1 Feter 1
Peter was reminding his readers of an Old
Testament teaching that was important in the
early church, and that ought to be important
to us today. It is the doctrine of substitution;
an iruiocent victim glving his life for the guilty.
The doctrine of sacrifice begurs in Genesis
3, when God killed animals that He might
clothe Adam and Eve. A ram died for Isaac
(Gen. 22:13) and the Passover lamb was slain
for each Jewish household (Ex. 12). Messiah
was presented as an innocent Lamb in Isaiah
53. Isaac asked the question, "Where is the
iamb?" (Gen. 22:7) and John the Baptist an-
swered it when he pointed to Jesus and said,
"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away
the sin of the world" Oohn 1:29). In heaven,
the redeemed and the angels sing, "Worthy is
the Lambl" (Rev. 5:11-14)
Peter made it clear rlat Christ's death was
an appointment, not an accident; tbr it was
ordained by God before the foundation of the
world (Acts 2:23). From the human perspec-
tive, our Lord was cruelly murdered; but from
the divine perspective, He laid down His life
for sinners Oohn 10:17-18). But He was
raised from the deadl Norv, anyone who
trusts Him will be saved for eternity.
When you and I meditate on the sacrifice of
Christ for us, certainly we should want to
obey God and live holy lives for His glory.
When only a young lady, Frances Ridley
Havergal saw a picture of the crucified Christ
with this caption under it: "I did this for thee.
What hast thou done for Me?" Quickiy, she
-1
wrote a poem, but was dissatisfied with it and
threw it into the fireplace. The paper came
!i
out unharmedl Later, at her father's sugges-
tion, she pubiished the poem, and today we
,d sing it.
,rii
:o Igave My liie for thee,
Le My precious blood I shed;
That thou might ransomed be,
, --i) And quickened from the dead.
'. it,tt I gave, I gave, My life for thee,
']rLi-
What hast thou given for Me?
-:- US
:: b1'
A good question, indeedl I trust we can
-,rrth
give a good answer to the Lord.
li!)ll-
dof
, :-rlcral
- ii:18:
:lllD,
399
ur-
ilii
ili[,i
flffi
illi''
iii
ii
iii
CHAPTER FOUR
CIIRISTIAN
TOGETHERNESS
1 Peter 1:22-2:10
ne of the painful facts of life is that
the people of God do not always get
along with each other. You would
think that those who wak n hofe
md holiness would be able to walk n harmony,
but this is not a.lways true. From God's diline
point of view, there is only one body (see
Eph. 4:4-6); but what we see with human
eyes is a church dir,rded and someLimes at
war. There is today a desperate need for spir-
itual unity.
In this section of his letter, Peter empha-
sized spiritual unity by presenting four vivid
pictures of the church.
We Are Children in the Same Family
(1 Peter l:22-2:3)
S4len you consider the implications of this
fact, you will be encouraged to build and marn-
tain unity among God's people.
We have experienced the same birth
(v'v. 23-25). The only way to enter God's
spiritual family is by a spiritual birth, through
faith in Jesus Christ 0ohn 3:1-16). Jusi as
there are two parents in physical birth, so
there are two parents in spiritual birth: ihe
Spirit of God 0ohn 3:5-6) and the Word of
God (1 Peter 1:23). The new birth gives to us
a new nature (2 Peter 1:4) as well as a new
and living hope (1 Peter 1:3).
Our fust birth was a birth of "flesh," and
the flesh is comrptible. Whatever is born of
flesh is destined to die and decay. This ex-
plains why mankind cannot hold civilization
together: it is all based on human flesh and is
destined to fall apart. Like the beautifui flow-
ers of spring, man's works look successfui for
a time, but then they start to decay and die.
All the way from the Tower of Babel in Gene-
sis 11, to "Babylon the Great" in Revelation
17-18, man's great attempts at unity are des-
tired to fail.
If we try to build unity in the church on the
basis of our first birth, we will fail; but i{ we
build unity on the basis of the new birth, it will
succeed. Each believer has the same Holy
Spirit dwelling within (Rom. 8:9). We cali on
 I Peter l-2
-:mu r t]f, Iro
share His b,fi willing, and this is something we rmtst
of. Iis,'- *-fL [[
the same Father (1 Peter 1:17) and .""r*Uv wirk at if ue are to succeed'
AiirJ,ira*" W" tt tt the same Word' and - '"WI#" two wonderfirl "assistants" to help
foillir'lrrl- rtrt UlG!
!u
ffi'wJd ft n"r"r d"cuY or disaPPear' We
u.,"til"Wo.a of God and the Spirit of God'
:1-:u
r
-:1$fi',fi@f..............
." nt - mulu0q"
ill,.';.iJ;n" .um" Gospel and have been
rt'" externab or the TL ;" truth that we trusted a:-c :'ber-ed to I r"ii:- #lrfit l] illl
ffi; ;i'il#-Spitit' become God's children also nurr':.e'
i r em- rlr -ii. lll]E. me f
il;h;d';"rld divide us mean nothing when ia :Y'':'. :'.:
Dowers us' 1t is imfossible to brt $'!h li0llid,,f, :IrnG !
*ltt
;ffiar.Jd tt" eternals of *re Spirit that iite the brethren. The Spirit of Goci :r ':- '' ;"[u ih !
mU m &jijlt
*"fri""*pr"ss '{t1 ----
unte us.
love @' 22)' rf," ':f*t of the Spirit" in our lives' llg- IS
i'1, J ti,"." is love (Gal' 5:22-23t' fu's< -:
U.lLr,Iilg(
the same
Tjh tojh;IlllrmfiE O
p"i"."r..f,i*o different words for love" lhila' le: -':
nff.i"*tf, ,i,. Word of God (Col' 3:uri-
n is "brotherlv tove-"' ud agape'. -.iI-s;" 'nrl tlup i!
iiiii,-in .,crifitial love' It is important
t" Sri.[ of God (Eph' 5: I8ff)' we :--r I, tid":l. "t rrul :
;li.i-t eodlik" love' we share i*.t
'"-Wi,i," Iove of God in ow daily €XP€rk:::::r-t a(:fl i'i!!uriq., i
;;';; !tr. uott' kindsweofare the same nourishmenr r{* -:"ii*IT{d B
t.",ir".fu love because brothers and "nioyw ord has life' gjoes life' and ': !'
l-i). C"i. *r' "r"11;1g,g il(@
-a nu"welikenesses'
.i#;'t Ch";i because ^we
belong to God ;ht'; rf;: we should have appetites for :-* ia= -. -j .'tt It", .

