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.
1 Peter 2:4-8 compares the metaphor of a stone, a living, a chosen of God, and precious to him, though rejected by men he is the stone of rejection, stumbling, and offence. The saints are encouraged to come, and be built up, a spiritual house, for the exercise of the holy office of the priesthood, by offering up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ. Christ is a proved stone (Isaiah 28:16).
1 Peter 2:9-10 but the character of the persons the apostle writes was very different, quite the reverse, being chosen and called, and manifestly the people of God, and sharing in his grace and mercy.
Peter urges the readers to Relay on the living stone, Long for pure spiritual milk (v.2), Taste that the Lord is good. He further retreats to built yourself in the spiritual house (v.5). To offer spiritual sacrifices. Sacrifices of our days are payers, doing things for the Lord. So, prayers must be spiritual and holy, be sincere and meaningful, be acceptable through Jesus Christ (v.5). We need to build ourselves in Jesus Christ who is a stone, corner stone, precious stone, a rock.
Illustrations:
EAGLES are most at home when they're soaring in the air. You know why? Because that's what they were made for. You can never be fulfilled when you're attached to earth...IT IS impossible for a fish to be happy on land. A fish on land is struggling trying to make it. A fish on land is going to be squirming and flipping and twisting and jerking and jumping. It won't be able to relax because it is not where it was made to live.
Peter exhorts us to discipline ourselves to live a godly life in this increasing evil age and wicked world. This quality of behaviour does not begin on the outside, but on inside. We can only work out outside by what has been worked in on the inside. Working out is not a suggestion but an absolute continual necessity to be holy.
Peter exhorts, suitable to their state and condition, to abstain from sin, as an enemy to their souls, and to live an honest life and conversation among the Gentiles, that they, instead of speaking evil of them, might, by beholding their good works, glorify God, 1 Peter 2:11,12. So, abstain from all entangles.
3. Reveal the mighty acts
The Lord has chosen us, passed on to us all blessings of the Israelites. As a new Israelites we have obtained all the promises, privileges and status in Jesus Christ. We have obtained the heritage of faith of Abraham. The greatest responsibility is to proclaim the gospel, tell his praises.
Revealing the gospel not only through words but through conduct. Do honourable deeds and glorify God (v.12).
Peter calls the early Christians as aliens and strangers in the world but with a mission to fulfil that is to proclaim, an evangelistic mission the goal of which is to silence the ungodly critics.
The following verses describing the proclamation of God's excellencies).
Psalm 9:14 That I may tell (exaggello) of all Thy praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in Thy salvation.
Psalm 71:15 My mouth shall tell (exaggello) of Thy righteousness, and of Thy salvation all day long; For I do not know the sum of them.
Psalm 73:28 But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell (exaggello) of all Thy works.
Psalm 79:13 So we Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture Will give thanks to Thee forever; To all generations we will tell (exaggello) of Thy praise.
Psalm 107:22 Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, And tell (exaggello) of His works with joyful singing.
Psalm 119:13 With my lips I have told (exaggello) of All the ordinances of Thy mouth.
Psalm 119:26 I have told of my ways, and Thou hast answered me; Teach me Thy statutes.
In this verse Peter clearly leans heavily on OT truths to emphasise the position and privilege of NT believers.
Get on your knees and talk to God about men and then go out on your feet and talk to men about the excellencies of God, the attributes of God, the names of God. The virtue of holiness needs to be demonstrated in life.
The guitar strings produce music, and instigate worship not when it simply lies but when it’s touched by the fingers of the player with right musical notes. When it’s touched with proper notes then it syncs with hearts, it vibrates, but invisible. Be you unseen, transparent, and the glory of the Lord shall shine through you.
Conclusion:
Rid
Relay
Reveal. Amen.
