Peter explains the spiritual house
The Apostle Peter writes about a living stone and explains in context who was rejected and how but also on the flip side who is chosen by God and why they are precious in His eyes.
We as Christians are living stones and as Peter says ... "Are built up a spiritual house" ... a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. He goes back to the Old Testament and quotes Isaiah 28:16 which says behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded. This means we as believers in Jesus Christ, grounded in Him will not be confused or disappointed.
The Apostle then explains two different categories of people. Those who believe Jesus Christ is precious and those who are disobedient to God. With the second group of people the Apostle gets more specific by writing that they are stumbling at the word of God. They were appointed to obedience but disbelief in Jesus Christ will cause anyone to waver about their life.
Now Peter is at the point where he explains who true Christians are by writing ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people but then he adds what we should be doing which is showing forth the praises of God who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. This is why it is very important once we get saved in Jesus Christ not to fall back into darkness because now we are supposed to be bearing Godly fruit, not the dead fruit of darkness.
In verse ten Peter reminds us that at one time in our life we were not a peculiar people but now we are and have obtained mercy as opposed to when we did not even know the Lord with no mercy from God. The tone of Peter in context or directly is do not turn away from the Lord through different earthly snares back into darkness. Know who we are in Jesus Christ and live in obedience. Let me quote the original text so you can read the passage and perhaps make reference to it if need be in this particular study of the Bible.
(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 scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion 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 show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous 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." 1 Peter 2:4 - 10.
The first truth we need to comes to is a description of Jesus Christ as a living stone. He is referred to as a stone to denote His strength but with everlasting duration to impart to His children that He is the foundation by which they are built. Jesus Christ is everlasting life as our living stone. The Apostle Peter writes His relationship with God is different than His relationship with mankind. Jesus Christ was chosen by God to be our Redeemer but the Lamb of God is gracious to sinners that come to Him by faith. If we do this first we are united to Him but then we draw near to God through holiness and obedience. Jesus Christ should be the foundation of our hope.
God sees His Son as precious in a world that for the most part rejects the Son of God. If we desire mercy from the only Redeemer in the universe we must come to Him by faith and a repentant spirit which is our responsibility but the grace is from God.
The Apostle Peter writes about the super structure or the materials built upon Jesus Christ. The Christian church or the body of Christ is stronger than the Jewish temple. We as believers in Jesus Christ are the living temple of Him but Christ the foundation is a living stone. We are His lively stones and holy priesthood. We are the ones that offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. Any honest Christian understands that spiritual life comes from Jesus Christ. We are not dead in our trespasses and sins but alive to God. Think about this because the church of God is a spiritual house. We build this house daily and every part of it is improving. The house is being expanded because sinners are coming to Jesus Christ every day. Christians are called to a holy priesthood. The Apostle Peter does not say this is an option in our spiritual walk. When we engage in this practice spiritual sacrifices can be offered up to God. We can not do this on our own because it has to be done through Jesus Christ. If we are at this point we can bring everything to Jesus Christ and through Him present them (our circumstances, problems and joys) to God.
He does confirm what he has asserted of Jesus Christ being a living but it is based on an Old Testament passage in Isaiah. (16) "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste." Isaiah 28:16. The Apostle Peter desired to give proof and that is the Bible is the only basis of truth that God has given us but the word of God must be taken in it's proper context. Peter also understood that the accounts that God has given us in Scripture concerning His Son Jesus Christ were the most important. Jesus Christ is the head of the church but this is solely a work of God. Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone that God hath laid in His spiritual building. Of course the cornerstone is inseparable with the building but it also supports and unites the whole structure. This is exactly what Jesus Christ does with His church which is His spiritual house.
Verse seven implies with an inference that the disobedient will not follow Jesus Christ but despite all the opposition Jesus Christ will still be the head of the corner. It is amazing to me that with most of the world going their own way with this opinion and that law heaven has a perfect structure and nothing on earth or in hades can change this order.
Peter is teaching general truths to his audience about the spiritual building which involves the body of Christ. In verse six and seven the Apostle talks about the good and the bad. The good requires wisdom, courage and a steadfastness in Jesus Christ. Disobedient people have no true faith in Jesus Christ. Those that seem to be the builders of the church of Jesus Christ are often the worst enemies that the Son of God has in this world. Little do they know that the true work of Jesus Christ will still carry on despite these pretended friends of Him.
In verse eight the stone seems to be a metaphor. These words are backed up by Isaiah 8:13 - 14. The chief - priests refused Him (the so called builders) and the people blindly followed them. Jesus Christ became a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence. In simple terms those that are disobedient to Jesus Christ take offence at the Bible. If they are offended with Jesus Christ Himself and His doctrine why would they want the purity of His precepts or His presence? The Lamb of God is the author of salvation to a few but to most people that are in sin and destruction who reject Him as Savior and Lord will split on Him as a rock. This is why the Apostle Peter had to explain the spiritual house because the redeemed are part of the house as opposed to the lost which are not in this structure. They are living their life apart from Jesus Christ and are destined for another house of darkness for all eternity. They will end up in complete despair and hopelessness. There are two places we can spend eternity. One is great and the other is horrible but they are both houses. I would rather be in the house of Jesus Christ.
Those who receive Jesus Christ are a highly privileged people. Staying in verse seven and eight Peter is in essence saying if a person does not submit to Jesus Christ they will end up in ruin but if a person does submit to Jesus Christ he or she will be part of a chosen generation and a royal priesthood. The children of Jesus Christ are a family distinct from the common world and separate from darkness and sin. This is why we are a royal priesthood because we are consecrated to God. A true Christian offers up to God spiritual services acceptable to Him through His Son Jesus Christ. Christians compose one holy nation. We are servants of the most high and are a peculiar people of God. Jesus Christ gives us these virtues so obviously they do not come natural to us because we were called out of darkness for the very reason of showing these good qualities from God to other people. We can now praise Him who has called us into His glorious Light.
If you are a Christian compare your former state of darkness and sin to you present state in the glorious Light of Jesus Christ. We did not obtain mercy from God nor were we His people. There is a vast difference so let us live up to the high calling we received which is a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy people and a peculiar people that we should show forth praises to God through our obedience and holy living.
If you are one who does not know the Lord now may be a good time to accept Jesus Christ into your heart as your very own personal Savior and Lord by repenting of all your sins and inviting the Son of God into your life. I would rather be in the house of light than the house of darkness. I hope and pray you just made that all important eternal decision.
God Bless you,
Bob D.
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