,Y*r- *rO, love Word iust Iike hungry newbom baoes' ruf" nvsis -Ilw
tt"iio." can overlook differences'
*'iu-nature' it took a .i,"Ja'*-, the puri Word' urndultera:c:- --[ r1;[:]I!rn
^a all of us are se!fish: so
#il"',rr; Jon" * helP us grow' she:' - fir:: -:ltrilniiu U $
rni.r'.r" to give us this love' Because
I did not like to dnnx mrK tar'': j { -;iux mrp. li
was a cNd.
;:ffi"Hiil
"IC"a t rlt tnrougt'.!!",sP*l:. 9oj
love mto our *" s:
i.tt"i*"tked for the Borden Datryl)'ar,c- l'la w ,[i,itdX '!m
or.,n"A our souis and poured His mv mother used to add various s$ups ln"i ru iY[- ;ft
[.Ii.-tn"t. I' sl' t-o'" for the bretken is an #;;;;'i; **" 'Y milk tastier' None -: .i:.]::il:ilr riliry J
;;f;;;il;"'ttutv t'uu" been born of God It is sad whe:' .'Tul& |
ii'i"n" +,2-zr). Now we are "obedient chil-
fi;';r-fi ever wbrked'
for God's Worc " lr

longer want to Ctrirti-. irav" no appetite 1r r" lt i'irmIull

i.*:-ir Peter 1:14) who ofnothe r'ri}nrJrc ;'fed" religious entertainment in-
r -1. i*rc lc
il;th;
"'1, .Lm.n a"tit"t old life'
"1anufz.c-- stead. As we grow' we discover
that tlre .*,Fur fiu ha
[ *gt. when product ls.obvlously
people t1v t9
Word is milk for babes, but also strong meai
l

