“ Little by little, day by day, friends and flowers grow this way. ” 1 Pe. 2:4-17

4, As you come to him Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God, in heaven. How do you come/go to Jesus? –Jn. 6:44-45, everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. The Word. –Immediate context: by your obedience to the truth –Obedience to the word – the mode of spiritual transportation.

5, you yourselves Like living stones, cf. 4 – a comparison between Christ and the Christian: –rejected by men –chosen by God are being built up to offer spiritual sacrifices –Ac. 17:27 gives the purpose of mankind, seek Him –1 Pe. 2 gives the purpose of the Christian “ Spiritual sacrifices ”

9ab, But you are … Continuing the thought from v. 5 that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you –Alexander the Great; Louis the Great –God created the universe! –Our praise isn ’ t limited to His creation: 9c, of Him who called you out of darkness / into His marvelous light … MERCY Ps. 40:1 … 10

11, Beloved, I urge you: Abstain … keep your conduct honorable –Vocal praise (Ps. 40) is one type of spiritual sacrifice –Another type of spiritual sacrifice: actions so that when they speak against you as evil doers –“ Atheists! ” “ Intolerant! Haters! ” they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation - judgment

“ It is incredible to see the ardor with which the people of that religion help each other in their wants. They spare nothing. Their first legislator has put it into their heads that they are all brethren. ” Lucian (b. A.D. 125) “‘ Behold, ’ they say, ‘ how they [Christians, lmt] love one another! ’ … ‘ And how ready they are to die for one another! ’” Tertullian (b. A.D. 155)

Observations: People are watching us. People will speak against us. We are not our own masters.

Application: 13a, Be subject to every human institution...for this is the will of God (Mt. 22 Lk. 20 Rm. 13 Ti. 3 1 Pe. 2) –Human sacrifice; Mecca; celibacy and poverty There is no cost. You can do it anywhere. It does not contradict your nature. This is an easy sacrifice to make!

One exception: Ac. 5:29, we must obey God rather than men –If obeying the government requires that you disobey God, you must not obey the government. –If obeying the government does not require you to disobey God, you must obey the government. –Sin is the determining factor, not “ common sense, ” popularity, difficulty, hardship, etc.

Examples of law-abiding people: Joseph: –Ge. 40:15, even here, I have done nothing … –39:6, so he left everything he owned in Joseph ’ s charge. Why? 39:3, his master saw that the Lord was with him 41:38-39, since God has informed you ….

Daniel: Dn. 6:1-5, they could find no ground of accusation … 22, I was found innocent … committed no crime 25 … 27, fear and tremble before the God of Daniel

Jesus: Mt. 26:57, trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus If they could have found a flaw, it would have proved Jesus wasn ’ t the Christ. Ac. 2:36-37