The Living Stone & Chosen People

Transcription

1 Bible Study Peter s First Epistle October Lesson 5 The Living Stone & Chosen People Context All flesh is as grass...the Word of the Lord endures forever...therefore, laying aside all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 1 Peter 2:24ff Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame. Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone, and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:4-10

2 Coming to Jesus (vv.4-5) Coming to Him (the Lord, v. 3) as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ The use of stone in describing Jesus leads into the building illustration that follows. A living stone correlates with the living hope (1:3) and the Word of God which lives and abides forever (1:23). The Stone is no cold, unresponsive, passively placed stone without care or concern. Rather He is living! (cf. TLH 200) Rejected repudiated, rejected after testing. The Jewish leaders checked Jesus out and rejected Him on the basis of what they saw/heard. (cf. tested in 1 Peter 1:7) God s view is in distinct contrast to that of the world/ unregenerate mankind. Read: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Believers too are living stones, their life comes from The Stone, the Living Word, Author of the Living Hope. A house cf. Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 2:19-22, Hebrews 3:5-6 A holy priesthood cf. Hebrews 4:16, Revelation 1:6 Purpose: to offer up spiritual sacrifices, cf. Hebrews 7:27, 13:15; Romans 12:1-2ff. Living stones produce living sacrifices in love and service to the living Stone. 2

3 The Lutheran Confessions...the sacrifices of the New Testament, as Peter teaches, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices (1 Peter 2:5). Spiritual sacrifices, however, are contrasted not only with those of cattle, but even with human works offered by the outward act, because spiritual refers to the movements of the Holy Spirit in us. Paul teaches the same thing, Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (Romans 12:1). Spiritual worship means, however, a service in which God is known and is grasped by the mind. This happens in the movements of fear and trust toward God. Therefore, it contrasts not only with the Levitical service, in which cattle are slain, but also with a service in which a work is imagined to be offered by the outward act. The Epistle to the Hebrews teaches the same thing, Through Him then let us continually offer up the sacrifice of praise to God (Hebrews 13:15). [Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article XXIV, 26, Concordia, CPH 2006). Discuss what Peter says in these two verses in light of the fact that he is writing to Christians in 5 different areas (1:1) and how it relates to the character and nature of the Holy Christian Church. Scriptural/Prophetic Support (v.6) Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame. Isaiah 28:16 Peter s description of the Stone (v.4) is parallel to Isaiah s description. Isaiah s description of believers adds an additional concept not being put to shame. Read: Romans 5:5, 10:11 3

4 The Lutheran Confessions Peter adds in 1 Peter 2:6, Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame. When God judges and convicts us, our love does not free us from confusion. But faith in Christ frees us from these fears because we know that for Christ s sake we are forgiven. [Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article V, 118, Concordia, CPH 2006]. 1. Consider how Peter s use of this verse from Isaiah would be helpful and encouraging to his readers. 2. Discuss the concept of being put to shame in this context and in comparison/contrast to our dealings in the world. Two Camps / Prophetic Fulfillment (v.7-8a) Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone, and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. Camp 1: you who believe Camp 2: those who are disobedient some translations follow a different Greek text and translate who do not believe. Old Testament: Psalm 118:22, Isaiah 8:14 The builders = the rejecting Jews, in particular the Sanhedrin. Jesus makes this connection during His trial (cf. Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17) Stone of stumbling / rock of offense (Hebrew poetry) = offense in the scriptural sense, i.e. a spiritual stumbling block. This is contrasted with sinful offense which we might create. 4

5 Unbelievers do not consider Christ a precious Stone; they reject Him and are offended at Him...These unbelievers are not only the gross, manifest sinners, but far more the great saints, who rely on their free will, on their works and piety. [What Luther Says, #4660, CPH 1959] In what ways were the Jewish leaders the builders? (see Romans 3:1-2) Camp 2 Result (v.8b) They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. God did not elect/force unbelievers to stumble and reject Jesus. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. [ESV] Discuss unbelief in terms disobedient to the Word. of being 5

6 But you Camp 1 Result (v.8b-10) are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people (Cf. Hosea 1:9) but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 1. Discuss each of the illustrations which Peter uses to describe the believer. 2. Consider these words alongside Ephesians 2: Give thanks for what you have been given and what you have been made in Christ Jesus! Pastor Wayne C. Eichstadt / Immanuel Lutheran Church / Mankato, MN 6

7 Additional Notes: 7

8 Fall 2012 Bible Study of Peter s First Epistle 1 1 Peter 1:1-2 The Greeting 2 1 Peter 1:3-12 A Heavenly Inheritance 3 1 Peter 1:13-21 Living in Holiness before God 4 1 Peter 1:22-2:3 God s Enduring Word 5 1 Peter 2:4-10 The Living Stone & Chosen People 6 1 Peter 2:11-17 Living before the World/Submission to Government 7 1 Peter 2:18-25 Submission to Masters 8 1 Peter 3:1-7 Submission to Husbands/A Word to Husbands 9 1 Peter 3:8-12 Called to Blessing 10 1 Peter 3:13-17 Suffering for Right and Wrong 11 1 Peter 3:18-22 Christ s Suffering and Ours Part Peter 4:1-6 Christ s Suffering and Ours Part Peter 4:7-11 Serving for God s Glory 14 1 Peter 4:12-19 Suffering for God s Glory 15 1 Peter 5:1-5 Shepherd the Flock 16 1 Peter 5:6-11 Submit to God/Resist the Devil 17 1 Peter 5:12-14 Farewell/Prayer for Peace 8