_PETER AND THE CHURCH_ ‘To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.’ 1 Peter 2:4 Christ is eve... [ Continue Reading ]
_LIVING STONES_ ‘Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.’ 1 Peter 2:5 (R.V.) That ‘spiritual house’ of which these Jewish Christians were to form a part is to-day, after the lapse... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE PRECIOUSNESS OF CHRIST_ ‘Unto you therefore which believe He is precious.’ 1 Peter 2:7 How unspeakably precious is Christ ‘set forth as a propitiation for sin’—‘Who Himself bare our sins in His own body on the tree!’ I. IT IS THEREFORE FOR EVERY ONE OF US A PRACTICAL QUESTION, Have we recei... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE HIGHEST OF ALL VOCATIONS_ ‘Ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.’ 1 Peter 2:9 (R.V.) In the eyes of the early Church it was so splendid and sacred a distinction to be within the people of God that no distinctions within the body were anything like as important. To be a lay... [ Continue Reading ]
_FLESHLY LUSTS_ ‘Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.’ 1 Peter 2:11 A fleshly lust is either the desire for anything inherently sinful, or the inordinate and excessive appetite for anything inherently harmless or indifferent. The attribute ‘fleshly’ points to the origin and sph... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOOLISH MEN SILENCED_ ‘For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.’ 1 Peter 2:15 Christ’s disciples need not expect to fare better than their Master. Men will say all manner of evil against them falsely for His sake, misunderstand their pri... [ Continue Reading ]
_CHRIST’S FREE-MEN_ ‘As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.’ 1 Peter 2:16 After affectionately enjoining upon his ‘dearly beloved’ the paramount duty of individual charity, the Apostle lays before them the importance of seeking to establish a... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE AMBITION OF LIFE_ ‘Servants of God.’ 1 Peter 2:16 I wish to set before you service as the great object and ambition of life. There can be no more princely motto than this ‘I serve.’ I. SERVICE IS THE ONLY TRUE MEASURE OF GREATNESS.—Run your minds over the good men of the world, and ask why... [ Continue Reading ]
_A RULE OF LIFE_ ‘Honour all men.’ 1 Peter 2:17 What is the true motive for the honour claimed from us for all men? I. IT IS THE REVELATION THAT MAN IS MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.—By his double endowment of intelligence and freedom, man is clearly differentiated from the beasts that perish. He is... [ Continue Reading ]
_BROTHERHOOD_ ‘Love the brotherhood’ 1 Peter 2:17 This is an instruction which commends itself to our conscience, but which we find difficult to obey. The love of brethren seems, in itself, a reasonable requirement; and it is so decisively demanded by our Lord Himself (see John 13:14; John 13:34;... [ Continue Reading ]
_NATURAL FAILINGS AND SPECIAL GRACES_ ‘For even hereunto were ye called’ 1 Peter 2:21 There is always something very interesting in seeing what kind of men God chooses to send His messages to us by. God has many different messages to us, and God sends His messages to us by different messengers. T... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE PURPOSE OF THE INCARNATION_ ‘For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; bu... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE EXALTED CHRIST_ ‘Christ also suffered for us … the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.’ 1 Peter 2:21 The Head of the Church is exalted to heaven, and we His members are called upon to look up to our glorious Head. I. THE EXALTED CHRIST IS THE PERFECT PATTERN TO HIS CHURCH.— (_a_) _ He suff... [ Continue Reading ]
_SHEPHERD AND SHEEP_ ‘Ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.’ 1 Peter 2:25 Who would expect such allusions in an address to servants, urging them to propriety of conduct? Evidently, from the beginning, religion was mixed up with practical l... [ Continue Reading ]