Understanding Our Heritage
Book of 1 Peter
Chapter 2:1-10
In our previous
lesson we learned that we must be "Born Again" to be in the
family of God. God writes the name of all His children in what God
calls the Lamb's Book of Life and we must be "Born Again"
to have our names written in this book!
As soon as our name
is written down, we find that Satan has become our enemy and it will
not always be easy to be a child of God!
We will be perfect
in the eyes of God because when He sees us, He sees His Son.
We will be an enemy
to the world and there some lessons we need to learn very quickly!
That word
"wherefore" means, for this reason.
"Wherefore"
because we have been "Born Again" there are some things we
must do.
*****1Pe 2:1
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies,
and envies, and all evil speakings,
1Pe 2:2 As newborn
babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
We must lay aside
some things!
**Malice: Malice
means that you are determined to get revenge upon your enemies or at
least cause them problems, but since you are a child of God, you must
let your Father in Heaven take care of all your problems including
this one!
Rom 12:19 Dearly
beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for
it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
**All guile: Guile
is being cunning and deceitful. These are some of the traits of Satan
and Satan is our enemy. We certainly are not to be anything like him.
To be involved in the traits guile will cause you to lose the
blessings of God!
Psa_32:2 Blessed is
the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit
there is no guile.
**Hypocrisies:
Spiritual hypocrisy is acting in any way that goes against the Word
of God but claiming to be on God's side.
Luk 12:1 In the
mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude
of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say
unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the
Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Leaven as used in
this Scripture, is the thing that caused the Pharisees to be
hypocrites. Leaven represents sin in most all of the Bible.
**All evil speaking:
the word evil means wicked immorality, going against the pure Word of
God.
These are some of
the first things that we are to repent of, and we can learn all these
things from the Word of God.
If we cannot lay
aside these things, we will never be counted good enough to enter
into Heaven's gates!
I can just imagine
that pearly gate will be so mirror like that we can see our new
selves before we come face to face with the Lord of Glory.
We must have a
desire to learn about our God and He has given us the Word of God to
do so!
Again God cautions
us that as "babes in Christ" we need some help to
understand the Word of God, but the more we stay in the Word of God,
we will grow and no longer be a "Babe"!
The Word of God is
that Spiritual milk we need every day for the rest of our lives to
become a mature child of God!
It is by the "Grace"
of God that we are saved and the "Grace of God" that we
will grow until we come useful to the Lord!
*****1Pe 2:3 If so
be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
To be "Born
Again" into the family of God, begins to show us just how the
"Grace" of God works in our lives!
We must also
understand that God intends for us to grow in His knowledge.
We cannot have the
wisdom of the Lord until we have the knowledge of the Lord!
You see God wants us
to know all about Him! God does not hide anything about His
character!
God did not have to
reveal Himself to us at all!
We have to have food
and water to make our physical bodies grow and most all babies need
milk and food from baby foods.
The milk of the
Gospel are the basics thoughts.
God took off His
heavenly garments and came to this earth to pay our sin debt we could
not pay.
We are sinners at
birth, and we need a Savior and that Savior is the Lord Jesus Christ,
God in the flesh.
It is the work that
Jesus did that we could not do, that has reconciled us to God.
After we have tasted
the "grace" of God it becomes time to grow in the Word of
God!
1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye
have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto
unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a
pure heart fervently:
1Pe 1:23 Being born
again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of
God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Psa 24:8 Who is
this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in
battle.
Psa 24:9 Lift up
your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and
the King of glory shall come in.
Psa 24:10 Who is
this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.
Selah.
God laid aside His
majesty to come to this earth to provide a means for our salvation!
*****1Pe 2:4 To
whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but
chosen of God, and precious,
1Pe 2:5 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.
God came to us in a
body of flesh (a living stone)(The Lord Jesus Christ). The Lord Jesus
was rejected by His own people.
Remember Jesus was
born in Bethlehem to Mary a descendant of Nathan a son of King David.
The Father of Jesus
was the Holy Ghost! Jesus had no earthly father until He was adopted
(accepted) by Joseph who was a descendant of Solomon the son of King
David.
Then prophecy was
fulfilled.
Jesus was born a
Jew, so His people would be the Jews the tribe of Judah.
Make no mistake,
Jesus the Messiah, in the flesh was a Jew and was rejected by these
foolish people at the time and that generation perished in 70 A.D. at
the hands of the Roman General Titus, who hated the Jewish people.
Rome was that Empire
of iron and clay that was broken into what is the Europe of today
Dan 2:34 Thou
sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the
image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to
pieces
Not so long a time
after this God brought to Rome to its knees because clay feet are so
easily broken!
At salvation, we
become the living stones who make up the Church, a spiritual house
when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, who can then offer up
Spiritual sacrifices accepted by Jesus Christ our Savior, our King,
our Master, our God!
Heb_12:2 Looking
unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that
was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set
down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Eph 2:20 And are
built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ
himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21 In whom
all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in
the Lord:
Eph 2:22 In whom ye
also are builded together for an habitation of God through the
Spirit.
What are our
Spiritual Sacrifices?
We must offer up our
souls, our bodies, all out thoughts, all our words and all our
actions.
It may take some
time, but these are the things that God requires of us!
It is at this time
we become a part of the Scriptures!
*****1Pe 2:6
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in
Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on
him shall not be confounded.
Confounded means a
lot of things but "dismayed" is the meaning of this passage
adding maybe "perplexed"!
Jesus, the Messiah
is and was that chief corner stone.
He is elect because
He is God the Father's chosen Messiah!
Isa 42:1 Behold my
servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I
have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the
Gentiles.
Isa 42:2 He shall
not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
Isa 42:3 A bruised
reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he
shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
Isa 42:4 He shall
not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth:
and the isles shall wait for his law.