.:'-ir::
-@-r
},]hffi'
ture" love, because the Cor' 3:1-4; Heb' 5:11 14)'
i"i,i"".rt*" (1(Matt. i: .nr'.: I :iS !
.i"- -J ,ttlcial. "The words of his mouth il'i."4."-1.".d 4:4) and honev €s' :-;>:.i - II-"s- lf
*".J.i"",rr"i rtl* u"t"t' but war was,in his
t"rrt,-frl. words were softer than oil' 1et "d;'ti*".
119:103).
children have no appetite. be-
:r ;lll- f i@ U
:t.li.tlilL f Tm
The
were thev drawn swords" tPs' 55:21.)' *;.;^,lh"r-h;"e been eating the wrong things' :il-11 *i ; dt t
other'.anl *l.h
r"". ,frriit" tr,are *ittr each 1
of il,;;;#;d his readers to "lav aside" cer- ::t: it ll@l
i"ii*..fa, must be geneiated bv the Spirit that would hinder
ffi"*;;iltudes of heart growth'.."Malice" ffilr
God. It is a constanl power in
our [ves' ano
t?#';;;:,i; anJ'piritua - -: :itl:lu
we turn on and off like a general' "Gule' ts cram-
:iir -;
iot somettlng that
*eans wickedness in ::r.r*g ::ru' iu
devious words and actions to
get
radio.
^- it is ,"*,-r.i"g : ; -,;5 run"l0f
Nnt ontv is this love a spirituai love' but
1

i;unfeigned')' We love "Yth'

*frri *. ,i-,. Of course' iJ we are snlv'9f r' : ::gslr ur
ffi;";i -nle, we will trv to hide it: and this
^;;;;r;"i";" motive is not to get but to ,rl :r.',-nl{P! l ,

il;.;" Ow cause or ill

iltffi=:'ffi;:.l.i"t'; oit"n oftheenrry r jar ,r -"dt
iT; t#;; it", r,rJ of "success psvcholoeY" [,t"i.;r:;; one resrr]t is euil
-:i .i-r mr@
a person to.subtlv
l
(
ffi#i"o1v Gut iir[iri.""i'oi"rsation that tears the other *. :r:t fld :tI a
'-*iort t. others "n'ut"t
in order to get what he
(
,i;;"i";. u th"t" attitudes and actions .-:
-:xr- ]iu
*-t!. ri is sincere and from a pure for
r our love
"use people" for our L" .'"ri rir"r *" wiu lose ow appetite rr HrlrEmm
a frJr.t,'*"--,m never
fr" p*" *".a stop feeding on
of God' If we lA-5<:-!,Illtlril
we tloP
rl ""Th.advantage.
own
love' and this is
;;it ilso a feruent "striving the Word, we stop growrng,. and
the grace that we
-",1
bnd m tne
-:: :*:m
that means with all lnvlns t"tastine") ::l*:-:t:[ :tm
T
^;hl"ti.;.* we have i:;rd: wh;;'ci,ti.tfrt are growing.in the :aE]:-ii!I .l]If,:r I
T ;i#;";;;;cv." Love is something
il,;;;. ;;; *. Ptut"*ut"tt' not troublemak- :€ ::;:J: 5!II
th ;;;il ;;-jlr" as an ol1'rnpic c91t9si:urt,t11
ers, and they promote the unity
cnurcn'
ot the
r*::€ :EilititrIE
rh io at his particular skills' Chnsttar tove
*o.t ,1. ::r:Eafltil
of ;;;Grirg;'it-;',fr"rsis a matter of the will' We We Are Stones in the Same Building :r:,-i€ !fl]: fu
.fr"* f""" a when we treat them the
Lc (1 Peter 2:4'8) ?::,-- i:J:r:fff
*uu God treats us' God forgives us'
so
rel .r-" to us' so we il;'t. ;;;;. Saviour, Jesus christ' and !=: -nl i-t:f
*" fot*r" others. God is kind
ffi;;; .p-fitua building, the church' Jesus
,re ffidi; orr,ers. tt is not a maLtet of feeling
400
 1 Peter 2

