Study of First Peter Chapter
2 Lesson
23
Summary 2:4-5
1. Jesus Christ as
the living stone has 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;
6. We need to remember that as believers we are
in union with Christ and therefore we share His life, His destiny which is the
reason we're referred to as living stones.
7. Being living stones implies the relationship
we have with Christ which includes eternal life, security and stability that
comes from being built on a sure foundation and the privilege of function in
that spiritual house as believer priests.
8. Peter's use of a house to
describe the building draws our attention to the temple which introduces the
second metaphor that we're a holy priesthood.
9. As believers in the church
age we are a part of a universal priesthood (2:9) we are to offer spiritual
sacrifices.
- these are an exhale if you will, living out your life,
application areas in life.
- each of us in our own niche has some
ministry or service within the body, all parts being important to the overall
function
10. The important
prerequisite for the capacity to offer spiritual sacrifices is indicated by the
phrase in verse 5 "are being built up."
11. As believers
grow in the knowledge of the Word we will increase in our discernment to
recognize areas of service and ability to respond will also increase.
- this is related to the qualitative growth
12. As a believer priest, our responsibility is
divided into two areas, one is in area of spiritual
sacrifices and the other the believer’s intercession.
13. We are able to
offer these spiritual sacrifices because of our relationship with Christ, it is through Him that we offer them.
14. Acceptable
spiritual sacrifices include:
a.
The
choice of presenting our body for service, that is living out the truth is a
living sacrifice. Rom 12:1
b. Praise and thanksgiving - Heb 13:15
c.
Divine
good production, (DGP) that is generosity and fellowship (koinonia)
towards those who have a need. Heb 13:16
d. Giving on a grace basis - Phil 4:18
e. The P/T gives a
sacrifice of time and energy for the ministry of the Word, to study and teach
with the result that he experiences
inner happiness as will those in the congregation as they respond to the
Word and orient within their own
niche. (share
his joy) Phil 2:17-18
2:6 - 8
The Response to Christ the Cornerstone Read
For this is contained in
Scripture: very unusual statement
"Behold I lay in
- What's in view is the historical
process where by Christ will be established in
a choice stone a
precious corner stone
- sequence in
the Greek is different than the translation
- stone, a cornerstone, choice and precious
- stone is a noun the other three are adjectives
describing characteristics of this stone, the uniqueness of this stone li,qoj
is a cut or prepared stone
-
corner stone
this calls our attention to the place of the stone in the building,
therefore it emphasizes the importance
of Christ in the building.
- choice (2nd Adj) evklekto,j
choice, select, excellent (Isa 42:1)
- precious e;ntimoj highly esteemed, held in high honor,
valuable
The rest
of verse 6 down through verse 8 present the response
or attitude of mankind toward the stone and its consequences.