1 Peter 2:1-10- King James Version (KJV)
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and
hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word,
that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed
of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house,
an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by
Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I
lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him
shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto
them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is
made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to
them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were
appointed.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an
holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him
who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the
people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
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Just as we owe our natural existence to the Creator’s
spoken word and life-giving breath, so we owe our New Birth to the power of
God’s Word and the Holy Spirit’s activation of its power. God’s intent for our created being is only
completely fulfilled when our spirits are alive toward Him. As sin has produced spiritual death in people
(Eph. 2:1-3), so salvation in Jesus Christ has provided spiritual life.
The power of God’s Word-the Holy
Scriptures-is in no way more manifest than in this: its power to bring
spiritual life to all who open to its truth. James 1:18 elaborates the
fact that God’s "word of truth" is the means by which He has
done this as a direction of His own will.
God’s will to save us (2 Peter 3:9) has been effectively
expressed in His Word, which accomplishes that work (John 1:13).
2.9
chosen. The word designates
one picked out from among the larger group for special service or
privileges. It describes Christ as the
chosen Messiah of God (Luke 23:35), angels as messengers from heaven (1
Tim. 5:21), and believers as recipients of God’s favor (Matt. 24:22,
Rom. 8:33, Col. 3:12). The NT races the source of election to God’s grace.
2.
1-3 Genuine love for the
brethren and eager desire for the word go together and result in spiritual
growth.
2:4,
5 To Whom (Christ) coming believers
constitute God’s spiritual house (temple, see 1 Cor. 3:16, 17, Eph. 2:19-22),
wherein believers as an holy priesthood…offer up spiritual sacrifices.
2:7, 8 Peter contrasts what Christ means to
believers with what He means to disobedient ones who do not receive Him
as precious. Though Israel
nationally rejected Him, Jesus is made the head of the corner in God’s
new house.
2:9, 10 The church is the new "Israel",
now including Gentile believers which…were not a people and who had
not obtained mercy. This quote from
Hos. 1 is an indication that the apostles could view OT prophecies about national
Israel as fulfilled in the church, the new spiritual Israel.
2:9 Priority
of Worship. WORSHIP AND THE
KINGDOM. As a "royal"
priesthood, the kingly nature of the redeemed worshiper is noted. This passage is rooted in God’s called to
ancient Israel (Ex. 19: 5-7).
Peter and John (Rev. 1:5, 6) draw this truth to full application
and prophetic fulfillment in the NT believer.
As with Israel, deliverance through the blood of the Lamb is but the
beginning.
As promised, dominion and
destiny will unfold as their priestly duty is fulfilled. True authority is always related to a walk in
purity and a constancy in worship. The
spirit of worship is essential to all advance of the kingdom. Just as
ancient Israel will only take the Promised Land while doing battle from
a foundation of righteous worship before the Lord, so with the contemporary
church. We will only experience promised
power for evangelism and spiritual victories as we prioritize and grow in our
worship of the living God. Kingdom power
is kept from pollution this way, as kingdom people keep humbly praiseful before
the King – and witness. His works of
power with joy.
2:9 Worshipful
Walk with God. PRAISE PATHWAY. This text not only appoints praise, but also
represents a basic revelation of the Bible. God wants a people who will walk with Him in
prayer, march with Him in praise, and thank and worship Him. Note the progression in Peter’s
description of the people of the New Covenant:
- We are a chosen generation – a people begun with
Jesus’ choice of the Twelve, who became 120, to whom were added thousand
at Pentecost. We are a part of this
continually expanding generation. "chosen" when we
receive Christ.
- We
are a royal priesthood. Under
the Old Covenant the priesthood and royalty were separated. We are now-in the Person of our Lord-all
"kings and priests unto God" (Rev. 1:6), a
worshipping host and a kingly hand, prepared for walking with Him in the
light or warring beside Him against the hosts of darkness.
- We
are a holy nation composed of Jews and Gentiles-of on one blood, from
every nation under heaven.
- We
are His own special people.
God’s intention from the time of Abraham has been to call forth a
people with a special mission-to proclaim His praise and to propagate His
blessing throughout the Earth. (Heb.
13:10-15/Gen. 29:35)
In Christ,
Playwright Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
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