LIVING HOLY LIVES IN AN UNHOLY WORLD #5 : 1 Peter Overview - " Living Holy Lives even when Life is Unfair!"

 

We have previously we have dealt with 

(i) The foundation of our holiness [1 Peter 1:1-12]

(ii) The call to holiness [1Peter 1: 13-25]

(iii) Living as a holy Christian community [1 Peter  2:1-12] 

(iv) Living as holy citizens in  our country[1 Peter 2:13-25] 

(v) and today we want think about living holy lives in an often unfair world. We will do this with the help of Peter’s entire first letter.

Trials, suffering and unfair treatment can sap our physical, emotional and spiritual resources. It can drain us to the very core, leaving us depleted and defeated and discouraged. I say “can”, because it doesn’t have to. 1 Peter contains helpful counsel for those times when you are tempted to get lost in your situation. Our calling from God, “be holy as I am holy” (1:15,16)  remains true under all circumstances- and especially so when  we are being treated unfairly.  If you think that this is unattainable,   listen to what Peter says, 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.   [2 Pet. 1:3,4].  Remember that the call to Christian living is not a call to trust in yourself. It is a call to radically trust in your Creator.

This pastoral letter was written to Christian people in the diaspora (1:1). They were suffering, struggling, they were treated unfairly.  Many Christian converts were slaves. They needed perspective. Suffering/ unfairness does need perspective.  Managing perspective on suffering and unfairness is hard when there is no thought of God. Even godless people, in desperation at such times need someone to turn to, and that is where drugs, alcohol, bad relationships, and sometimes bad human counsel come in. When this doesn’t work psychology’s miracle cure – anti depressants are offered, and still the soul hurts. I am not suggesting for a moment that such medication cannot be useful in the short term, but it is always better  to deal with the real  cause. I remind you that these Christians in Peter’s day did not have access to modern psychotropic medicines.  How did they cope? Nothing beats the  systematic feeding upon God’s Word  and the  gradual,  sanctifying power of God !

The shallow response to suffering is to say, ’this is not fair‘.  From there people move rapidly to the next statement, “How can a good God allow this?”  In this letter Peter speaks about a number of situations in which persons might say, “this is not fair”.  

• Think of the various trials by which his readers had been grieved in 1:6-7. 
• Think of the suffering of the servant/ employee who finds himself at the mercy of an unjust master (2:18),  where one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly (2:19), or  where  another suffers  simply for doing good (2:20).  
• Think of the suffering of the Christian wife married to an unconverted husband who does not obey the word of God (3:1ff). 
• Think of the suffering caused by evil and reviling (3:9) and slander (3:16) and many other abuses which a Christian might encounter,  just because they are Christian.  
• Think of the abuse that Peter himself  suffered at the hands of the religious and civil authorities simply because he was a Christian (Acts 4). 
• Think of the constant work of Satan as he prowls around as a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (5:8,9)
• Suffering, trials and difficulties for believers come in many forms.  The first letter of Peter draws our attention to four forms of trials and suffering, and each need to be understood  to gain perspective.

1.      Suffering for righteousness sake  

·         We see this in  1:6,7 (a general  reference – ‘ various trials’) for the purpose of testing the genuineness of our faith.  The various trials used here were probably political, religious and social class persecution.  Christianity was new. Socially, many of the people to whom Peter wrote were slaves.

·         We see it in another way in 2:19 where Peter comments in the context of serving unjust masters: “For this is a gracious thing, when mindful of God one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.”

·         We see it in  4:12-14  (suffering as testing) and 16-17 (suffering as a Christian- a cleansing of the household of God)

PERSPECTIVE: This suffering is used by God for the sanctification of our soul. 

2.       Suffering  because of  the presence of Satan (5:8-10)

Satan is here described as a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Peter says that he is the agent of suffering… throughout the world.  

