Study of First Peter
Chapter 2 Lesson 25
Review:
Next
Peter picks up the quote of 2 phrases from Isa 8:14
and,
"A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE";
- stumbling prosko,ptw noun that refers to an obstacle over which
one trips or stumbles
His public ministry,
His teaching, His death(s) on the cross failed to match up to their conception
or perception of the Messiah.
AND A
ROCK OF OFFENSE presents a parallel but different picture; pe,tra a large massive
rock instead of a cut prepared stone as we saw earlier
- OFFENSE ska,ndalon which speaks of
a trap set to trip one up
Now Peter elaborates on the reason for the stumbling,
being tripped up.
for
they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.
- here the idea is to appoint for punishment, that is the
judicial response of God to their negative volition, rejection of Christ.
- Therefore when +R sees only -R (human
righteousness) in an individual the result is divine justice goes into
operation they receive the penalty for their negative volition, refusal to
believe in Christ, being disobedient to the Word.
- The consequence, which "doom" they were appointed is in the passive voice, they
receive the consequences of their refusal to believe in Christ from the Justice
of God.
2:7 This honor, therefore, is for you (advantage),
the ones who believe; but for the ones who disbelieve, a stone which the
builders have rejected, this one, became the head of the corner.
2:8 and a stone of stumbling
and a rock which trips one, for they are stumbling because they are disobedient
to the Word to which (doom) they were appointed.
Observations:
1. Peter documents the results for both those who believe
in the living stone and those who reject the living stone.
2. The great honor that we have as believers is to be in
an eternal relationship with the living stone, and to be stones in the house
that He is constructing, the Church.
3. Jesus Christ
who is rejected by mankind and the builders, the religious leaders of His day
is the one who is exalted by God.
4. The builders, had the right info, had heard the OT
prophecies related to both advents of Christ the Messiah read but ignored and distorted
them as they did with what Christ taught during His ministry.
5. So the result
that Peter emphasizes here is that Christ, the Living Stone, became a stumbling
block, a rock over which they tripped, that is to the Jews. Rom
6. Their refusal to believe, is
not appointed or destined but is the penalty or consequence of their negative
volition expressed in disobedience of the Word.
2:9-10
The Royal Family's Escutcheon
(terms used here describe our position in the Family)
Peter
sets out 4 terms here that describe the royal family of God, that is believers
during the church age that are the living stones of a new spiritual house. (vs:5)
#1
you are A
- we
are a part of this choice race, we have a common identity because we believed
in Christ, and now our ability or capacity to function within this new identity
comes as we grow in the Word.
#2 A royal PRIESTHOOD basi,leioj (adj) royal, kingly, belonging to or fit for a
king i`era,teuma priesthood
we are a royal priesthood because of
our family ties, our association with the King, Jesus Christ, of whom we're in
union.
#3 a holy nation e;qnoj a[gion ethnos in the singular which speaks of a people held
together by common laws, customs and mutual interests
- Of
- We as believers are a holy nation,
we have a common spiritual life from God and are in union with His Son.
#4 A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, peripoi,hsij possession
refers to a personal private possession
(also Titus
2:9a But you
yourselves are a choice race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people with
respect to a personal possession (of
God).
Summary
1.
All of these terms, a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
who are His possession were all used of
-
See these terms
used of
2.
What you don't want to do here is take these terms that were used of
-
They teach that since the Church supplants
3.
4.
What Peter is saying is that there is a similarity of function but not an exact
identity.
5.
Abraham became a father of a new race at the point of regeneration when he
believed God and it was credited to him for righteousness.
6.
We became part of a new race, living stones in this spiritual house at the
point of regeneration.
7.