINS 3) ADMIT NEED 4) PURSUE SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND FINALLY:
5) SURVEY BLESSINGS
1 Peter 2:3 [3]if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (ESV)
Peter’s fifth perspective or motivation for desiring the Word of God echoes the psalmist’s words:
Ps. 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
If is a first-class conditional participle introducing the facts or conditions necessary for a proposition to be true. Since his readers had tasted or experienced the kindness—goodness and grace—of the Lord in their conversion, they already knew how blessed and wonderful it was. Therefore, they should have desired more of that goodness through feeding on His Word.
• It is a statement of Jesus’ Divinity: 1 Pt. 2:3 applies a quality of God the Father expressed in Ps 34:8, about the Goodness of God, to Christ.
Believers ought to regularly survey the blessings of their salvation, remembering the many times God has answered their prayers (cf. Pss. 40:1, 116:1, 138:3, Jer. 33:3, Matt. 7:7, John 15:7, 1 John 5:14–15), and all the times He has touched their lives with His kindness and mercy (cf. Pss. 17:7, 26:3, 36:7, 103:11, 106:1, 117:2, 118:29, 138:2, Lam. 3:22–23, Luke 1:50, Gal. 6:16, Eph. 2:4).
The prophet Jeremiah wrote:
Jer. 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name ,O LORD, God of hosts.
Believers must respond to their essential need for the Word by continually desiring it (2:1–3). With the psalmist all should affirm:
Ps. 119:140-142 Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it. I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts. Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your law is true.
