Introduction: Peter has real grasp on the subject that Jesus is precious. In our text, he mentioned the word three times. He says several more times in his two epistles. I know that the Holy Spirit inspired Peter to write these two epistles but I believe that Peter really tried to express how he felt about the Lord Jesus in these two epistles. He used that word "precious" in that it sincerely expressed how he felt about Christ. To think that Christ would take a fisherman who by the way was a cussing fisherman and cleaned him up and used him in a mighty way on the day of Pentecost. To boldly proclaim Christ in a way that would have struck fear in his heart just a few days before that day is a marvelous picture that our Saviour is precious.
Before looking at the verses that I have selected as my text, I want to read you an article that makes you think where or not Christ is precious to us. It is worth the time to ponder.
Funny how we set our clocks to arise at 4 AM or 5 AM to be at the job by 7:30, yet when Sunday comes we can't get to church for 11 AM to praise the one who gave us the jobs!
Funny how we call God our Father and Jesus our brother, but find it hard to introduce them to our family.
Funny how small our sins seem, but how big "their" sins are.
Funny how we demand justice for others, but expect mercy from God.
Funny how much difficulty some have learning the gospel well enough to tell others, but how simple it is to understand and explain the latest gossip about someone else.
Funny how we can't think of anything to say when we pray, but don't have any difficulty thinking of things to talk about to a friend.
Funny how we are so quick to take directions from a total stranger when we are lost, but are hesitant to take God's direction for our lives.
Funny how so many church goers sing "Standing on the Promises" but all they do is sit on the premises.
Funny how people want God to answer their prayers, but refuse to listen to His counsel.
Funny how we sing about heaven, but live only for today.
Funny how people think they are going to Heaven but don't think there is a Hell.
Funny how it is okay to blame God for evil and suffering in the world, but it is not necessary to thank Him for what is good and pleasant.
Funny how when something goes wrong, we cry, "Lord, why me?" but when something goes right, we think, "Hey, it must be me!"
Oh wait...maybe all this isn't so "funny" after all.
How do we lay aside all malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies and evil speaking? The answer is relatively simple but the practice is seemingly impossible. The answer is desiring the milk of the Word. If I understand this correctly, these sins and that is exactly what they are, should be some of the first to depart from our lives. The problem is that we do not desire God's word as we ought. Our appetite is found in other taste.
One of the downfalls of the "informational age" is that we do not read or study the Word as men who did not have the equipment and technology as we have today. Peter tells us in verse three that if we would take the time for the sincere milk of that Word, then we would find that the Lord is gracious.
Christ is that stone that is precious. Because of the work of Calvary, He has made us as lively stones. We are built up so that we can and should offer spiritual sacrifices unto the Lord. Hebrews 13:15-16 gives us the sacrifice that is pleasing to God. "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." He has never as interested in the item that was offered upon the altar than He was in the person who was doing the offering. A good example of this can be found in Genesis chapter four when Cain offered up vegetables. It was the person that more important to God than the sacrifice. The vegetables were the fruit of Cain's own labor. That is the reason why his offering was rejected. When a person refuses to do God 's work God's way, then his/her heart is not right with God and all the sacrifice will not please or be honored by Him.
Christ is the corner stone of our salvation. If the corner stone is crooked, then the entire building is crooked. When the corner stone is straight, then it is possible for the entire building to be the same.
I want to zero in on verse seven. There are three words that ought to express how as redeemed children of God should feel. They are "He is precious". I could spend the rest of the day telling how He is precious. It would take the entire Bible to show this great truth. For time sake, I want to whet your appetite with three thoughts.
I. JESUS IS PRECIOUS BECAUSE OF HIS BLOOD. 1 Peter 1:18-19
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot"
A. His blood redeemed us.
We sing the song "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh! precious is the flow That makes me white as snow; No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus."
His blood redeemed us from Satan and his destination, demons, depravity and determination. I will not suffer the weight of my sins. Jesus took them away. My sins are under the blood.
B. His blood rinsed me. 1 John 1:7
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
Titus 3:5-7
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
I have been washed white as snow. Not by my righteousness of works as some think but by the One who cried on Calvary "It is finished."
How much of my sin did He take from my life? John uses that simple word that really boggles my mind: "ALL"
Why a person would want to carry the weight of his/her sin when they can be clean is beyond my comprehension? Maybe one reason is that they see no difference in our lives versa their life and we say we are saved.
C. His blood resist for me. Rev. 12:11
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."
Any time you want to see Satan flee, start talking about what the Blood of Christ did for you. Satan does not like to think about the power of the Blood. It is his ticket to his final destiny: the Lake of fire.
