1 Peter 2: Repentant, Follow Christ, And Stop Sinning

In 1 Peter 2, we learn about repentance, and how we need to let everything go that hinders us from Jesus. True repentance is hard, it involves breaking habits, changing mindsets, and consciously choosing to do good.

The main theme behind 1 Peter 2, is that we must repent. True repentance is realizing our error, and turning from our wicked ways. There is a choice in it. Many people will ask for forgiveness, and continue in sin (speaking to me here). But when you repent, you turn from your wicked ways, acknowledging how much we need Christ.

When we lack repentance, we justify our behavior as ok or not that bad. We compare ourselves to our neighbors. Telling ourselves we can’t be as bad as them? But we have to remember that God is no respecter of persons, he doesn’t compare you to your neighbor, instead, he compares you to who he created you to be.

1 Peter 2: It’s Time You Start Letting Everything Go

2 So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. ² Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, ³ now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

1 Peter 2: 1-3

1 Peter 2 Repentance Isn’t A Joke:

Repentance is no joke. When you follow Jesus he expects you to give up your evil behavior. Everyone has their vices and you need to let these things go. The evil you commit prevents you from going deeper into the presence of God.

When following Christ, putting this kind of behavior away can be difficult. However, if you start your day by reading your Bible, praying every day, and attending a church that preaches the Bible. You can be filled with the spirit, when the Holy Spirit is inside you, it’ll get simple.

When we have more of God, His spirit will transform us. Change is inevitable when following Jesus, and the more of him in our lives the quicker the change.

God will show you what needs to go, and what can stay. He helps you do the house cleaning all you need to do is repent and walk away from your sin.

1 Peter 2: Living Stones for God’s House

⁴ You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.

⁵ And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. ⁶ As the Scriptures say,

“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,
    chosen for great honor,
and anyone who trusts in him
    will never be disgraced.”

⁷ Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him,

“The stone that the builders rejected
    has now become the cornerstone.

1 Peter 2: 4-7

1 Peter 2 Gods Cornerstone

One reason we need to question everything and see what God wants is this. I love going to church, but my relationship with God isn’t dependent on attending church. I hear God on Monday, Tuesday, and the rest of the week. I try and listen for his voice.

Because it’s a relationship. How many men would be happily married if they didn’t speak to their wives? but instead, went to a weekly meeting where a man told them what she said.

There’s a difference between knowing God and knowing about God. I spend my life focusing on him and trying to hear his voice. If I mess up he’s the first one I reach out to, and if something good happens he’s the first one I thank.

1 Peter 2 is about Living your life focusing on him and trying to live life with Jesus.

This will stop you from following the crowd and rejecting the cornerstone. The one rejected is the foundation for everything. Read your bible, and pray, but find people who chase Jesus. That’s the best way to grow and move forward.

Become a foundation stone.

1 Peter 2: The Stone That Makes People Stumble

⁸ And,

“He is the stone that makes people stumble,
    the rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.

⁹ But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

¹⁰ “Once you had no identity as a people;
    now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
    now you have received God’s mercy.”

¹¹ Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. ¹² Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

1 Peter 2: 8-12

1 Peter 2: Do You Know of God, Or Know God?

A man who knows of God and his plan but ignores it is a blind man. Eventually, he will stumble. Have you ever gone hiking and hit a rock wrong? It makes you stumble and sometimes you’ll fall flat on your face.

The same is true for people who do not obey God’s word. Remember this isn’t for people that have never read the bible. Instead, it says it’s for people who don’t obey God’s word, how can they if they haven’t heard?

Once again 1 Peter 2 reminds us that we are a chosen people, and adds that we’re a royal priesthood and a possession of God. Next time you’re down and feeling horrible about yourself remember that. Our job is to share the love of Christ with everyone.

Even if you don’t mention Jesus, be so full of the Spirit that people know, that’s what our Job is down here.

And finally, 1 Peter 2:11 gives us a sobering paradigm shift. We must remember that this isn’t our home, and we are temporary residents. For me, I live this life believing it to be a dress rehearsal for the life to come.

Our lives on earth are like smoke, and eternity is forever. We’ve given away our spiritual birthright for a physical one. The former is eternal while the latter will perish.

We need a paradigm shift.

1 Peter 2: Respecting People in Authority

¹³ For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, ¹⁴ or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.

¹⁵ It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. ¹⁶ For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. ¹⁷ Respect everyone and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.

1 Peter 2: 13-17

1 Peter 2: All Authority Comes From Heaven

In John 19 Jesus tells Pilate that his authority to Judge him came from heaven. Peter is stating something along the same lines here. However, we are given the right to disobey when the ruler is doing evil. Think about Nebacunazzer and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendago. They didn’t obey their leaders because he wanted them to worship something other than God.

The story of Daniel gives us a similar story.

Elijah the prophet taunted King Ahab and Jezebel

The moral of the story is this. Ask yourself what are they doing. And are they violating a command of God? Is it evil?

These are hard questions to ask, but Christians can’t blindly submit to authority either. This has been a major issue with the Church in America. We need to raise our voices and speak out against tyranny, abortion, and anything that contradicts the teachings of Jesus.

We’ve been silent too long, and it’s time to speak up.

1 Peter 2: Slaves & Slavery

¹⁸ You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. 19 For God is pleased when conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. ²⁰ Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.

²¹ For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

²² He never sinned,
    nor ever deceived anyone.
²³ He did not retaliate when he was insulted,
    nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God,
    who always judges fairly.
²⁴ He personally carried our sins
    in his body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
    and live for what is right.
By his wounds
    you are healed.
²⁵ Once you were like sheep
    who wandered away.
But now you have turned to your Shepherd,
    the Guardian of your souls.

1 Peter 2:18-25

Slavery Is A Hot Topic:

I want to be clear about 1 thing. The Bible doesn’t condone slavery. The Bible as a whole is about freedom for the masses. However, this freedom comes from surrendering to Jesus.

When the bible says to submit to your master it’s making a larger statement. That statement is that you are submitting to God’s authority, even while you’re imprisoned.

Don’t do evil, but by serving without guile you can shame a master and transform their life. I believe this is what Peter is getting at. It’s similar to what Gandhi did at the turn of the century. Men feel shame when they mistreat others, and it’s obvious to them even when they aren’t expressing that.

It’ll break someone’s thought process, and the Holy Spirit flowing from you will convict and draw them nearer to Jesus. remember even when they are your master, they’re also a brother/sister. This alone will cause them to be introspective and eventually change their ways.

How we are treated down here isn’t as important as who we can bring with us up there. Remember that.

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