-mst is the chief cornerstone of the church None of the materia.ls from the iumberyard
Eph. 2:20), binding the building together. would fit properly. Then they discovered the
:,i reason: they were working with two different
nether we agree with each other or not, ail
-:,re CMstians belong to each other as stones sets of blueprintsl Once they got rid of the old
: God's building. set, everlthing went well and the"v built a
Peter gave a full description of Jesus CMst, lovely house.
. 't-tat :i.,.; ire stone. He is a liuing stone because He Too often, Christians hinder the building of
- ',i'as raised from the dead in victory. He is the the church because they are follorvhg the
---r'':-aes 'lroser? stone of the Father, and He is precious. wrong plans. When Solomon built his temple,
, :: :'O -ihc
-- .re are Peter quoted Isaiah 28:16 and Psalm ll8:22 n his workmen followed the plans so carefully
:us description and pointed out that Jesus that everything fit together r.rn the construc-
- ,'-r, and
uhrist, though chosen by God, was rejected tion site (1 Kines 6:7). If all of us would foliorv
. .'-- ]aru-
God's blueprints given in His Word, we would
, : .'-:iieflC€S. lv men. He was not the kind of Messiah they
ivere expecting, so they stumbled over Him. be able to work together without discord and
-atainent ()1,'. build His church for His glory.
. .:'-a ttOttf' Jesus referred to this same Scripture when
, r'.:: ior the He debated with the Jewish leaders (Matt.
2l:42ff; see Ps. ll822). Though rejected bv We Are Priests in the Same TemPle
- --.tsl We men, Jesus Christ was exalted by Godl (1 Peter 2:5, 9)
.--,:--ieraled,
, \\henI The real cause of this Jewish stumbling was We are a "holy priesthood" and a "royal
-- . :il}i (and rher refusal to submit to the Word (1 Peter priesthood." This cor-responds to the heavenl-v
2:8). Had they believed and obeyed the Word, priesthood of our Lord, for He is both King
,. - :-.ln'l), so and Priest (see Heb. 7). In the Old Testa-
- ,. .'.ltlpS and they would have received their Messiah and
been saved. Of course, people today still ment, no khg in Israel served as a priest; and
---- \one of
stumble over Christ and His cross (1 Cor. the one king who tried rvas judged by God
: :ald when (2 Cbron. 26:16-21). Our Lord's heaveniy
1:18t0. Those who believe on CMst "shajl
:'
' : s Word,
:- :,irlnent ln- not be confounded [ashamed]." throne is a tluone of E5ace from which we
In His frst mention of the church, Jesus may obtain by faith all that we need to live for
rhat the
,: :-j-ang meat compared it to a building: "l will build My Him and sene Him (Heb. 4: 14-16).
5:11-14). church" (Matt. 16: 18). Believers are li'"'ing In the OId Testament period, God's people
stones in His building. Each time someone ftad a priesthood; but today, God's people are
:'-,lnev (Ps.
trusts Christ, another stone is quarried out of a priesthood. Each individual believer has the
the pit of sin and cemented by grace into the privilege of coming into the presence of God
,:petite be-
to
,r. ,,ng things. building. It may look to us that the church on (Heb. 10: 19-25). We do not come God
earth is a pile of rubble and ruins, but God through any person on earth, but only through
. :,side" cer-
.'..ruld hinder sees the total structure as it grows (Eph. the one Mediator, Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 2: 1-8).
2:19-22). Srhat a privilege we have to be a Because He is erlive in glory, interceding for
.::. "Malice"
,..c" is crafti- part of His church, "an habitation of God us, we can minister as holy priests.
through the Spirit." This means that our Lives shrtuld be Lived as
to get
--:ions
Peter wrote this letter to believers living in though we were priests in a temple. It is in-
..re guilty of
five different provinces, yet he said that they deed a privilege to sen/e as a priest. No man
-r it; and this 'I'here is in Israel could serve at the altar, or enter the
- .: .aUSe of ill a1l belonged to ore "spiritual house."
' . enrry is errll a unity of God's people that transcends all lo- tabernacle or temple hol-v places, except those
cal and individual assemblies and fellowships. bom into the tribe of Lel'i and consecrated to
:.is the other God for senice. Each priest and Levite had
We belong to each other because we belong
--.. and actions
to Christ. This does not mean that doctrinal ffierent ministries to per{orm, yet the-v were
- - appetite for and denominational distinctives are wrong, be- together under the high priest, serving to glo-
. .::P feeding on cause each local church must be fully persuad- nfy God. As God's priests toda-v, we must
..'-^ t'e stop en-
'.\'e find in the ed by the Spirit. But it does mean that we work together at the direction of our Great
- -r High Priest. Each ministry that we perform
. .-.rn'ing in the must not permit our differences to destroy the
spiritual unity we have in Christ. We ought to for His glory is a service to God.
, : troublernak- be mature enough to disagree without in any Peter mentioned especially the privilege of
-- -,i lhe church.
sense becoming disagreeable. offering "spiritual sacrifices. " Christians today
:.:ne BuildinE A contractor in Micirigan was building a do not bring animal sacrifices as did the Old
house and the construction of the first floor Testament worshipers; but we do have our
went smoothly. But when they started on the own sacrifices to present to God. We ought to
,:::s Christ, and
second floor, they had nothing but trouble. gve our bodies to Him as living sacriices
- = church. Jesus

