Sunday School 10:00 a.m.
As you enter the education building on the Heyward Street side
church. Members and pastor will be in the foyer to assist you in getting
to the classroom you maybe looking for or tell us a bit about yourself
and we will walk you to an appropriate class.
Young Adult Class - First floor of education building, held in church
parlor.
Bible Moths Adult Class - Moths devour things! Our goal is to
devour scripture. You will feel comfortable in this class! This is not a
lecture class. We discuss the scriptures and how we can apply it to our
daily lives.
Lindsay Poteat's International Sunday School Lesson for November 8, 2009
Sunday School Lesson ©
2009RightlyDivided.net All Rights Reserved Study notes for November
8, 2009.This lesson is an outreach ministry of Poplar Springs
Baptist Church, Taylorsville, North Carolina.
You are welcomed to provide your
thoughts on the lesson.
Thanks
International Sunday School
Lesson November 8, 2009
PDF
Lesson Text: 1 Peter 2:1-10
Lesson Title: A Chosen People
Introduction
Part of Peter’s purpose in writing to the scattered believers was to
encourage them to live for Christ in the midst of persecution. In our
lesson text today, Peter draws from his Old Testament knowledge of the
building of the Temple and how God chose Israel to be His chosen people
(Deuteronomy 10:10-15). Building a structure like the Temple was no
small task in biblical times. It took much planning, preparation and
hard work. Materials had to be carefully selected and placed at the
proper locations in the structure to assure beauty, strength, and
durability. Building a spiritual house requires spiritual resources that
can only be found in Jesus Christ.
Have you ever considered yourself a spiritual temple? The New Testament
sometimes pictures the church as a “spiritual house,” a building put
together for God’s glory (Ephesians 2:21-22). With that thought in mind,
we should remember that Peter’s letter began by identifying his
recipients as “strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia,
Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” (1 Peter 1:1). Scattered believers seem
like poor materials with which to start building a house. And according
to verse 1 of our lesson text, the spiritual material was “scattered.”
Nevertheless, those saved by grace are God’s “elect.” That would
encourage Peter’s readers to focus on their relationship to heaven and
not what was happening on earth. God has chosen people out of all the
world to belong to Him, and the church is that people (John 15:16).
Being a chosen people means just that, “chosen.”
Verse 1
“Wherefore” (1 Peter 2:1) refers back to Peter’s comments on the “word
of the Lord” (1 Peter 1:24-25). God’s word is life and therefore it
continually works in the heart of the believer to produce spiritual
growth. Part of growing spiritually and being a chosen people is
eliminating or “laying aside” attitudes and actions inconsistent with
being a child of God. “Laying aside” meant “to strip away soiled
garments” (Colossians 3:8-9; James 1:21). The word “all” precedes each
of the five sins Peter lists that should be put away. First, Peter
exhorts the believers to lay aside “malice.” “Malice” refers to general
wickedness within or the desire to harm someone. Believers should never
harbor ill-will against their brothers and sisters in Christ. Second,
“guile” refers to dishonesty and deceit. Peter may have been thinking
about Ananais and Sapphira when he listed this sin (Acts 5:4-5). Third,
“hypocrisies” refers to those who play a part, people who aren’t real or
genuine. God’s chosen people should not be role playing or play acting.
Fourth, “envies” describe those who constantly look at the success of
others and desire to have what others possess. Fifth, “evil speakings”
comes from the Greek word which means “to run down another person” and
refers to destructive criticism. This sin can be committed against
individuals, families, groups or churches.
Verse 2-3
Part of growing spiritually and being a chosen people involves desiring
(1 Peter 2:2). God gives those who are truly saved a desire for the word
of God. Anyone who claims New Testament Christianity and does not desire
the word of God is a biblical contradiction. The life of “newborn babes”
depends upon nourishment from the mother’s “milk.” “Milk” is
pre-digested food. Peter says believers are dependent upon the “sincere”
or “unadulterated, pure, unmixed” word of God (Psalm 119:97, 103, 159,
167). The results of biblical hunger is spiritual growth. “That ye may
grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2) literally means the word of God will grow
you!