PERSPECTIVE: “resist Him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” (5:8,9)

3.      Suffering which relates  to  unsanctified behaviour in the church. This point is implicit in our text. When church members  behave  according to the passions of their former ignorance (1:14) and the  futile  ways inherited  from their forefathers, (1:18) and  when  they   indulge  in deceit, hypocrisy, envy, slander (2:1)  and repaying  evil for evil and also reviling for reviling (3:9), and then also adding the sins  listed in  in  4:3 (living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless  idolatry)  - when these things are found in the church, they  will kill the holiness of the church. If this happens, there will be collateral damage and members suffer at the hands of such  people.  In this regard we also make mention of pastor/ elders who act contrary to the behaviour described in 5: 2,3.   When they do this they hurt the church.

PERSPECTIVE: “Purify your souls by your obedience to the truth” (1:22);  “…put away all malice and all deceit and  hypocrisy and envy and all slander…” (2:1); “Abstain from the passions of the flesh which war against your soul“(2:11); “…have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart and a humble mind.” (3:1)

4.      Some suffering occurs as a result of personal sin - fuelled by the passions of the flesh which wage war against the soul.  In 4:12-17   Peter makes the observation that fiery trials are inevitable. There is no shame in suffering as a Christian. BUT, he warns that “no one ought to suffer as a result of being a murderer, a thief, an evildoer or a meddler”.  That kind of suffering is self- induced, and has nothing to do with God’s sanctifying work in the believer.

PERSPECTIVE:  The only course of action recommended here is to repent and return to the Great Overseer of our souls, and to make amends by confessing sin to those that have been hurt, and to ask their forgiveness.

Having considered the  various kinds of sufferings, making a careful distinction between the sufferings that sanctify  and the sufferings  caused by our own sin, let us  look  at  how  Peter would  counsel suffering Christians, taking into account  the broad landscape  of Peter’s  epistle.     

COUNSEL FOR SUFFERING CHRISTIANS 

1.      First counsel for suffering Christians:  Know your position in Christ. Who are you, dear suffering Christian, and what is your purpose?  The answer is   found in 1:1-2: you are God‘s elected child according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with His blood. That is your position and calling. Your suffering, your experience of unfair treatment does not change that.  A people who know where they have come from and   who know for what reason they exist, and who know where they are going are not easily unsettled.

2.      Second counsel for suffering Christians:  Study your holy God! Study holiness. This counsel embraces the command to be holy, as God is holy (1:15). Practically speaking this means that we need to be healthy feeders on the holy Word of God, and not only healthy feeders but healthy “obeyers”.  Knowing God and knowing His requirements will save you from falling into sinful life patterns which would cause you much grief. It will also help you to distinguish what God is doing in your life – whether it be a trial generated by our sin, or whether it be a sanctifying trial from God, like Job’s.   Trials can be overwhelming, but those that know their God, know what to do.

Ed Welsh has written a helpful book, “When People Are Big And God Is Small^[1].  The Goliath’s in our lives are intimidating.  But those who know their God are not afraid of Goliath, because they know that he is a mere man.  With David, who knew  God they are able to say: “I come against you in the  Name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Sam. 17:45).  Likewise, the people of Israel were fainthearted at the thought of conquering Canaan. “Giants live there”, they were told. (Numbers 13,14). But Joshua and Caleb did not flinch. “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1: 8).  Joshua knew God   and He knew His Word. He was not afraid of the future, and he brought Israel into the promised land.

3.      Third counsel for suffering Christians : Be a part of a spiritual house and   offer up your life in service to Christ by living like a Christian.  The church is designed by God to be   the rich blessing and provision of God for our healing, encouragement and comfort.  Through the church you are called to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (2:5).  In that house  we (i.e. “all of you”)  are called to  have  “unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart and a humble mind” (3:8). In that house we do not  repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling (cf.  3:9-12). Help your church to be a true house of worship  and  to be  a safe place for  the  sheep of God. 

4.      Fourth counsel for suffering Christians:  For the Lord’s sake, help to create  an enabling environment  in the country  which you live. (2:13-25)

5.      Fifth counsel   for suffering Christians: Remember the sufferings of your sympathetic High priest: Remember His death for you (1:19). He suffered for you… this is an example so that you might follow in his steps (2:21). Remember that Christ suffered once  for sin…  that He might bring us to God, being  put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit  (3:18).  Remember that Jesus died, to be raised again for you.  He is your living hope (1:3) and therefore even if you die, you will live with Him in a holy heaven.  Remember that He was rejected by men (2:4). He knows about rejection. Remember that Christ suffered in the flesh (4:1). He knows about  physical pain.  And remember that  you are called to share in His sufferings  (4:13).  No servant is greater than his Master, not meaning at all that you can die the death that Christ died, but you share in the sufferings ... being insulted  for the name of Christ (4:14).   Etc.  This does not only mean that you will suffer if you want to live a holy life, but it also means that your Saviour is right there with you in the fire.

