This is my first post in some time, and I don't think I am merely going to put up my outline, since it seems to be contrary to a blog. Rather, I will a brief summary of the passage we will be studying in Regeneration tonight and hopefully people will engage with it.
New Life Desires Transformation (1 Pet 2:1-3)
We begin with a few verses, 1 Pet 2:1-3, that are really tied to the previous ones, 1 Pet 1:22-25. It gives the means by which we demonstrate the love for one another commanded by God. It begins with a list of vices, or traits that do not characterize a Christian. Karen Jobes in her excellent commentary says of the relationship between these verses, that the "new life is generated by God's eternal word and is characterized by love defined as moral transformation." Do you catch that? New life as a Christian is not merely a confession of faith in Jesus, but a demonstration of his character.
These verses have one command in them, that is to "crave pure spiritual milk." The word spiritual here is important, and in general, I take issue with the false dichotomy in most people's minds when it comes to the word "spiritual" and many related words in the NT. The word here is used in one other place, Rom 12:1, "your spiritual act of worship." The word is "logikos" which can also be translated "rational or reasonable." Crave pure reasonable milk which most take as to be the word of God which gives life, in other words, read your Bible. I don't know about you, but reading my Bible does not always automatically cause me to grow. This is where Calvin, Hort, and Jobes, the three commentators who disagree are right. Milk is clearly a metaphor for the very sustenance that sustains us. The pure spiritual milk is our identity as revealed in the word of God. Thus, we should crave transformation into the fullness of our salvation and complete are destiny. Practically speaking, I am talking about a Christian can maintain their passion and vitality by obeying the ethical demands of the Bible. As James says, "do not just listen to the word. Do what it says." (Jam 1:22-25).
You want to mature in your faith? Crave Transformation
The Priesthood of Believers? (1 Pet 2:4-10)
I always thought this was a passage to support the idea that every believer is a priest and we are all equal in authority and responsibility. Well, I didn't exactly think that but the idea of demolishing any line between laity and clergy was the point. Those other things are the unforeseen consequences evidenced by the plethora of denominations today. Really, when Peter describes all believers as stones in the temple of God set upon the cornerstone, Jesus Christ. He means that the church, not the individual, is a part of proper and holy worship of God. We he says we are all priests, he means we should all pursue the same holiness and devotion of the Christian leaders we revere most. There is no hierarchy of Christian devotion, whether a plumber, engineer, or Pastor, all should seek to be just and holy and devoted to Christ as one who is in full time Christian ministry. The issue of the priesthood of believers is true but it does not necessarily mean all have the same authority, for some were given to be leaders and some were given to be servants. It really means we all have equal access to God.
Another issue here too, is Peter language throughout the book that we are "chosen." I don't want to get into a Calvin/Armenian debate but I think his point is all will encounter the cornerstone of Jesus. All will respond whether he is needed to build the future. Those who choose him will be added to God's kingdom that WILL COME. Those who reject him will stumble and fall over him as they pursue to build their own kingdom. In a sense, God has placed Jesus before all people and their response to him reveals whether they are chosen or not. The issue of if God knew beforehand or not, will always be a matter of debate. The destiny predicated on one's response is not. You will be a part of his kingdom and get to dwell with him eternally, or you will be a part of the rubble. Everyone is building something, the question is, whose temple are you building?
The Priesthood of believers is to choose to have the character of a priest of Jesus Christ.
Live as Dual Citizens (1 Pet 2:11-12)
This is probably the best verse in the whole New Testament on how Christians should live in the world. It is reminiscent of Jer 29:4-7 says, to seek the welfare of the city in which you live as you seek to be faithful to God. Essentially the rest of 1 Peter will tease out the implications of this for the audience of his day, but the point should not be overlooked. We must abstain from the desires that war against our whole self as Christians and we should live such good lives among those around us they will glorify God. This is the verse for lifestyle evangelism. We must live under the authority of the nation we live in, seek its welfare as we above all else, remain faithful to God. The non-Christians around you are watching you, quite literally it says "observing" you. We will work out the implications of this as we continue through 1 Peter but for now, know the stage has been set. Since the majority of the first two chapter discuss what Christian identity is, people who were not among God's people, and have now been given a new life that results in a total transformation of character consistent with Jesus and live in a foreign and hostile land, the rest of the book tells us what it looks like to maintain godly character in the midst of an unbelieving land. The emphasis is on your character, not the content or actions of the country you live in. Karen Jobes says it best when summarizing this issue, "it is better to suffer than to sin."
Meditate on that, as you increase in your cravings for transformation and service as a priest in God's temple.
Sermon Audio
Sunday, October 26, 2008
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The other week I was commenting to Holly about 1 Pet 2:12 in connection to all our discussions on missional stuff throughout October. It seems like the emphasis throughout Scripture is on the "Live such good lives" part rather than on the "among the pagans" part, yet sometimes when I am thinking about being mission-oriented, it is the "among the pagans" part that captures most of my thought and drives my dissatisfaction with my status quo. There are few passages I can think of where there is imperative weight on living within the surrounding community. Jer 29:4-7 is the only one I can think of. On the other side, passage upon passage exhorts God's people to be holy and digs into the details of what that looks like in all aspects of our lifestyle from sex to work to submission to worship to our speech and attitudes and on and on.
If that observation is true, and it certainly may reflect my own ignorance rather than the truth of Scripture, then I'm not sure what to make of it. Does the lack of Scripture compelling us to "live among the pagans" and explaining how to do that show that I am worrying about something that is not that important relative to my pursuit of holiness and that ought not to cause such dissatisfaction? Or is the relative silence because an isolated Christian sub-culture was not a problem for the NT church, so the writing apostles didn't address it?
I wonder if perhaps the isolated Christian sub-culture is part of a fracturing of culture in general such that sub-cultures tend to be more like islands than patches on a quilt. Are we really so different from the culture around us?
In the end it is reassuring to me that Peter exhorts us to go back to the gospel, to set our hope on Christ's work past and future, and to live that out as redeemed people in redeemed community. Therein is life that is really life and rest for my soul!
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