THE CHURCH: THE PEOPLE OF GOD
1 PETER 2:4-12
JAN. 20, 2019
LAST WEEK WE STARTED A SERIES OF MESSAGES ON THE CHURCH. PEOPLE HAVE MANY DIFFERENT IDEAS OF WHAT THE CHURCH IS, AND IT IS MY HOPE THAT AS WE STUDY WHAT THE SCRIPTURES SAY ABOUT THE CHURCH, THAT WE WILL GET A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT WE ARE TO BE AS PART OF THE CHURCH IN THIS PART OF OUR WORLD.
LAST WEEK I HOPE WE CAME TO THE REALIZATION THAT THE CHURCH IS A LIVING ORGANISM, WHICH IS MADE UP OF BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIANS, NOT SEPARATED BY DENOMINATION, WHO WORSHIP ALL OVER THE WORLD.
THIS WEEK WE ARE GOING TO CONCENTRATE ON THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP THE CHURCH. PEOPLE AND THE CHURCH HAVE A RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP, PEOPLE GAIN THEIR IDENTITY FROM THE CHURCH, AND THE CHURCH GAINS IT’S IDENTITY FROM THE CHURCH. THIS MEANS WE HAVE A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY TO BE THE PEOPLE OF GOD IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR DAILY LIVES.
OUR PASSAGE TODAY CONTAINS FIVE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF A CHRISTIAN’S LIFE THAT CAN BE OF GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT DURING TIMES OF STRESS AND TRIAL.
BY WAY OF CONTEXT PETER HAD A VERY IMPULSIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS. ONE MINUTE HE IS READY TO DIE FOR HIM AND THE NEXT HE DENYS HIM, JUST AS ONE EXAMPLE. IN MATTHEW JESUS ASKS THE DISCIPLES, “WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THAT I AM?” THE DISCIPLES GAVE A VARIETY OF ANSWERS ANT THEN PETER SAYS THIS:
MATTHEW 16:16-19:
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
THIS PASSAGE IN 1 PETER IS SAID BY MANY TO BE PETER’S COMMENTARY TO THIS PASSAGE IN MATTHEW. PETER LOOKS AT FOUR ASPECTS OF OUR SALVATION EXPERIENCE THAT IF WE REALLY TAKE TO HEART CAN TRANSFORM OUR CHRISTIAN WALK, AND HELP US UNDERSTAND WHY JESUS SAID THAT THE VERY GATES OF HADES WILL NOT OVERCOME IT.
POINT ONE: WE ARE LIVING STONES
Vvs. 4-8 SPEAK OF CHRISTIANS AS BEING LIVING STONES, WITH CHRIST BEING THE LIVING CORNERSTONE, AND TOGETHER BEING BUILT INTO A SPIRITUAL HOUSE. THIS IS A STATEMENT OF UNITY BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND CHRIST.
THE CORNERSTONE OF A BUILDING WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT STONE OF THE BUILDING. ALL OTHER STONES TOOK THEIR SIZE AND SHAPE FROM THAT ONE. IT UNDERWENT SEVERAL TESTS OF STRENGTH AND DURABILITY.
HERE PETER IS SAYING THAT WE AS LIVING STONES ARE GOING TO BE MOLDED AND SHAPED, TO FIT TOGETHER WITH THE CORNERSTONE TO BUILD A SPIRITUAL HOUSE WHICH WE CALL THE CHURCH.
WHEN YOU DEAL WITH SHAPING STONES THE MAIN INSTRUMENT IS A HAMMER AND CHISEL, AND IT IS A SLOW PROCESS REQUIRING MUCH PATIENCE. IT IS A PROCESS THAT AS WE ARE MOLDED INTO THE ROCKS THAT JESUS WANTS US TO BE, CAN INVOLVE A LOT OF PAIN AND CHANGE, BUT WILL MOLD US INTO A STRONG BUILDING, WHICH MEANS THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS WILL BE STRONG AND UNITED. IT MEANS THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER WILL SHARE THAT UNITY AS WELL.
PETER CALLS ON THE WRITING OF ISAIAH AS HE SPEAKS OF 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
ISAIAH WAS WRITING AT A VERY DARK TIME FOR ISRAEL. THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN KINGDOMS WERE FAR FROM THE LORD AND THE LORD WAS PREPARING TO DISCIPLINE THEM FOR THEIR DISOBEDIENCE. THEY WOULD BE SENT INTO EXILE AND THE NATION WOULD NOT REFORM UNTIL 1948.
IN THE MIDST OF THIS DISTURBING NEWS GOD THROUGH ISAIAH OFFERS THIS GOOD NEWS. GOD WOULD GIVE A TESTED AND PRECIOUS STONE FOR A SURE FOUNDATION. THAT CORNERSTONE WOULD BE JESUS CHRIST.
