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Pastor Vic's Message
“Come and Trust”
September 28, 2008
1 Peter 2:4-25
Verse 4 begins, “Habitually coming to Jesus.” One of
the last thoughts in the chapter is that Jesus “habitually kept entrusting
Himself to the Father.” Between those participles we have a new identity, a
new life style, a new freedom, and a new kingdom perspective.
1 Peter 2:4-8 reminds us that when you become a
Christian, all things are new. Your life is defined by new benchmarks. In
this visible kingdom we celebrate birthdays, school graduations, marriages,
retirements and death. In the kingdom of God there is no school, no
marriages, no retirement, no death. We celebrate what God is doing. We
habitually come to Jesus and find new kinds of energy sources, new forms of
communication and transportation, new shelters, new ways to tend God’s garden,
new songs of celebration.
The Jews, who knew God’s ways better than any other
people, did not recognize what God was doing, the unattractive stone God
placed in the quarry. They had their preconceived idea what God’s kingdom
should be like and they picked stones that would fit their plans. Their
selfish motives blinded them to God’s plan. Rather than becoming part of
God’s work, they wanted to fit Jesus into their plans. They looked at Jesus
and asked, how can I use Him in my life?
We have a relative who is working on farming algae for
biofuels. A student at Massey University is developing a chlorophyll paint
that is more efficient than silicon solar panels.
If we were building a new home today and went to a supply
house that had all the new inventions and technologies that would make a
sustainable home with zero impact on the environment, would we shop for the
right materials? If we could see as God sees we’d make wise choices
God is doing a new thing in our neighborhood. Will we
have eyes to see what God is doing or are we blinded by our past and our
desires? In 1:22 Peter said our desires can be purified by obedience. We
will have eyes to see God working as we habitually come to Jesus the living
stone, not the dead tablets. The word for stone here is lithos and not petra.
The lithos stone is one that has been shaped up and dressed for use in
construction. God had a special purpose for Jesus. God’s plan for us is not
in some new book.
This word ‘precious’ is different than the one Peter used
to describe our faith and the blood of Jesus. This word precious means to
hold in honor, someone special. When our children are sleeping we look at
them and say, "Aren't they precious." It means more than just value and
worth, but it is relationship. That which God hold's precious has been
discarded by man. God loves you very much. You are precious in His sight.
Some of you may have been rejected by man this week. The good news is that
man's opinion of you changes rapidly and has no real value. God’s opinion of
you does not change. Your relationship to God makes you precious.
Because of our relationship, this living stone is
precious so we habitually come to Him. We are like the God we serve so in
verse 5 Peter says we are "living stones." This metaphor unites stability,
growth, and activity. We are the living church. We are being oriented and
connected to a living corner and we are living stones. We fit God's
building. As living stones we are the right shape. We are one in Christ. We
only have identity as we are part of the spiritual house. As an individual
living stone I am outside the plan of God. (Apart from Me you can do
nothing.) Only in being built up can the many stones be recognized as a
spiritual house. God's plan is that we be a spiritual building or a temple.
The Christian community is to be a sanctuary. The Church is the place where
the Spirit of God dwells. This chapel is where the church meets. Pay
attention how gfod is bringing us together. No 2 stones are the same.
If you do not habitually come to Jesus, you will be
disobedient and not recognize what God is doing. The irony is that you will
stumble over the things most valuable to God.
2:9-10 Coming to Jesus we will be a changed people.
We are also called a royal priesthood and a holy nation.
Those terms meant a lot to the Jews. They felt self worth because of their
God and their family history.
Peter calls them a treasured possession of God. We
understand that today. Some things we have in our home have very little value
for anyone else, but they belonged to someone special and so the item becomes
special. So, you belong to God. God thinks you are so special, He sent His
son to die for you. You are special, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
treasured by God being the manner and means for declaring the excellencies of
God.
To God the church is important because it is the method
and means and manner by which God expects to be glorified. This is not a
command for missions, but for holy living. It is not for the individual, but
for the church. We are witnesses.
We as the church, living stones that are being built, are
God's method of proclaiming the excellencies of Him who called you out of
darkness into His marvelous light. We are the manner and means of God to tell
forth, declare abroad, tell out fully, the moral goodness, glorious excellence
of the one who out from darkness and blindness called us. God calls us to
dwell in His presence.
At a point in time, the light that lights every man,
called us into the light. God does not work in darkness. He does not even
associate with shifting shadows.
We are a holy nation, a people destined for salvation.
And our primary function is to offer our praises and our life as a living
sacrifice, so that together we declare the excellencies of God.
1 Peter 2:11-12 Peter appeals to us, not on the basis of
who he is, but on the basis of who we are. If we are aliens of the world we
must renounce the impulses of the world. We have been called out of darkness
and our natural impulses must yield to our spiritual impulses. No little
laws, lists, or formulas are given. Just a reminder that we are a spiritual
body of believers. Whatever you find that destroys the health of you or your
neighbor, you need to avoid it. It may be different for you than it is for
me.
Because Christians were refusing to worship pagan deities
and participate in sensual idol feasts they were being slandered. Sometimes
when they had communion they were accused of cannibalism or immorality. Every
heathen knew what a 'love feast' was. They assumed it was the same for
Christians.
