1 Peter 2:1-12 (Mar.18)

1 Peter 2:1-12

A New Identity
(March 18, 2007)

Ref: 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

We have a new identity as Christians.

We are NOT our old selves (even if we try to be, we won't succeed).

How does Peter exhort his readers to understand and live this new life?

1. Nurture/Feed Your New Identity

2. Understand/Study Your New Identity

3. Demonstrate/Practice Your New Identity

1. Nurture/Feed Your New Identity-

Ref: 1 Peter 2:1-3 (NIV)
“Therefore, rid yourselves
of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,
so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

What are the earmarks of our “old identity”?

• Malice- kakia (kak-ee'-ah) translates as badness, depravity, malignity, trouble

• Deceit- dolos (dol'-os) translates as guile (KJV), to bait in order to defraud

• Hypocrisy- hupokrisis (hoop-ok'-ree-sis) translates as influence through flattery and deception, it undermines a community's trust

• Envy- phthonos (fthon'-os) translates as jealousy or ill will

• Slander- katalalia (kat-al-al-ee'-ah) translates as defamation, back-biting,
  evil speaking (KJV), gossip

What characteristics should we be nurturing to feed our new identity?

Ref: Philippians 4:8 (AMP)
“For the rest, brethren,
whatever is true,
whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly,
whatever is just,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely and lovable,
whatever is kind and winsome and gracious,
if there is any virtue and excellence,
if there is anything worthy of praise,
think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].”

We should crave these traits like a baby craves a mother's milk (purely and freely).

The word “milk” (gala=gal'-ah) is used differently here
than in 1 Corinthians 3:2 or Hebrews 5:12-14,
where the author(s) simply suggests a lack of maturity
on the part of the believers being addressed.
The usage here conveys the “goodness” of God that should be feasted upon
(in much the same way that “a land of milk and honey” was used to describe
the Promised Land in the Old Testament)

2. Understand/Study Your New Identity-

Ref: 1 Peter 2:4-10 (NASB)
“And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men,
but is choice and precious in the sight of God,
you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood,
to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
For this is contained in Scripture:
"BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,
"THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,"
and,
"A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE";
for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”

This passage lays out the sanctity (holiness, purity, separation)
of our being called out by God into salvation through Christ.

1. The continuous references to “stones” in these verses
   alludes to the building blocks of the temple.
   We are called to share in His sacrifice,
   which is “living” (not a dead stone) and becomes “acceptable to God” to cover our sins.
   This is a privilege that should not be taken lightly or skimmed over.

2. We must understand that rejection “comes with the territory”.
   The rejection is of Him and of His Word (logos=log'-os),
   and is, in the end, willful disobedience.

3. Although, we are free to reject His pursuit of us, we have not.
   Now that we have not, we are “chosen people”
   (called out by Him as “a priesthood”, His “possession”, the “people of God”)

4. All of this flows from His mercy

3. Demonstrate/Practice Your New Identity-

Ref: 1 Peter 2:11-12 (ESV)
“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 honorable,
so that when they speak against you as evildoers,
they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”

Have you ever been falsely accused of something (or mistreated)?

How did you handle the situation?

We are called here to demonstrate our new identity
(not reacting as if we were still clothed in our old identity).
This will open up doors of opportunity for those who wrong us
to join us as one more who might glorify God.

As in 1 Peter 1:1,17, we are referred to as “exiles” (not of this world).

“We are Pilgrims in a strange land, we are so far from our homeland
with each passing day it seems so clear this world will never want us here,
we're not welcome in this world of wrong, we are Foreigners who don't belong.

Chorus:
We are Strangers, we are Aliens, We are not of this world.

We are envoys who must tarry with this message we must carry,
there's so much to do before we leave with so many more who may believe
Our mission here can never fail & the gates of Hell will not prevail.

Jesus told us men would hate us ,but we must Be of good cheer,
He has overcome this world of darkness, soon we will depart from here.”

(Petra, Not of this World)