PAUL IN SPEAKING TO THE EPHESIAN CHURCH USES THIS SAME PASSAGE IDENTIFYING CHRIST AS THE CORNERSTONE.
EPHESIANS 2:19-22:
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
AS LIVING STONES WE ARE BEING MOLDED AND SHAPED INTO A WONDERFUL SPIRITUAL BUILDING THAT WE CALL THE CHURCH. IT IS A BUILDING THAT IS STRONG AND CAN WITHSTAND THE VISCIOUS ATTACKS OF THE EVIL ONE, BECAUSE OUR FOUNDATION IS CHRIST.
POINT TWO: THE CHURCH IS A CHOSEN PEOPLE
IT IS ALWAYS SPECIAL TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE A CHOSEN PERSON. WHETHER IT IS MINOR SUCH AS A PICK UP GAME, OR A MAJOR CHOICE LIKE MARRIAGE, TO KNOW THAT THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT YOU THAT WOULD MAKE ANOTHER CHOOSE YOU, EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THAT SOMETHING SPECIAL IS, DEFINITELY IS MIND-BLOWING.
HOW MUCH MORE MIND-BLOWING TO REALIZE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BY THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE TO HAVE A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
EXODUS 19:5-6:
Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
TO BE CHOSEN IS THE MOST GOD-EXALTING TRUTH BECAUSE IT IS TOTALLY BY DIVINE GRACE, FREELY GIVEN TO ALL. TO BE CHOSEN IS THE MOST HOLINESS-PROMOTING TRUTH BECAUSE GOD LOVED US BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN. TO BE CHOSEN IS THE MOST STRENGTH-GIVING TRUTH BECAUSE GOD’S CHOICE IS ETERNAL AND UNCHANGABLE, GIVING PEACE NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES. TO BE CHOSEN IS THE MOST JOY-PRODUCING TRUTH BECAUSE IT GIVES THE BEST HOPE WE CAN HAVE IN THIS FALLEN WORLD.
MOST LIKELY PETER WAS QUOTING FROM ISAIAH WHEN HE MADE THIS STATEMENT.
ISAIAH 43:20-21:
The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, 21 the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
ISAIAH IS DESCRIBING HOW GOD WILL BRING HIS PEOPLE OUT OF CAPTIVITY FROM BABYLON. HE WILL SAVE THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE. JUST AS GOD CHOSE ABRAHAM’S DESCENDANTS AS HIS CHOSEN RACE OVER 1600 YEARS BEFORE PETER PENNED THESE WORDS, NOW PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE, BORN-AGAIN BY THE MERCY OF GOD. OUR IDENTITY THEN IS NOT FOUND IN RACE OR NATIONALITY OR LANGUAGE, BUT OUR IDENTITY IS FOUND IN CHRIST.
IN CHRIST WE HAVE MORE TO UNITE US THAN SEPARATE US AS THIS PRECIOUS PICTURE IN REVELATION DESCRIBES:
REVELATION 7:9-10:
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
THERE IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT IN KNOWING THAT WE ARE A CHOSEN PEOPLE, CHOSEN BY GOD.
POINT THREE: THE CHURH IS A ROYAL-PRIESTHOOD
IT IS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHY PETER WOULD JOIN THESE TWO OFFICES TOGETHER. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THE PRIEST AND THE KING HAD VERY DIFFERENT DUTIES.
PRIESTS CAME FROM THE LINAGE OF AARON FROM THE TRIBE OF LEVI. ONLY THEY COULD APPROACH GOD AT THE TEMPLE, AND ONLY THEY COULD OFFER THE SACRIFICES. THE PRIEST HAD THE POWER TO WITHHOLD OR OFFER FORGIVENESS. THE PRIEST COULD INTERCEDE FOR THE PEOPLE.
THE KING WAS SPECIAL IN ISRAEL BECAUSE HE WAS ANOINTED WITH OIL BY THE PRIEST. THIS MEANS HE WAS CHOSEN AND EQUIPPED BY GOD TO DO THE TASK OF RULING ISRAEL AND FIGHTING THE BATTLES FOR THE LORD.
THESE TWO OFFICES WERE NEVER JOINED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. SAUL TRIED TO OFFER A SACRIFICE BEFORE GOING INTO BATTLE RATHER THAN WAIT FOR SAMUEL, AND AS A RESULT LOST HIS CROWN TO DAVID. KING UZZIAH IN 2 CHRONICLES 26:16-21 THOUGHT HE WAS SO GREAT THAT HE COULD OFFER INCENSE IN THE TEMPLE, A WORK SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PRIESTS TO DO. AS A RESULT GOD JUDGED HIM AND LEPROSY BROKE OUT ON HIS HEAD, AND HE PASSED HIS KINGSHIP TO HIS SON. HE DIED A LEPER.