401
 L Peter 2
(Rom. 12:1-2), as well as the praise of our lips 19:5-6 and Deuteronomy 7:6. In contrast to ry * ;r* r.iu* E
(Heb. 13:15) and the good works we do for the disobedient and rebeilious nation of Israel, .id:I- s ::m$fidl
others (Heb. 13:16). The manq and other God's people today are His chosen and holy mmi.ft.:::flrus lin ']m
material things we share with others in God's nation. This does not suggest that God is :flx}5X* i I S[I[!.
service is also a spiritual sacrifice (Phil. 4:10- through with Israel, for I believe He will fulfill ml-s: rr::*q:l :ll t
20). Even the people we win to Christ are His promises and His covenants and establish itrEtri I sTr fr
sacrifices for His glory (Rom. 15:16). We offer the promised kingdom. But it does mean that :EX I!, rj m|]IE
tlese sacrifices through Jesus Christ, for only the church today is to God and the world what Irri ir:* -{ummq
then are they acceptable with God. If we do Israel was meant to be. mLgI ml:Ul jg-A !
any of this for our own pleasure or glory, then We are a clwsen generation, which immedi- -:rf,*'f :;:nsi h
it will not be accepted as a spiritual sacrifice. ately speaks of the grace of God. God did not i .U[trI'*[ flml* :It :

God wanted His people Israel to become "a choose Israel because they were a great peo- ni trTrtu::- riTia E J
kingdom of priests" (Ex. 19:6), a spiritual in- ple, but because He loved them (Deut. 7:Z-8). rlf re* Xu[ 5Ue
fluence for godliness; but Israel failed Him. God has chosen us purely because of His love L{ .nrt[ fr*mm@$.D
lnstead of being a positive influence on the and grace. "You did not choose Me, but I ia: a [,us @
godless nations around them, Israel imitated chose you" (ohn 15:16, Nrv). mru|fimut} m ils
those nations and adopted their practices. God We are a holy nation. We have been set I nu mtulr m '.i,
had to discipline His people many times for apart to belong exclusively to God. Our citi- mr runrl & frflnl
their idolatry, but they still persisted in sin. zenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), so we obev r:r{ E][[ gflums*fri:i
Today, Israel has no temple or priesthood. heaven's laws and seek to please heaven's :.:tdf:.- ili hti 5f
It is important that we, as God's priests, Lord. Israel forgot that she was a holy nation i:.s,*r - Tr-si ncm U

