One characteristic all children share is that they want to grow up - to be like big brother or sister or like their parents. When we are born again, we become spiritual newborn babies. If we are healthy, we will yearn to grow. How sad it is that some people never grow up. The need for milk is a natural instinct for a baby, and it signals the desire for nourishment that will lead to growth. Once we see our need for God's Word and begin to find nourishment in Christ, our spiritual appetite will increase, and we will start to mature. How strong is your desire for God's Word?

   In describing the church as God's spiritual house, Peter drew on several Old Testament texts familiar to his Jewish Christian readers: Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 8:14; 28:16. Peter's readers would have understood the living stones to be Israel; then Peter applied the image of "stone" to Christ. Once again Peter showed that the church does not cancel the Jewish heritage, but fulfills it.

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Cross-reference Psalm 118:22
    (22)The stone the builders rejected
             has become the capstone;

Cross-reference Isaiah 8:14
    (14)and he will be a sanctuary;
             but for both houses of Israel he will be
         a stone that causes men to stumble
             and a rock that makes them fall.
         And for the people of Jerusalem he will be
             a trap and a snare.

Cross-reference Isaiah 28:16
(16)So this is what the Sovereign LORD says:

         "See, I lay a stone in Zion,
             a tested stone,
         a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
             the one who trusts will never be dismayed.

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   Peter portrays the church as a living, spiritual house, with Christ as the foundation and cornerstone and each believer as a stone. Paul portrays the church as a body, with Christ as the head and each believer as a member.

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Cross-reference Ephesians 4:15, 16
(15)Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. (16)From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

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   Both pictures emphasize community. One stone is not a temple or even a wall; one body part is useless without the others. In our individualistic society, it is easy to forget our interdependence with other Christians. When God calls you to a task, remember that he is also calling others to work with you. Together your individual efforts will be multiplied. Look for those people and join with them to build a beautiful house for God.
   Christians will sometimes be put to shame or face disappointment in this life, but their trust in God is never misplaced. God will not let them down. We can safely put our confidence in him because the eternal life he promises is certain.
   No doubt Peter often thought of Jesus' words to him right after he confessed that Jesus was "the Christ, the Son of the living God": "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Matthew 16:16-18). What is the stone that really counts in the building of the church? Peter answers: Christ himself. What are the characteristics of Christ, the cornerstone? (1) He is completely trustworthy; (2) he is precious to believers; (3) and, though rejected by some, he is the most important part of the church.
   Jesus Christ is called "the stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." Some will stumble over Christ because they reject him or refuse to believe that he is who he says he is. But Psalm 118:22 says that "the stone the builders rejected has become the capstone," the most important part of God's building, the church. In the same way today, people who refuse to believe in Christ have made the greatest mistake of their lives. They have stumbled over the one person who could save them and give meaning to their lives, and they have fallen into God's hands for judgment.

   Christians sometimes speak of "the priesthood of all believers." In Old Testament times, people did not approach God directly. A priest acted as intermediary between God and sinful human beings. With Christ's victory on the cross, that pattern changed. Now we can come directly into God's presence without fear (Hebrews 4:16), and we are given the responsibility of bringing others to him also (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).

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Cross-reference Hebrews 4:16
(16)Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Cross-reference 2nd Corinthians 5:18-21
(18)All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: (19)that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. (20)We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. (21)God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

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   When we are united with Christ as members of his body, we join in his priestly work of reconciling God and man.
   People often base their self-concept on their accomplishments. But our relationship with Christ is far more important than our jobs, successes, wealth, or knowledge. We have been chosen by God as his very own, and we have been called to represent him to others. Remember that your value comes from being one of God's children, not from what you can achieve. You have worth because of what God does, not because of what you do.

   As believers, we are "aliens and strangers" in this world, because our real home is with God. Heaven is not the pink-cloud-and-harp existence popular in cartoons. Heaven is where God lives. Life in heaven operates according to God's principles and values, and it is eternal and unshakable. Heaven came to earth in the symbolism of the Jewish sanctuary (the tabernacle and temple) where God's presence dwelt. It came in a fuller way in the person of Jesus Christ, "God with us." It permeated the entire world as the Holy Spirit came to live in every believer.
   Someday, after God judges and destroys all sin, the kingdom of heaven will rule every corner of this earth. John saw this day in a vision, and he cried out, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God" (Revelation 21:3). Our true loyalty should be to our citizenship in heaven, not to our citizenship here, because the earth will be destroyed. Our loyalty should be to God's truth, his way of life, and his dedicated people. Because we are loyal to God, we often will feel like strangers in a world that would prefer to ignore God.
   Peter's advice sounds like Jesus' in Matthew 5:16: If your actions are above reproach, even hostile people will end up praising God. Peter's readers were scattered among unbelieving Gentiles who were inclined to believe and spread vicious lies about Christians. Attractive, gracious, and upright behavior on the part of Christians could show these rumors to be false and could even win some of the unsaved critics to the Lord's side. Don't write off people because they misunderstand Christianity; instead, show them Christ by your life. The day may come when those who criticize you will praise God with you.