HOW THEN DOES PETER JOIN THE TWO? HE DOES SO UNDER THE NEW COVENANT. UNDER THE NEW COVENANT THERE IS NO LONGER A PRIEST WHO MUST COME FROM A SPECIFIC LINE.
HEBREWS 7:17-18:
For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
MELCHIZEDEK WAS A FORMER KING AND PRIEST OF SALEM, TO WHOM ABRAHAM PAID TITHES. THE MESSIAH WAS PROPHECIED AS COMING FROM THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK IN THE PSALMS.
PSALM 110:4: The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO US? THE ANSWER IS FOUND IN ROMANS 8:17.
ROMANS 8:16-17:
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
SINCE THE MESSIAH COMES FROM THE LINE OF MELCHIZEDEK HE IS THEREFORE BOTH PRIEST AND KING. WE AS CHRISTIANS ARE GOD’S CHILDREN AND THEREFORE HEIRS AS CHRIST IS TO THE TITLES OF KING AND PRIEST. THE CHURCH CAN THEREFORE BE A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD.
AS PRIESTS WE MAY HAVE AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. WE CAN PRAY DIRECTLY TO HIM WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH A PRIEST, FOR WE ARE ONE. BUT IT ALSO MEANS THAT WE ARE TO PRAY FOR OTHERS, FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND TO BRING THEIR REQUESTS BEFORE GOD.
SAMUEL SAID:
1 SAMUEL 12:23: As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right
AS PRIESTS WE ARE TO FAITHFULLY TEACH AND DISCIPLE FELLOW BELIEVERS.
AS KINGS WE WILL FIGHT WARS ON BEHALF OF THE KINGDOM. WE ARE TO PROTECT THOSE UNDER US FROM SATAN’S ATTACKS. WHEN WE WITNESS, TEACH AND PREACH, WE ENTER ENEMY TERRITORY CLAIMING VICTORY FOR GOD JUST LIKE WHEN THEY ENTERED THE PROMISED LAND.
MATTHEW 16:18: And I tell you that you are Peter, e and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
POINT FOUR: THE CHURCH IS A HOLY NATION
TO BE HOLY IS TO BE CALLED OUT, TO BE SEPARATE. ISRAEL WAS TO BE GOD’S PEOPLE. HE CREATED THEM TO BE HIS PEOPLE AND TO BE HIS SPECIAL POSSESSION. WHEN ISRAEL TURNED FROM GOD, THEY BECAME INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM THE SURROUNDING HEATHEN NATIONS.
GOD HAS CALLED CHRISTIANS TO BE SEPARATE FROM THE WORLD, SET APART FOR GOOD WORKS. GOD CHOSE HIS CHURCH TO DISPLAY HIS BEAUTIFUL ARTWORK – HIS CHARACTER AND GOOD WORKS TO THE REST OF THE WORLD.
GOD WANTS HIS CHURCH TO BE A MORALLY BLAMELESS NATION, THAT STRIVES AGAINST SIN AND PURSUES BEING LIKE GOD
PHILIPPIANS 3:20: But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body
OUR HOMELAND CHANGED WHEN WE ACCEPTED CHRIST. OUR EYES NOW ARE ON HEAVEN. PETER CALLS US “ALIENS AND STRANGERS” TO THIS WORLD, AND OUR DESIRE SHOULD BE TO FOCUS ON OUR HOME TO COME, NOT THE TURMOILS WE MAY FACE NOW.
CONCLUSION:
WHAT PETER IS TELLING US IS THAT AS A CHURCH OF BORN-AGAIN BELIEVERS WE ARE GOD’S OWN SPECIAL POSSESSION. YOU AND I HAVE A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THAT IS ETERNAL. WE ARE A DISTINCTIVE PEOPLE, POSSESSED BY HIM AND TREASURED BY HIM AS A PRIVATE AND VALUED POSSESSION. WE BELONG TO GOD BECAUSE CHRIST BOUGHT YOU WITH THE ULTIMATE PRICE:
REVELATION 5:9-10:
And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
JESUS PAID THE PRICE FOR OUR SIN BY DYING ON THE CROSS AND NOW WE BELONG TO HIM. OUR IDENTITY IS FOUND IN HIM AND HIS IDENTITY TO THE WORLD IS FOUND IN US. OUR DUTY IS TO PROCLAIM THE EXCELLENCIES OF HIM WHO CALLED US OUT OF DARKNESS AND INTO HIS MARVELLOUS LIGHT.
