Study of First Peter Chapter
2 Lesson
22
Intro Review:
As we come to the context of
2:4-10 it marks a turning point in Peter’s first epistle.
2:4-10 Our privileges and
responsibilities as believer - priests
Now Peter moves from his
exhortation to holiness to a consideration of our privileges in the new
building (the church) and in the new priesthood.
And coming to
Him as to a living stone
- Peter is
detailing the importance of fellowship with Him, the closeness of the
relationship that we are to have as believers.
- the middle voice
indicates a couple of things, 1st that we participate by making
decisions and 2nd it is to our advantage to be in fellowship daily
with Him
Christ
is described here as a
living stone one who is precious in
the sight of God but rejected by man.
- This stone has life in itself and gives life to others.
- This is the third time Peter has used the metaphor of living
to describe something or someone.
- This
aspect of the living stone would have presented a strong contrast to those he
is writing to.
This "living stone" was "rejected
by men" time in view here is
the 1st advent therefore speaks of His own generation rejecting Him
and His ministry to them.
men . . . . de construction
on
the one hand rejected by men, but on the other hand choice
and precious in the sight of God,
We have 2 adjectives used to
describe God's viewpoint or conclusions about Christ.
choice and precious these emphasize the high honor, the
preeminence of position He held in God's view.
2:5 The Corporate Character and Responsibility of the Believer
you also, as
living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house
Because the Lord Jesus is the "living stone," ( 2:4) those who put their trust in Him also become
"living stones."
Through Him, we
"as living stones" become a holy priesthood, offering up
spiritual sacrifices to the Father which are acceptable because of relationship
to Him.
As living stones we are
being built up oivkodome,w
our construction word, used lit. to refer to erect a
building, a structure of some kind.
We are
being built up as a spiritual house - since house is singular its one building
being referred to, therefore it is the universal church that all believers are
a part of by faith in Christ that is in view.
for a holy
priesthood to offer up spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- we are a part of this spiritual house in order to offer
spiritual sacrifices
-
Because we are priests we have the privilege of immediate access to the throne
of grace, our only mediator is Jesus Christ our High Priest, not man.
Our
priesthood is the basis for our ability to: to offer up spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
We
as believers in the Church age are not only living stones making up this new
building but we also serve and minister in it as a holy priesthood through
these spiritual sacrifices referred to.
We're
only able to accomplish this: through Jesus
Christ.
- this
phrase relates us as believers to Christ in His role as mediator.
- If we take it with the infinitive, the translation
would be, to offer up through Jesus Christ spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.
- If we take it with the adjective, the
translation would be to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God
through Jesus Christ.
2:4 Coming to Him, a
living stone, on the one hand rejected by mankind, on the other hand choice and
highly esteemed in the sight of God.
2:5 You also, (C/A believer) as living stones are
being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood for the purpose of
offering up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through the agency of Jesus
Christ (our High Priest and mediator).
Summary
1. Jesus Christ as
the living stone ahs life, spiritual life in Himself
and is qualified to impart this life to others, those who believe in Him.
2. Peter now
begins to establish the teaching related to our position, privileges and responsibilities that
we now have in Christ having believed in Him.
3. Peter uses 2
metaphors here to describe our place in the universal church:
#1 a spiritual house
which refers to our position;
#2
spiritual priesthood which relates to our function/responsibilities in time.
4. The first metaphor, the spiritual house is constructed
of stones.
a. First with Christ as a living stone (vs:6 Christ is referred to as the corner stone)
b. Here in vs:5 we discover that
we as believers are the living stones forming the structure of this building.
5. That Christ is to be referred to as a stone was
established in the OT, quoted in 1 Pet 2:6-7.
- Isa.
28:16;