Lesson 13

Observation

Outline

Newborn Babes (2:1-3)

Living Stones (2:4-8)

Chosen People (2:9-10)

Key Words/Phrases

Desire, pure milk of the word, gracious, living stone, chosen, precious, spiritual house, holy priesthood, spiritual sacrifices, chief cornerstone, believe, chosen generation, royal priesthood, holy nation, special people, proclaim, darkness/light.

Segment Analysis

1.      The previous passage calls us to a life of holiness, reverent fear, and love. Therefore, as this passage teaches us, we need to first lay aside all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, knowing that these are contrary to a Christian lifestyle. The previous passage ends with the discussion on the enduring word of God. This passage contains the imperative to desire the word of God.

2.      God’s word lets us know God more and more so we can become spiritually mature, discerning what is best, rejecting all evil, and living to please God (2Tim 3:16-17; Ps 119:104).

3.      Tasting that the Lord is gracious means experiencing the goodness of the Lord through trusting in Him (Ps 34:8).

4.      Our experience of the Lord’s goodness will spur us to know the Lord more by learning His word.

5.      The stone that is used as an image of Christ is a foundation stone (6; cf. Isa 28:16)

6.      Christ is the foundation of our faith and the One whom we can trust. Believers are built on Christ in the same way a house is built on its foundation (1Cor 3:11; Eph 2:20).

7.      Through the continuing work of God in our lives and the nurturing of God’s workers, we become spiritually mature and fit for service  (1Cor 3:9; Eph 4:12-13). Not only does each believer become strong and fit for service, all believers are joined together in unity to form God’s temple, the place of God’s dwelling (Eph 2:22; 4:16).

8.      The function of the community of believers is to let God dwell among them and to dedicate itself to God as a fragrant offering (cf. Eph 2:22; 5:25-27).

9.      God should be the center of our lives and we must offer our bodies to conform to God’s will, thereby becoming a pleasing sacrifice to the Lord (Rom 12:1-2; 1Cor 6:18-20).

10.  The disobedient reject it but the believers accept it as precious.

11.  Those who reject the chief cornerstone stumble over it and will be destroyed (1Pet 2:8; Mt 21:42-44). Those who believe in Christ “will by no means be put to shame” (1Pet 2:6), for “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” (Joel 2:32; Rom 10:13).

12.  As God’s elect, we are noble in God’s eyes and dear to His heart.

13.  Being royal priests, it is our responsibility to

14.  Offer spiritual sacrifices continually, such as sacrifices of praise, thanksgiving, contrition, leading others to Christ, and a life pleasing to the Lord (Ps 27:6; 50:14, 23; 51:17; Rom 12:1; 15:16; Php 2:17; 2Tim 4:6; Heb 13:15)

15.  Intercede for all people (1Tim 2:1).
Proclaim the praises of God and His salvation (1Pet 2:9; Rom 10:15).
Teach others the commands of Christ (Mt 28:20).

16.  We need to separate ourselves from the sinful and godless patterns of this world. Our conduct must reflect the nature of God (2Cor 6:14-18; Eph 4:21-24; 2Pet 1:4)

17.  cf. Deut 32:9-10; Jer 31:3; Jn 15:13-16; Rom 8:28-39; Eph 1:3-14.

18.  God has chosen us so we may “ proclaim the praises of Him who called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light”. As God’s elect, our goal in life is to make God’s salvation grace known to the world and to glorify Him with our lives.

19.  This verse, which recalls Hosea 1:6-9 and 2:23, reminds us of the “before and after” of our calling. Although we are undeserving of God’s mercy, He has chosen us and given us the special privilege to be His children. This is the central message of Peter’s teachings in this passage: God is gracious to us and we are special to Him. Now that we have become the people of God, we must forsake our former life of sin and unbelief. Now that we have received mercy, let us walk in the light, offering ourselves as a pleasing sacrifice to God.