1 Peter 2:13-17 The passive verb here is important
because Peter makes a distinction in verb forms when he talks to slaves and
women. Submission is used 6 times by Peter, three times in the passive form
and three in the middle form. While the subject is acted upon by an outside
force in the passive form, the subject acts upon himself in the middle form.
This contrast has not been made by some who preach about the submission of
women. (I submit in the passive because of who you are. I submit in the
middle because of who I am.)
If the government is oppressive and wicked what should
Christians do? Good! We must live holy lives. What part should Christians
have in rebellions, wars, demonstrations, marches, protests, etc.? I don't
know, but the Bible says, "By doing good we can change our world." We can
overcome evil with good. We can put a muzzle on the mindless by revealing the
mind of Christ in our lives. We can cancel ignorance with the knowledge of
God. We can dispel darkness with light. We cannot overcome darkness with
darkness or evil with evil. If we do evil we become evil like the very evil
we try to destroy. Like the one who shot the doctor doing abortions. The
Bible says Jesus went about doing good. Love is the only weapon that Jesus
used.
Now notice the paradox here. Be submissive, not doing
nothing, but doing good. Be submissive, but live as free men. "Live as free
men, but not as a covering for wickedness, but as bond slaves of God."
Freedom is the topic of every philosopher. In this verse
we see a contrast between the freedom of wickedness and servants of God. If
we are servants of God we can live as free men, but we are never free if we do
evil. Freedom is not license. It is a result of trusting God completely.
Because we trust God completely we are free. This freedom is reflected in 4
attitudes: 1. respect each person. 2. love the brotherhood. 3. fear God.
4. honor the king.
1 Peter 2:18-21 The command here changes. You must
submit yourselves, not because of the nature of your boss, but because of
you. Christ has set you free so you must decide to submit even though you
know you are free in the Lord. It does not matter whether your boss is gentle
and good or intrinsically wicked. Be submitting yourself.
This is real grace. This is an action that is beyond the
ordinary course of what most men expect, but it is just like our God would
do. Grace is an attitude of thank-worthiness. "This is grace if because of
my consciousness of God, I endure pain of body and/or mind while suffering
unjustly."
I am a gracious person when I trust God so much that I
endure everything the Devil throws at me. Loved ones may criticize, but I can
be gracious. My boss may be dishonest, evil, and wicked, but I will be
gracious. Everything may be great and going my way. I may get a promotion
before someone more deserving, but I will still be gracious because of God's
love in my heart. I want you to see Jesus in my life. He is the Just One who
suffered on the tree unjustly condemned for us, the unjust. That is grace.
I think Peter laughs a little here when he says, "You'll
never become famous for serving a jail term you deserve. But if on the other
hand you are doing good and suffer patiently, this is impressive. This is
grace."
If you are misunderstood when you have tried to do good,
it really hurts. But if you suffer patiently because you trust God
completely, that is real grace.
You are called 5 times in Peter.
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1:15 called to be holy
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2:9 called from darkness to light
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2:21 called to be willing to suffer
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3:9 called to be a blessing
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5:10 called to eternal glory
Peter uses 4 different words that can be translated
example.
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Hupodeigma = under to show, visible demonstration (2
Peter 2:6)
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Hupogrammos = under to write, trace letters exactly (1
Peter 2:21)
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Tupos = type, strike, shape, pattern (5:3)
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Antitupos = echo, reflection, impression made from being
struck (3:21)
Jesus set you an example that you are expected to trace
closely. It is like children following the dots or painting by number. Or
like the teacher writing the alphabet on the board and telling the children to
practice writing according to the pattern.
1 Peter 2:22-25 Jesus was willing to suffer because He
was habitually trusting the Father. Are you walking in Herod’s way or Jesus’
way? We can walk on the trail He blazed. We can walk on the road He made.
When you suffer unjustly, if you suffer for doing good,
let your grace shine while you keep trusting God. It is foolishness to the
world to suffer, but we are citizens of a different kingdom. We live by a
different standard. We are called to live holy lives.
The word for 'wound' or 'stripe' at the end of 2:24 is
singular in form. The suffering of Jesus is seen as one. One stripe, one
wound, one bruise, one mark of a blow. He left an impression. By one act we
were healed. This is soul healing. This is wholeness in body, mind, and
spirit. Because of Jesus we can be whole, we can be healthy in a sick world.
Verse 25 says we needed Jesus to die for us because the
O. T. law was not working. "For you were habitually and continually as sheep
straying. You were making yourself stray away. Nobody else was making you do
it. But now you were turned around by the Shepherd himself so that you might
return to Him, the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls."
In one sense, all people are sheep, but some have not
obeyed His voice. Jesus died for our sins, but we must turn around and follow
Him. We must decide to turn because the Shepherd is calling and He loves us.
Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd. He saw people
who were not following God as sheep without a shepherd. It is not natural to
live without a shepherd. We were created to be in His pasture, but if we do
not respond to His voice we are on our own and stray away from the freedom in
God. God is seeking you. Say yes to His voice. Confess your sins and begin
doing good.
You cannot do what the Bible demands unless you commit
your life to God. You can't follow in His steps unless you first entrust
yourself to God. You will not endure suffering unless you entrust yourself to
God. You cannot have peace unless you return to God.
Sunday
Morning Family Worship -- 9:00 a.m.
Vic Dunton,
Chaplain
Phone: (503) 829-8591
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