And so we close with these words in 3:14,15 and take them as a closing comfort and exhortation:  “Even if you suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear  of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts  honour Christ as holy, always   being prepared to make  a defence to anyone who asks  you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Do this with gentleness and respect.

A people called  by God to be holy as He is holy, living  in the context  of  a holy community  which He has established for them, being holy  citizens and servants and  gentle and respectful  witnesses in this unholy  world  is what we  need in this hour in  Namibia. 

May God  help us to be His holy people, for His Name’s sake. He shall receive all the glory and we all the benefits! Amen. 

---

[1] When People Are Big and God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man… by Edward T. Welch

LIVING HOLY LIVES IN AN UNHOLY WORLD #4 : 1 Peter 2:13-25 Living as Holy Citizens

 

So far we have considered,

1.                  The foundation of our holiness - the election of God, in the sanctification of the Holy Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ. (1:1-12)

2.                  The motivation for holiness - to be holy like the God who calls us. (1:13-25)

3.                  The context in which we are called to live out holy lives – the church of Jesus.(2:1-12)

4.            Today we consider   an  aspect of  practical holiness:  how we should live as God’s holy people in an unholy world  in the context of being  citizens of the country we live in.  (2:13-25)

God has created three institutions in the world: the family, the church and the governing authorities. They are all represented in the first letter of Peter.

a.      2:5-10 - the institution of the church, established by God as a spiritual house. The church exists (i) for the worship of God (ii) As an evangelistic witness in this world. 

b.      2:13-25 - the institution of the state. Peter helps us to understand our relationship as citizens with the governing authorities.

c.       3:1-7 -  the institution of the family. 

 

2:13-25 LIVING AS HOLY CITIZENS IN AN UNHOLY WORLD  

(i)                 The duty  and  behaviour of  the Christian  as a citizen (2:13-15)

(ii)               The general  duty  and behaviour of the Christian in society  (2:16)

(iii)             A summary of Christian  duty  (2:17)

(iv)              The duty  and behaviour  of the Christian as a servant  (2:18-25)

 

I.                    THE DUTY OF THE CHRISTIAN AS A CITIZEN (1 Peter 2:13-15)

In a day when many governments are pushing the moral and political limits, biblical passages such as these have come under renewed scrutiny.  In the wake of the COVID 19 phenomenon in which governments  have  discovered  a powerful tool  for control, there is a huge debate in terms of how far the church must obey the state.  It is clear that a number of governments have overreached themselves in closing and restricting churches (deemed ‘non-essential’ services), whilst the entertainment industry suffered less restrictions. One just has to think of the curious fact that we here are required to wear masks, while you see none in crowded restaurants.

Does this passage teach absolute submission to human institutions?  The history  of the church  makes fascinating  reading. 

Lutheran Pastor-Theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), was severely provoked by the ruthlessness of the Third Reich, whilst the German church at large did nothing to restrain Nazism.  He was indirectly involved in plotting the assassination of Adolf Hitler. He was certainly advocating a theology of civil disobedience, and he paid the ultimate price for this. He was arrested by the Geheime Staats Polizei (Gestapo) and eventually hanged on 9 April 1945 as the Nazi regime was collapsing.

Both, the apostle Peter and Dietrich Bonhoeffer lived in VERY challenging times, under immoral, unethical, cruel, anti-Christian, despotic and authoritarian governments. The apostle Peter wrote at a time when the Roman government, under emperor Nero[1], actively persecuted Christians. A large part of this letter is dedicated to counsel Christians in their suffering under religious and political systems. Peter and all the apostles experienced persecution at the hands of authorities and governments.

 How did they respond? 