Isa 42:5 Thus saith
God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he
that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that
giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk
therein:
Isa 42:6 I the LORD
have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will
keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of
the Gentiles;
Isa 42:7 To open
the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them
that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
Isa 49:22 Thus
saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles,
and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons
in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their
shoulders.
Isa 49:23 And kings
shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers:
they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and
lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD:
for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.
Sion (Zion) of
course is Jerusalem. The City of peace!
*****1Pe 2:7 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,
1Pe 2:8 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.
You see, I not only
believe my Lord is precious, I know He is precious, or He would never
have accepted me into His family.
He did not get much
when He first got me!
Much like the
Israelite, I spent my 40 years in the wilderness of the world and the
Lord endured me until He brought me into His family!
A loving and
powerful God opens His arms to all who will believe and accept Him,
yet so few do.
The only sin that
cannot be forgiven is the sin of unbelief which shows disobedience,
and in the end will bring the wrath of God.
God promises those
who love Him will never see His wrath!!!!!
Jesus Christ is the
appointed foundation stone of all creation, yet He is the foundation
stone of our lives and the foundation stone of the Church.
What's wrong with
this world?
They want nothing to
do with this Stone (Christ Jesus)
They do not think
that this "Stone" will fit into their plans.
They do not think
this "Stone" will suit what they are building.
They do not think
this "Stone" is worth the price they would have to pay.
The "Stone"
of eternal life is rejected because, even though His price is free,
He still costs too much for the unbeliever to change!
In rejecting this
world, which can only offer the promises of failure, we can learn the
important things which are life and life eternal.
Joh 1:1 In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God.
Joh 1:2 The same
was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things
were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was
made.
Joh 1:4 In him was
life; and the life was the light of men.
Joh 1:14 And the
Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and
truth.
In reality, Jesus
Christ is the living breathing wisdom of God!
The Bible says: "but
the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that
have it"
There is no life
without Jesus Christ!
You see, if you
cannot make peace with the Living Stone of Jesus, then that Living
Stone you will stumble over. This Stone will then become the Stone of
Offence and He will roll over you!
All those people who
disregard the Triune God, reject that Jesus is God in the flesh will
find their beliefs are false and they are foolish!
The biggest problem
the world has today is the world thinks it is wise and the people of
God are from an Era that has long since pasted.
This is opposite
from the truth!!!!!
Again the Lord has
already said what He was going to do with all unbelievers, and this
is the truth of those who reject my Savior!
Joh 3:36 He that
believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not
the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Jer 6:15 Were they
ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at
all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall
among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be
cast down, saith the LORD.
But what of the
believer?
*****1Pe 2:9 But ye
are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a
peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who
hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1Pe 2:10 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.
What does a chosen
generation do?
Those who build
their lives upon the "Rock of the Lord" Jesus Christ!
If we cannot give
our lives to the Lord, for His use, we have not given God the thing
He wants the most !!!!!!!
When we agree with
Jesus Christ, we all become a new people, who are special to the
Lord! It is just that simple !!!!!
God loves the people
who love His Son!
To be a Christian,
means we are a very special people in the eyes of God!
That word "chosen"
means that the Church is now God's new people.
The "Born
Again" chosen children of God somewhat like the chosen people of
Israel in that generation of Abraham whom God will return to deal
with after the "Rapture" of the Church.
The Church is to be
a "royal priesthood"!
When we invite Jesus
to come in our hearts we become "royal priests" to King
Jesus!
There are men who
are called to be Pastors and Priests and other titles, but every
child of God is to be a "royal priest" to King Jesus!
We have instant
access into the throne room of God!
We also have access
to God no matter where He is at, because He is everywhere at the same
time.
There is never a
time we cannot reach out to God in thought but more in prayer!
Eph 6:18 Praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching
thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
If we could gather
ourselves together with all the Saints of God, we would become a Holy
Nation!
You see, God is
building Himself a Holy Nation
To be Holy is to be
different from this world!!!!!!
2Co 6:17 Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
If you wonder why
the world hates the Christian, it is because not only are we the
"Chosen People of God", Royal Priests, but we are a little
bit peculiar in fact, most of us are a whole lot peculiar which
means, we are God's own possession, in fact His special possessions!
You know the world
hates that we say this but that does not make it any less true!
Eph 1:14 Which is
the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased
possession, unto the praise of his glory.
In the beginning God
said, "let there be light" and we are that special,
particular, peculiar, and purchased creation that are to shine like
the stars! Created twice to die once, who are called out of darkness
into that "Light" which is the Lord Jesus Christ!
1) The Light of His
truth:
Psa 119:105 NUN.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
2) The Light of His
favor:
Psa 4:6 There be
many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the
light of thy countenance upon us.
3) The Light of His
holiness:
Eph 5:8 For ye were
sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as
children of light:
You see when we were
lost in this evil and wicked world, we were nobodies who yielded to
the Devil every time he called, but now after the Light of Jesus has
shined upon us, we are the people of God!
Maybe the most
important feeling we can have is that we know these things are true!
1Jn_5:13 These
things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of
God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may
believe on the name of the Son of God.
You see, we are
become the people of God through and by the Lord Jesus Christ!
We now have the
Light of life. Not just any life but "Eternal Life"!
OH, for the love and
the grace of God that He would give to all who will call upon Him in
"repentance" and "faith".
The world would say
there is no god, but the world has made themselves to be little gods
just as Satan has taught them!
Gen 3:4 And the
serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Gen 3:5 For God
doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be
opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
God has given us
"free will" to choose.
We can choose the
good of Jesus, or we can choose the evil of the Devil.
Hint! I read the
back of the Book and the Devil loses!
Why not get on the
“Winning Side”?
Amen
Let us all pray