maintain our separated position in this world. and began to break down the walls of separa- tEb ri]!!("'I n{t:g
We must not be isolated, because the world tion that made her special and distinct. God BirI m -nmlX- rp| fi
needs our influence and witness; but we must commanded them to put a "difference be- ; r,: :'{-";g m m
not permit the world to infect us or change us. tween holy and unholy, and between unclean [" 15,rii l]1-
Separation is. not isolation; it is contact without and clean" (kv. 10:10); but they ignored the - Td:: mlit-{ @
contamirution. differences and disobeyed God. imto'.fl m I ruDl,
The fact that each individual believer can go We are the beoble of God. In our unsaved {L ['rEa &t 4 lwdto@
to God personally and offer spiritual sacrifices condition, we were not God's people, because r*_-tf' , llTrlr &mEl
should not encourage selfishness or "individ- we belonged to Satan and the world (Eph. un:Lr n nuuummm"
ualism" on our part. We are piests together, 2:1-3, 11-19). Now that we have trusted T[:r r,fi,15.1 [ S-
serving the same High Priest, ministering in Christ, we are a part of God's people. We are ruL:Linr-*u
the same spiritual temple. The fact that there a "people of His own special possession," be-
is but onc High Priest and heavenly Mediator
I": :r:rilr' trilI tr
cause He purchased us with the blood of His - r:*s"tmli ;ru ui
indicates. unity among the people of God. own Son (Acts 20:28). uni :Tft:-ssf ffi *[
While we must maintain our personal walk All of these privileges carry with them one rf :]fr,: ' itrntr
mjr[[ -J[
with God, we must not do it at the expense of big responsibility: revealing the praises of God u:al 'g-rM Eml
other Christians by ignoring or neglecting to a lost world. The verb translated "show ::i: lf*lrlm r@l
them. forth" means "to tell out, to advertise." Be- :rt"":nr t[5. lxu m :
Several social scientists have written books cause tlle world is "in the dark," people do not n*:i I III'r1,\ffi............... ,I I
dealing with what they call the "me complex" know the "excellencies" of God; but they :J,:l ;4,[" !M Er
in modem society. The emphasis today is on should see them in our lives. Each citizen of It l1rt.j,,{T j, m l-
taking care of yourself and forgetting about heaven is a living "advertisement" for the vir- [ki. j 1i,{ L!:mGc
others. This same attitude has crept into the tues of God and the blessings of the Christian ltcl-*
church, as I see it. Too much modern church life. Our lives should radiate the "maryelous :' -,Lru{frrsn@ g
music centers on the individual and ignores light" into which God has graciously called us. k Jlmi .E ru
the fellowship of the church. Many books and After all, we have obtained mercy from :1i:* iT,l4T! "
sernons focus on personal experience to the God! Were it not for His mercy, we would be
neglect of ministry to the whole body. I real2e lost and on the way to eternal judgmentl God
that the individual must care for himself if he is reminded Israel many times that He had deliv-
to help others, but there must be balance. ered tJrem from the bondage of Egypt that
they might glorifu and serve Him, but the na-
We Are Citizens of the Same Nation tion soon forgot and the people drifted back
(1 Peter 2:9-10) into their sinfrrl ways. We are God's chosen
The description of the church in these verses people only because of His mercy, and it be-
parallels God's description of Isfael, in Exodus hooves us to be faithful to Him.