All we can say, that the church acted with restraint. Jesus never advocated civil disobedience as such, but He did castigate the religious authorities- the Pharisees (see for instance Matt.12:31-32;23:1-39 – 7 Woes).  But He was no guerrilla. When the authorities came to arrest him, Jesus rebuked the efforts of His disciples to fight with weapons. He asked those who sought to seize Him, “Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs?” (Lk.22:53). The Greek word for robber (lestes) was used at  this time for a guerilla movement that sought to fight against the Romans.  Jesus might have asked, “Am I your typical revolutionary?” The answer, of course, was “No.” 

In Jesus day there were a number of Jewish resistance movements. Whilst Jesus refrained from armed, political opposition to Roman authority, He  did not  endorse ultimate allegiance  to Caesar BUT  proclaimed ultimate allegiance  to  another kingdom-  the kingdom of God, insisting that God alone as the ultimate King over heaven and earth. 

He encouraged obedience towards both kingdoms (Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s - Matt.22:21). His discipleship emphasis  was on living as subjecy of God's kingdom.  In His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew Chapters 5-7) Jesus  called His followers as citizens of God’s kingdom, to live in a radically different way on earth. He warned His followers that they would be hated  by the world. (e.g. John 15:18- 25)

Now Peter (concurring with Paul in Romans 13) says, 

“Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people (2:13-15).  

He says four things:

1.                  Submission to the state is for the Lord’s sake. The idea is the same as that submission which is required by Eph. 5:21, “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” [“wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord”; “husbands,  love your wives as Christ loved the church.”]  “This is the will of God.” (2:15)

2.                   It applies to every human institution – whether the highest (emperor) or whether they be lesser authorities such as the governor, the policeman, the judge, the teacher at school etc. The Christian’s first principle is to respect authority.  In the Pastoral Epistles we are instructed to pray for kings and all in authority (1 Tim. 2:2).

3.                  The state is given authority by God to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. The state is called to control behaviour that would disrupt an orderly society. The more the state abides by the Word of God the greater our freedom.

4.                  God’s way is to confound human logic with divine logic- “that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people”.  The idea here is that you  would take the wind  out of people’s sails  when you  do not retaliate … turning the   other cheek…  those who sue  you  and take your tunic- give them your cloak as well; those who force you to bear a burden for a mile… go two miles  [Matt. 5:38-42]. This makes people think again and it provides a Gospel opportunity.

Does this mean that the state has absolute power? 

Is it never right to resist the state? Remember? The Christian has a double obligation. We  render to Caesar the things which are Caesar's, but we  also render to God the things which are God's, and if push comes to shove,  the Christian must on occasion make it quite clear that he must listen to God rather than to men (Acts 4:19; Acts 5:29). 

There may be times when the Christian will fulfil his highest duty to the state by refusing to obey it, by insisting on obeying God rather than man.  Having said this, if we have to disagree with the state then let it be in keeping with our call to holiness. Violence is not encouraged. In times of social, political trouble the church must first of all  call its members to prayer and we must wait patiently on God to deliver us.   In the early 1990’s  and on subsequent occasions  the church in Namibia  sucessfully resisted the  abortion bill.  The church must continue to  pray about this matter as the bill is on the table, yet again! It certainly is important that the church must  confront the state if the state promotes  ungodly  behaviour. The endorsements  of   the  LGBT  agenda  by many countries is rapidly becoming  a  watershed  as to whether a church may submit to the governing authorities in this matter. Many governments are now beginning to insist that  the church  should do away with the biblical  teaching on  gender, the distinctions of  masculinity and femininity, the acceptance of homosexuality and homosexual marriage as  a norm etc.  Clearly the church cannot do that. We must obey God rather than man. 

II.                  THE GENERAL DUTY OF THE CHRISTIAN IN SOCIETY (2:16)

“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover up for evil, but living as servants of God.“ 

The temptation is for Christians to use their freedom as a cover up for evil. It is easy to pervert the doctrine of Christian freedom. That was the problem   with the Galatians. They were called to freedom, but they abused it (see Gal. 5:13). The Christian is free to serve God.  Christian freedom does not mean being free to do as we please. We restrict our freedoms  sometimes for the sake of others. Christian freedom means being ruled by holy motives and holy living (e.g. 2 Peter 1:3-11).  Christian freedom is concerned for the good of others.  Christian freedom includes the freedom to forgive and to love and serve our worst enemies, and what sacrifices Christians have been known to make in this regard.