   When Peter told his readers to submit to the civil authorities, he was speaking of the Roman empire under Nero, a notoriously cruel tyrant. Obviously he was not telling believers to compromise their consciences; as Peter had told the high priest years before, "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). But in most aspects of daily life, it was possible and desirable for Christians to live according to the law of their land. Today, some Christians live in freedom while others live under repressive governments. All are commanded to cooperate with the rulers as far as conscience will allow. We are to do this "for the Lord's sake" - so that his Good News and his people will be respected. If we are to be persecuted, it should be for obeying God, and not for breaking moral or civil laws. For more about the Christian's relationship to government, see the following below from note on Roman 13:1ff.

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   Christians understand Romans 13 in different ways. All Christians agree that we are to live at peace with the state as long as the state allows us to live by our religious convictions. For hundreds of years, however, there have been at least three interpretations of how we are to do this.
  (1) Some Christians believe that the state is so corrupt that Christians should have as little to do with it as possible. Although they should be good citizens as long as they can do so without compromising their beliefs, they should not work for the government, vote in elections, or serve in the military.
   (2) Others believe that God has given the state authority in certain areas and the church authority in others. Christians can be loyal to both and can work for either. They should not, however, confuse the two. In this view, church and state are concerned with two totally different spheres - the spiritual and the physical - and thus complement each other but do not work together.
   (3) Still others believe that Christians have a responsibility to make the state better. They can do this politically, by electing Christian or other high-principled leaders. They can also do this morally, by serving as an influence for good in society. In this view, church and state ideally work together for the good of all.
   None of these views advocate rebelling against or refusing to obey the government's law or regulations unless those laws clearly require you to violate the moral standards revealed by God. Wherever we find ourselves, we must be responsible citizens, as well as responsible Christians.

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   We are free from keeping the law as a way to earn salvation. However we are still to obey, out of gratitude for our free salvation, the teachings of the Ten Commandments, for they are an expression of God's will for us.

   Many Christians were household slaves. It would be easy for them to submit to masters who were gentle and kind. But Peter encouraged loyalty and perseverance even in the face of unjust treatment. In the same way, we should submit to our employers, whether they are considerate or harsh. By so doing, we may win them to Christ by our good example. Paul gave similar advice in his letters, as did Jesus.

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Cross-reference Ephesians 6:5-9
   (5)Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. (6)Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. (7)Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, (8)because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
   (9)And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

Cross-reference Colossians 3:22-25
(22)Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. (23)Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, (24)since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (25)Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

Cross-reference Matthew 5:46
(46)If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

Cross-reference Luke 6:32-36
(32)"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. (33)And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. (34)And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. (35)But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. (36)Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

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   We may suffer for many reasons. Some suffering is the direct result of our own sin; some happens because of our foolishness; and some is the result of living in a fallen world. Peter is writing about suffering that comes as a result of doing good. Christ never sinned, and yet he suffered so that we could be set free. When we follow Christ's example and live for others, we too may suffer. Our goal should be to face suffering as he did - with patience, calmness, and confidence that God is in control of the future.
   Peter had learned about suffering from Jesus. He knew that Jesus' suffering was part of God's plan and was intended to save us.

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Cross-reference Matthew 16:21-23
   (21)From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
   (22)Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"
(23)Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

Cross-reference Luke 24:25-27, 44-47
   (25)He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! (26)Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" (27)And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself....
   (44)He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
   (45)Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. (46)He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, (47)and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Cross-reference Matthew 20:28
..."(28)just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Cross-reference Matthew 26:28
(28)This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

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   He also knew that all who follow Jesus must be prepared to suffer.

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Cross-reference Mark 8:34, 35
(34)Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (35)For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

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   Peter learned these truths from Jesus and passed them on to us.
   Christ died for our sins, in our place, so we would not have to suffer the punishment we deserve. This is called substitutionary atonement.

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Answers to 1st Peter Two
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