402

r*
-a! - -::.,ir. we must be united. we
It-t : _ :
---
: ,: .-_ - _-- :--::edt-
.1.
. --_,1. r:_,1 XiO llOt
'::a a gTeat peo-
'-:=: leut. 7: 7-8).
-=,":-S: ,ti His love
-: ,..= \1e. but I
'r'.
-.: been set
. _- .: Our citi-
I _ ., -!\.e obey
: :::: heaven's
: j: : ..l]r' nation
.-: ;.1: ,i separa-
,-: _s-:nct. God
. -:..:ence be-
: ,i -.r.::: LUfClean
.: -*-: -aored
-.
,:
_-. -: ,.rtsaved
: -r t.:. because
'--. , ,:.d (Eph.
: :..,: tfUsted
:: -! :-:. \\'e afe
- -,.:::::lOn," be-
' '--: :. ,.d of His
--: ::. ::S Of GOd
:*-..-.:.: "ShOW
: _-:. -:e, De-
". :. :,e dO nOt
: : :ut they
: - :-:- .'rt-izen of
-::.: :_r the vir-
: I --.. Chnstian
: '--.: fan'elOUS
_: -..,' called us.
-.-: :..rC1' frOm
-.- . u'oLrld be
.,,
i--:.-enti God
.: :i: ]12O 0€ltV-
'= .: iglpt that
---... :ut the
:.. back
:: --=1ted
.d s chosen
.-;-. ard it be-
':: -.:--:ii'R'atching us, looking for
- .- -:: l sl\.e in and take over.
-:::-, i-, the world a united demon-
-
' '.,-:: 'he grace and mercy of God
- , - '.',xle these words, the newsPa-
. :::',rlmg "dissensions" among the
.=r'r $'tth the President of the
' ,:.:. These men are not Presenting
:.:. and the nation is a bit uneasY. I
' ' .j: the unsaved People think when
.:: --r.8 citzens of heaven and servants
- -.:.-rng among themselves.
: iese four pictures emphasizes
oi Lnity and hannony. We belong
-- --=
. --.::.r.ll of God and share the same di-
-:e. We are living stones in one build-
- .' , :rests serving in one temple. We are
: i i the same heavenly homeland. It is
. : ,i.j-lSl rvho is the source and center of
. .'. , Ii we center our attention and affec-
- -,: Hun, we will walk and work together;
-
.. : rus on ourselves, we will only cause
the
'-
.-:r' does not eliminate diversity. Not all
::en tn a family are alike, nor are all the
. :cs Ln a building identical. In fact, it is di-
::::il that gives beauty and richness to a
:,,, or building. The absence of diversity is
- unib: it is uniformiry, and uruformitv is
*. lt is fine when the chrrr sings m unison,
-: I prefer that the-v sing in harmon-v.
\-hristians can differ :rrrd still get akrng. All
ho cherish the "one faith" and who seek to
'.,,
:-onor the "one Lord" can love each other and
,ra1k together (Eph. ,1: 1-6). ()td may call us
:to different ministries, or to use different
:.nelhods, but we can still krve each rtther and
seek to present a united witness to the world.
After all, one day all of us wiil be together
m heaven Aofu Y:24); so it might be a good
idea if we learned to love each other down
here!
St. Augustine said it perfectly: "In essen-
tials, urLity. In nonessentials, liberty. In all
things, charity."
na-
1 Peter 2
CHAPIER FN/E
As
SOMEBODTS
WATCHING YOU!
1 Peter 2:11-25
he centra.l section of Peter's letter
(1 Peter 2:11-3:12) emphasizes srrr-
mission in the lite of a believer. This
is certainly not a popular topic in this
day of lawlessness and the quest for "personal
the ffillrnent," but it is arr important one. Peter
applied the theme of submission to the life of
a believer as a citizen (1 Peter 2:ll-17),
a
worker (1 Peter 2:18-25), a marriage partner
(1 Peter 3: 1-7), and a member of the Chris-
tian assembly (1 Peter il:8-12).
Submission does not mean slavery or subju-
gation but simply the recogtri*ion of God's au-
thority in our lives. God kfs established the
home, human government, and the church,
and He has the right to tell us how these
institutions should be run. God wants each of
us to exercise authority; but before we can
exercise authority, we must be under author-
ity. Satan's offer to our first parents was free-
dom without authority, but they ended up.los-
ing both freedom and authority. The Prodigal
Son found his freedom when tre yielded to his
father's will.
Peter shared with his readers three excel-
lent motives for submitting to authority and
thus living dedicated, obedient Christian lives.
For the Sake of the Lost
(1 Peter 2:11-L2)
As Christians, we must constantly remind
ourselves who we are: and Peter did this in
1 Peter 2:11. To begrn with, we are God's
dearly beloued children. Eight times in his two
epistles, Peter reminded his readers of God's
love for them (1 Peter 2:11: 4:12: 2 Peter
1,:7; 3'.1, 8, 14-15, 17). In ourselves, there is
nothing that God can love; but He loves us
because of Jesus Christ. "This is My beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased" (2 Petet
1:17). Because of our faith in Jesus Christ, we
are "accepted in the beloved" (Eph. 1:6).
Our "love relationship" to Jesus Christ
ought to be motivation enough for us to live
godly lives in this godless world. "lf ye love
Me, keep My commandments" (John 14: 15).
There is something deeper than obedience be-
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