Then Peter adds, “If so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1
Peter 2:3). If you have discovered that the Lord Jesus is the only One
who can satisfy His children spiritually, intellectually, emotionally,
physically, and vocationally, then you are going to stay in His Word.
The Psalmist said, “O taste and see that the LORD is good…” (Psalm
34:38). What a difference it would make if every congregation came
together in unity with a God-given desire to be filled with spiritual
milk!
Verse 4-5
Peter is writing to believing Jews who were scattered abroad because of
persecution, and he reminds them that they were just as chosen and just
as much a spiritual building as they were when they were literally
together in a building of worship. “To whom coming…” (1 Peter 2:4)
stresses the significance of God’s chosen people coming to Christ.
“Whom” refers to Christ. To speak of salvation as “coming” to Christ is
an accurate statement (Matthew 11:28). Coming to Christ conveys more
than your initial coming. It also indicates a continual coming. In the
Old Testament this word was used of those who drew near to God for
ongoing worship. Peter uses “coming” to stress the idea of a focal
point. The focal point of God’s chosen people is Jesus Christ!
Jesus Christ is the focal point because He is “a living stone” (1 Peter
2:4). He is the One from whom we derive our life. Peter probably had the
Jewish leaders and most Jewish people in mind when he referred to Jesus
as “disallowed indeed of men” (1 Peter 2:4). Most Jewish people,
especially their religious leaders, rejected the Son of God because of
their spiritual blindness. Although they rejected Christ, He was “chosen
of God, and precious” (1 Peter 2:4). They threw away the first “living
stone” but God set Him as the cornerstone of the church (Ephesians
2:20).
“Ye also as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house…” (1 Peter
2:5), says exactly what Peter intended. “Ye also” means that Christians
are so closely identified and united with Christ that the very life that
exists in Christ exists in them also (Galatians 2:20). Christ is
the chief Cornerstone, and in Him we all fit and come together. Here
there are no race or class distinctions: we are all leveled to the same
position of worship. “If the metaphor of a house of living stones seems
‘violent’ (Vincent), it should be remembered that Jesus employed the
figure of a house of believers (Matthew 16:18)” (A. T. Robertson).
Peter’s reference to believers becoming “an holy priesthood, to offer up
spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5)
is highly significant. One of the greatest privileges as a child of God
is having access to God through Jesus Christ. Think of how many lost
people in the world have no access to God. Peter is saying that
believers are to come together as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood,
to offer up “spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus
Christ.” In the Old Testament, God’s temple represented His presence.
Today, believers are the “church of the living God” (1 Timothy 3:15).
Believers also function as “priests” in the sense that every believer
can minister to other believers in the family of God. Praying and
interceding was one of the most important duties of a priest and every
believer can now intercede for others. The priesthood is no longer
confined to one tribe or one family. All in the family of God make up
the “holy priesthood.”
In his commentary on First Peter 2, Dr. John MacArthur lists six
characteristics of the Old Testament priest that relates to believers
today being a holy priesthood. First, Old Testament priest were chosen
by God (Exodus 28). God chose Aaron and his sons for the Old Testament
priesthood even though they were sinners and imperfect. Likewise, Christ
chooses and saves sinners today who are imperfect (1 Corinthians
1:26-29). Second, the Old Testament priests had to be cleansed
(Leviticus 8:6-36). Not one man from the tribe of Levi or Aaron’s family
could enter the priesthood unless God washed them clean. In the same
manner, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according
to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing
of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ
our Saviour…” (Titus 3:5-6). Believers must be clean to function as “an
holy priesthood.” Third, God clothed the Old Testament priests in
special garments for ministry (Exodus 28). The linen breeches and other
garments symbolized purity and righteousness. Today, believers are
“clothed in righteousness” (Romans 4:5, 11, 22). Fourth, Old Testament
priests were anointed (Leviticus 8:30). This was symbolic of God’s power
for service. The apostle John told his readers “But ye have an unction
from the Holy One” (1 John 2:20). Fifth, Old Testament priests were
spiritually prepared by spending time with God. Leviticus 8:33 says,
“And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an
end: for seven days shall he consecrate you.” The Apostle Paul says that
he himself was spiritually prepared in Galatians 1:15-17 when he said,
“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and
called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him
among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood…”
Sixth, obedience was a characteristic of the Old Testament priest.