Edmund Clowney in his commentary on 1 Peter tells the incredible story of a North Korean Pastor whose son was shot and killed by communists, because he refused to renounce Jesus.  He sought out that man who had killed his son, and when he found him, he told him that he truly forgave him. He then called him believe in the Lord Jesus and the man did. The old pastor then adopted him into his family.  

The church is truly God’s alternative society (John Stott)

III.                A SUMMARY OF CHRISTIAN DUTY (1 Peter 2:17)

2:17 Honour all men; love the brotherhood; fear God; honour the king.  Here is a four-point summary of Christian duty and an application of holy living

(i)                 Honour all men.  We honour all men because we see the image of God in them, even in their fallen states.  When we regard anyone as existing merely for our comfort, our plans, we are in effect not honouring them as persons, but we are regarding them as things. See people as God sees them.

(ii)              Love the brotherhood.  The  love of God’s people for one another is  a supreme goal  and  we ought  to  be very  concerned to see that  this love  is practised  and seen  in the church. [John 13:35  “By this shall all men know…” ]

(iii)            Fear God. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Prov. 1:7). Fear here does not mean terror; it means awe and reverence. Christians give God the highest place in our lives and society. The Christian church lets the nation know that God is holy, and to be feared above all things. Men are warned not to trifle with His created order.

(iv)      Honour the king. The ruler is sent by God to preserve order among men and he must be respected, even when he is a Nero. God is His ultimate Judge. To Him who much is given much is required. In our own society ‘kings‘ can be removed by democratic processes. The church has the added advantage that she can pray for the removal of evil rulers. God has removed many dictators in history following the  impassioned prayer of His people.

 

IV.               THE DUTY OF THE CHRISTIAN AS A SERVANT (1 Peter 2:18-25)

Here is the passage which would be relevant to by far the greatest number of the readers of this letter, for Peter writes to Christian servants and slaves. These formed the greatest part of the early church. In the Roman Empire  in Peter’s day there may have been as many as 60 million slaves …in fact, all the work of Rome was done by slaves.  It would be wrong to think that the lot of slaves was always unhappy, and that they were always treated with cruelty. Many slaves were loved and trusted members of the family. However one fact remained: According to Roman law a slave was not a person but a thing. He/she had no legal rights. 

Into this situation came the Christian gospel, and its application that all people   were equal and precious in the sight of God. The result was that in the Church the social barriers were broken down. And so, from this ultimate perspective, having been truly freed Peter is urging the slave to be respectful to good and bad masters (2:18).  Many slaves suffered unjustly and 2:19,20 is a very challenging text. The Christian endures because his/her eyes are fixed on another kingdom. 

How do Christians cope with injustice and with cruel leaders, employers and  masters  in society? Take note of 2:21: For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

Peter's great answer is that this is what happened to Jesus. He was none other than the Suffering Servant.  He submitted to His Father’s will in holy obedience. In so doing He left us an example that we should follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21). Jesus gave us the pattern and the sanctifying grace, and the ability to follow.  And so the church’s greater priority is to teach God’s people how to live, think and react differently, in an unholy world, where the uncontrolled  passions frequently cause  quarrels and fights and murder [James 4:1f].  

---

[1] Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus; 15 December AD 37 – 9 June AD 68) was the fifth emperor of Rome.

LIVING HOLY LIVES IN AN UNHOLY WORLD #3 : 1 Peter 2: 1-12 "The Church - The Primary Context in which we exhibit our Holy Living"

 

We have previously considered 

(i)                 1 Peter 1: 1-12, the FOUNDATION  for holy living - our calling and election by God.

(ii)               1 Peter 1 :13-25,   the MOTIVE   for  holy living  -   be holy because your God is holy 

                   From 2 Peter 2:1-12 we will now consider  THE PRIMARY CONTEXT   in which we are called to be  holy – the Christian community – the church.  The key text here is 1 Peter 2:4,5. 