We can overcome Satan. He is a defeated foe. But He is not rowing over and playing dead. When I think about Satan and the blood of Christ, my mind goes to World War II and the Japanese soldiers. Many of them knew that defeat was near but they continued the fight
even though they had lost. Satan is defeated but not dead. He is alive and dwelling upon planet Earth and is damning every soul he can to his final destiny.
II. JESUS IS PRECIOUS BECAUSE OF HIS BOOK. 2 Peter 1:4
"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Psa. 104:34
"My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD."
"Sing them over again to me, Wonderful words of life, Let me more of their beauty see, Wonderful words of life; Words of life and beauty, Teach me faith and duty: Beautiful words, wonderful words, Wonderful words of life; Beautiful words, wonderful words, Wonderful words of life."
Peter expresses one of the true feelings of his heart in John 6:38. "Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life."
A. His Book is a complete book. Nothing needs to be added or subtracted. Rev. 22:18-19
"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."
The day that John under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit penned these words "The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you all." (Rev. 22:21), all revelation that we need to proclaim as God's Word is plainly given. It is that which Paul said would be perfect is come. Why should I seek some thing more when I have God's complete word here in my hands.
B. His Book is changeless. Mal. 3:6
"For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."
Psa. 138:2
"I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name."
He has not changed His mind and erase out of His book what people thinks is not sin anymore. Sodomy is exceeding sinful in His sight. It is still an abomination against God even if our society says it is politically incorrect to say so. I much rather be right in the sight of my Saviour than in the sight of men.
He still has not changed His mind about abortion. I do not care who that offends. I much rather face God for preaching the truth than stand around live a lie that killing babies is okay. It is not okay to kill a baby in no circumstance. Let me give you four examples and see if you think it is okay.
FOUR CASES FOR POSSIBLE ABORTION
Would you consider abortion in the following 4 situations?
1. There's a preacher and wife who are very, very, poor. They already have 14 kids. Now she finds out she's pregnant with 15th. They're living in tremendous poverty. Considering their poverty and the excessive world population, would you consider recommending she get an abortion?
2. The father is sick with sniffles, the mother has TB. They have 4 children. 1st is blind, 2nd is dead, 3rd is deaf, 4th has TB. She finds she's pregnant again. Given the extreme situation, would you consider recommending abortion?
3. A white man raped a 13 year old black girl and she got pregnant. If you were her parents, would you consider recommending abortion?
4. A teenage girl is pregnant. She's not married. Her fiancZ
If you said yes. . . .
In the first case, you have just killed John Wesley. One of the great evangelists in the 19th century.
In the second case, you have killed Beethoven.
In the third case, you have killed Ethel Waters, the great black gospel singer.
If you said yes to the fourth case, you have just declared the murder of Jesus Christ.
God has not changed His mind about alcohol.
Pro. 20:1
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."
Young people, determine with the help of God, that booze will never pass through your lips. Only by the grace of God, have I never took a drink of liquor.
C. His Book is a correcting Book.
Psa. 19:14
"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."
Phil 4:8-9
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."
His Word corrects our "bad attitudes" We are forever blaming others for our bad attitudes. We better remember the words of Paul in Rom. 14:12 "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.".
Whatever the sin, He can correct it with His Word. When He makes the corrections, then we will not run back that sin as quickly.
D. His Book is a book of comfort.
Job 35:10
"But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night"
Psa. 42:8
"Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life."
Psa. 77:6
"I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search."
When a person is bereaved, then you can give no greater comfort than the Words of our God. Let me give some verses that be a comfort to us.
Isa. 40:31
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Isa. 41:10-13
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."
Isa. 43:4
"Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life."
Isa. 43:25
"I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."
Isa. 26:3
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength"
III. JESUS IS PRECIOUS BECAUSE OF HIS BEING. Mt. 28:20b
"lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
Heb. 13:5-6
"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
A. His Being as seen in His Name
Phil. 2:9
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name"
We spend an eternity looking at and preaching about His names. For the sake of time, we will just make reference to one verse.
Isa. 9:6
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
B. His Being as seen in His nature.
Mt. 11:28-29
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."
He is meek and lowly yet He does not tolerate sin in the lives of His children. He still chastens His children. To live in open, defiant sin and not to be chasten is a sure sign that a person is not saved. First He warns us, then judgment falls or as I have said previously blood shed in the wood shed.
What I am talking about is that fellowship with the One who you can think on in the middle of the night and you feel like rejoice at the very thoughts of Him who is worthy of such worship and adoration.
Revelation 4:11
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
Rev. 5:9
"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation"
Rev. 5:12
"Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."