Leviticus 10:1-3 is a sad illustration of what happens when priests
disobeyed in the Old Testament. Peter admonished his readers of the
importance of obedience in 1 Peter 1:14.
Verse 6-8
Quoting from Isaiah 28:16, Peter emphasizes that Jesus Christ was
foreordained by God to be the “chief corner stone” (1 Peter 2:6). The
“chief corner stone” refers to the stone that determined all the angles
and placements for the rest of the stones laid to build the temple.
Peter’s readers knew the “corner stone” was the most important stone in
any building. Christ the “chief corner stone” was “elect” which meant He
was divinely chosen by God. He was also “precious” which means He was
“irreplaceable.” And for everyone who “believeth on him,” he “shall not
be confounded” (1 Peter 2:6) or “disappointed.” Those who trust Christ
as Savior and believe in Him will never be without hope and will never
be let down.
Christ is not “precious” to everyone but He is to those “which believe”
(1 Peter 2:7). “But unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the
builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner” (1 Peter
2:7). Peter said that the Jews were the “builders” who “disallowed” or
rejected Christ. He did not fit into their plan or preconceived idea of
what the Messiah should be. Instead of being their Savior, Christ became
“a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense…” (1 Peter 2:8). He was
something they tripped over that ultimately destroyed them. The Savior
they rejected ultimately brought judgment upon them (Luke 20:17-18).
Note: How do people stumble over Christ? People stumble over Christ
because they willfully and deliberately refuse to obey the truth about
Him. This means more than passive disbelief. The text suggests those who
examine Him and then reject Him. God has sovereignly ordained that those
who disbelieve Christ will “stumble.” It is no accident that lives are
broken apart when Christ is rejected. God rejects those who refuse to
believe in His Son.
Verse 9-10
Peter begins to describe believers as a chosen people by using a strong
contrasting word, “but” (1 Peter 2:9). Believers are the exact opposite
of those who reject Christ. First, believers are “a chosen generation.”
Just as God had chosen Israel for a special purpose, He has also chosen
those who are saved today for a special purpose (Ephesians 1:3-5).
Second, believers are “a royal priesthood.” The “spiritual house” Peter
mentioned in verse 5 has now became a “royal house.” It carries the idea
of uniqueness and specialty. Believers today walk with the Lord and
serve the Lord. But one day soon we will reign with Him. Both now and in
the future our relationship with Christ is both kingly and priestly.
Third, “an holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9) means believers are a “separate
people.” Israel forfeited their uniqueness as a holy people when they
sinned and became like all other nations (Deuteronomy 4:27; 28:64). By
our standing in Christ, believers are sanctified because of Christ’s
imputed righteousness. Practically, we must progress each day in living
holy and separated lives. Fourth, believers are a “peculiar people” (1
Peter 2:9). Literally, we are a people for God’s own possession. Christ
will not share His church with any other!
Why were we chosen by God? For what purpose did Christ save us and make
us different? The answer is “that ye should shew forth the praises of
him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light…” (1
Peter 2:9). The “darkness” from which we have been “called out of” was
the spiritual darkness of sin. Believers now live in “his marvelous
light” (1 Peter 2:9). We were “in time past not a people, but are now
the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but how have obtained
mercy” (1 Peter 2:10). Those who are now saved were at one time not a
people. We had no identity or purpose. Things are different now because
of “mercy.” “Mercy” is synonymous with God’s love and compassion. It
speaks of God’s sympathy with the misery of a sinner. “Were not” and
“had not” are set in contrast to “but are now” and “but now.” That’s
what it means to be a chosen people!
Conclusion
Believers trust and worship Christ as the “Cornerstone” or essential
being of our lives. He is the Solid Rock on which we build our lives. We
have been graciously chosen to be a part of His spiritual house.
Unbelievers see Christ as someone who may help them achieve their goals
or stabilize them in difficult times. He is just one “stone” in the
building. They fail to understand His worth or hear His word. They
willfully reject Him.
Do we live like we are chosen? Do we treat our fellow believers as kings
and priests? Are we Christ’s obedient servants? “Unto you therefore
which believe he is precious…” (1 Peter 2:7). Is He precious to you?
Amen.
