Faith in the Crosshairs 1 Peter Crave (1 Peter 2:1-12)

Review Shadow of Nero's PersecutionShadow of Nero's Persecution Point: "Live out the faith in the midst of suffering"Point: "Live out the faith in the midst of suffering"

Review The evidence of holiness is not: − Morality. The Pharisees had that − Bible knowledge. An atheist can possess that − Number of people in a church. Cults have that − Really long prayers that impress. Jesus warned against that. The evidence of holiness is sincere and fervent love

Review Worked backwards, how I speak of and treat people, esp. other believers, is a primary evidence of my walk with God

Foundational Truths: ◦ My relationship with God affects my relationships with people. ◦ And my relationships with people affect my relationship with God

Context: …you were redeemed…with the precious blood of Christ…love one another earnestly from a pure heart- 1:17-19, 22

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander- vs. 1 “Strip off”- Why?

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander- vs. 1 “Strip off”- Why? It's no longer who I am

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander- vs. 1 “Strip off”- Why? These things cannot co-exist with sincere brotherly love

Set fire to the halo!

− Malice- evil intent − Deceit- lying − Hypocrisy- 2-faced − Envy- wanting what others have and resenting them for it − Slander-speaking poorly of, tearing others down

− Malice- evil intent − Deceit- lying − Hypocrisy- 2-faced − Envy- wanting what others have and resenting them for it − Slander-speaking poorly of, tearing others down Engage- speak the truth in loveEngage- speak the truth in love

− Malice- evil intent − Deceit- lying − Hypocrisy- 2-faced − Envy- wanting what others have and resenting them for it − Slander-speaking poorly of, tearing others down Examine: Not all of these are outward and seenExamine: Not all of these are outward and seen

− Malice − Deceit − Hypocrisy − Envy − Slander All of these are relational and have devastating effects on my relationship with others and GodAll of these are relational and have devastating effects on my relationship with others and God

Like newborn infants, long for (crave) the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good- vs. 2-3 − Pure= adolos- unmixed − Deceit= dolos- deceit

“Spiritual milk”- logikos- “Word” Where did Peter's audience go for spiritual milk?

…if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good Long for= Intense desire, craving, lust Malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander dull my taste for the things of God

Principle- As long as sin remains tolerable, the desire for milk is choked off Repentance always leads to a renewed desire for the things of GodRepentance always leads to a renewed desire for the things of God

How do I crave? Repent/"Strip-off"

How? Deepest Desire

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk Who are infants?

Spiritual maturity is not: A function of the passage of timeA function of the passage of time But a measure of growth into the image of ChristBut a measure of growth into the image of Christ

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious

…you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ- vs. 4-5

Jesus- rejected by the builders Forms the foundation for a building that will last long after every other institution is gone

Jesus is the Founder, Builder and Senior Pastor of any true church Pastor-centered is scripturally- incorrect and dangerous

Why?

… you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house … Living stones- connected to others in Community (as you come to him, stripping off malice, deceit, etc, and desiring pure spiritual milk)

The more I connect to God, the more I'll be connected to his people

It is impossible to be growing in God and not be connecting to God's people, since the point of growth is: − Greater connection in community − For the purpose of declaring God's glory

We were made for community. When God’s people come together in Christ, he dwells in us collectively

…being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices … Together, we form a priesthood

Priests: − Connect people to God Believers and unbelieversBelievers and unbelievers − Represent God to people Believers and unbelieversBelievers and unbelievers − Offer sacrifices Say what???Say what???

…to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God- Romans 15:16

As Priests, the sacrifice we offer to God is that of proclaiming the gospel to both unbelievers and believers

Priests under the instruction of and accountable to the High Priest, Jesus Who has already made the ultimate and only effectual sacrifice

…to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."

So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense."

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession…

…that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy- vs. 9-10

Christians are to be marked by humility and praise

What produces that humility and praise?

Praises= aretai- self-declarations of the excellencies, virtues and acts of God

Big Idea- The church advertises for God, not for its own glory

Holy Nation- new King with new standards, values, laws

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul- vs. 11 Sojourners and Exiles- Living for and traveling toward our home, while representing it in another land

…abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul − The desires are not wrong − The method and the expectation are perverted by fallenness − God alone satisfies

…abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul I can wage war against my own soul − Begins by thinking this is home − And trying to find ultimate satisfaction in what it provides

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation- vs. 12 Gentiles= ethnos- other tribes or peoples

…when they speak against you as evildoers… − Cannibals − Anti-Government − Atheists − Orgies

…they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation Goal: That they may come to a knowledge of the truth and be able to glorify God on that Day

Growing in God, being connected to believers, becoming a priesthood and holy nation, seeing people know Jesus… Starts with: Strip off…so I can desire pure spiritual milk. Why?

My relationship with others affects my relationship with God And my relationship with God affects my relationship with people