When God calls His people out of this fallen, sinful world, He not only calls them to belong to Himself but He also calls them to belong to His body, called here ‘a spiritual house’ - the church. This pastoral letter, addressed to the exiles in the dispersion is written not to an individual, but to a community of God’s people in these territories mentioned here. 

By way of extension, this letter is for the church in all ages.

Our primary thought now is the fact that God saves His people to belong to a spiritual house, in which they are called to serve as a holy priesthood, in the context of an unholy world.  

In the history of the Christian church there have been numerous attempts  to form holy communities apart or separate from  an unholy world.  These were known as monasteries. While the idea of separation is central in the Bible, we find that God separates His people for the purpose of sending them back into the world as born again believers and   as witnesses to the work of God.  Leonard Ravenhill says, “The greatest miracle that God can do today is to take an unholy man out of an unholy world and make him holy, then put him back into that unholy world and keep him holy in it.”

That point is clearly made in the Great Commission which Jesus has given to the church in Matthew 28:18-20.  God calls and saves His people out of the world, and then commissions them to go back into that world to proclaim the gospel to men and women in the world, alienated from God by virtue of the fall.  The church is not a monastery in which people retreat into holy huddles, waiting for the coming of the Lord. No! God calls His holy people, to proclaim the gospel far and wide because God loves this world!  (Jn. 3:16). For this reason He gave His Son, that ALL who would believe should not perish.  

In practical terms God then calls you and me to proclaim the gospel where we are, in season and out of season, using our abilities as best as we know.  Christians are called to do this in the midst of a very messy, unholy and hostile world, such as the world of Peter’s exiles in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia was.This world in which we live today, this global village now so  open and accessible and reachable through so many  means, in this world  we are called to be  God’s faithful witnesses (Rev. 2:13). To this world God has given   the church a commission to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world [Matt 5:13-16]. This letter from Peter is written to the community of saints living in unholy, worldly communities, “living”, as Paul writes to the Philippians, “in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom they must shine as lights in the world.” [Phil. 2:14]. 

And now we shall consider the premium way in which the church’s evangelistic impact  may be seen and felt in the world… which may surprise you!

LIVING AS GOD’S HOLY COMMUNITY  (1 Peter 1:15,16 ; 2:5,9)

“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

1.      The Importance Of Bearing Credible Christian Testimony: 2:1-3; 11-12

Peter reminds these churches that in the eyes of a watching world they would need to bear a credible testimony. 2:11,12 makes that point clear: “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”

Before Peter dwells on the glory and the holiness of the church, he provides us with some reality therapy. Life in the local church can be challenging! A profound poet once wrote,“ To live above with saints we love, oh Lord that will be glory. To live below with saints we know, well that’s a different story!”  You laugh … but unholy living in the church is a severe hindrance to the credibility of the gospel witness to the world.  That is why Peter makes this appeal in 2:1-3:  “So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.  Like new born infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 

No true Christian can remain  the way they were  once  they have been born again  through the living and abiding Word of God [1:23]. Our Salvation includes our sanctification. Sanctification is an inevitable accompaniment of our salvation, just as fruit are the proof of a healthy tree. Jesus reminds us that a healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit [Matt. 7:18]. Here are some things that make churches, called to bear fruit for the glory of God diseased: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, slander. These things are not only church killers; they kill the effective witness of the church!  So we find here  that  the apostle Peter  with his God given wisdom firstly deals with  some  fundamental  spiritual diseases which rear  their head in the church as  she  lives in  an unholy world (2:1), followed by  a prescription  which will ensure  the steady progress, growth and health of the church  in 2:2.  

Note then in 2:1 that God’s holy people should put away (apothesthai –strip off) all malice (kakia – evil) and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. What a perennial source of trouble these destructive attitudes are, and how they hurt the testimony of the church. These spiritual diseases tend to invade the church from time to time, and they come from within the church, and they are linked to the passions of our former ignorance  (1:14) and from the  futile ways inherited from our forefathers  (i.e. our culture!) (1:18). This needs a remedy! 

2:2 The remedy is that we are to put off these things,  and  instead  we are  to long  for   pure spiritual milk, which helps us  to grow up into salvation. The antidote to is to  grow  up,  as we  feed on  that holy means of grace - the feeding  upon  spiritual milk – the Word of God.  Incidentally,Martin Luther said that three things were formative disciplines in a Christian person’s life: Prayer (ORATIO), Meditation (MEDITATIO)– the feeding on  God’s Word,  and  Trials (TENTATIO), and they are all found here  in Peter’s letter.  Peter exhorts us here,"feed on that spiritual milk, that you may grow up into salvation, and to grow out of the passions of  your former ignorance."  He finishes this thought with an allusion to Psalm 34:8. You are obliged to do this, he writes, "if you have tasted that the Lord is good.”(2:3).   The fact that God has been so very   good to you is a great motivator for us to live good. Our primary responsibility in having received such great grace is that we must make it work in terms of a positive testimony to the watching world.  With these important observations behind us we now can give attention to our key text.

THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN AN UNHOLY WORLD (1 Peter 2:4-12)

2:4,5 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,  you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

The Church in which we are called to live out our holy lives is built on the Living Stone, the Cornerstone  who is Christ. 2:6^[1]  is a quotation from Isaiah 28:16 and Psalm 118:22.  Jesus applies this to Himself, and so does Peter.   Please take note that a holy Church is not built upon tradition, or a denominational label or a certain culture, but she is built upon Christ. Christ is her identity. Isn’t it strange that so many Christian churches are known for their many distinctives and activities, but so few are known by their Christ-likeness. Christ is identified with His church as a living stone (2:4), and a cornerstone (2:6) that vital bit of masonry that holds everything together.  He is rejected by men, but in the sight of God chosen and precious (2:4). Though the world does not own Christ, He is owned by the church.  The church derives her identity from this Living stone.  But the church is not only a   spiritual building. Something happens in that spiritual building!  The Christian church is constituted as a holy priesthood (2:5b) to offer spiritual (holy) sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

That statement must have rocked the Jewish establishment. 

The role of a priest^[2]  in the OT was limited to an appointed order -  the Levitical priesthood. No unauthorised person would have ever dared  to interfere in their holy duties i.e. to facilitate between God and man in prayer and in the bringing of sacrifices for the purpose of making atonement.

This old system is abolished by Christ our High-priest, who as Offeror and Offering   has become the perfect sacrifice for sin. He has brought us near to God once and for all. Everyone  that believes  in  Christ  can now approach  God, and in that sense every true Christian  is  inducted into the priesthood “to offer  spiritual (holy) sacrifices  acceptable to God  through Jesus Christ.”   In fact, everything that the Christian does is an offering to God.  Your entire life is an act of holy worship. "Present your bodies," said Paul, "as a living sacrifice to God" (Rom. 12:1).  And  the church engages in holy worship, and so, when outsiders come into her midst, they  see this beautiful picture  of a  holy, worshipping congregation,  they declare, “God is really  among you.” (1 Cor. 14:25).  United, holy worship,  is one of the most powerful (and  often  most neglected)  tools of witness of the church. We need to work  at being  a holy community. God  has called us to be holy, and He has enabled us to be holy.  

In 1 Peter 2:9 we read of the things to which the Christian is a witness: “…that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.  The world must hear this. The gentiles must hear this.  Their foolish slander must be silenced when they see this church proclaiming and living out the gospel of Christ. That is our PRIME witness! A holy church in an unholy world is God’s primary evangelistic method.  No amount of thoughtless and prayerless evangelistic schemes  and plans and activities will  bring people into the kingdom  of God. It cannot, Every other evangelistic activity flows from that. 

So the call then is to live such holy lives in this unholy world, with the help of the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, that this unholy world can do nothing but glorify God.  This is also what  Jesus said: 

"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).

Here then is our challenge. It is by the holiness of our daily life and conduct as a believing community, and as individuals in that community that we  make attractive the Lord Jesus Christ to those who do not believe. Amen!

 

 

---

[1] See also Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17 ; see  also Isaiah 8:13-14

[2] the Latin word for priest is pontifex, which means bridge-builder; the priest is the man who builds a bridge for others to come to God; and the Christian has the duty and the privilege of bringing others to that Saviour whom he himself has found and loves.( William Barclay)