Senior Class Notes – April 14, 2024 – Toonigh Baptist Church

Spring 2024 Unit 2 Session 1 – Built on Christ; 1 Peter 2:1-12; PSG 84-93 CSB.

April 14, 2024 – Please read “Building Stones and Stone Buildings” by Paul E. Kullman page 94 – 97 CSB.

The Point Everything in the church centers on Jesus Christ.

Inspirational verse: “And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?” (Isaiah 10:3).

1 Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings.

Again, Peter introduces his thought with a subordinate clause and a participle of attendant circumstance, laying aside. This is an everyday word which means “to change clothes”; it is the word used by Paul in Ephesians 4:22 where he speaks of putting off the old man and putting on the new man like a suit of clothes.¹³ Like newborn babes, believers are to avoid acts of dissention – all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings.¹⁶ Peter says we must put aside our natural responses to the world around us. the sins listed here are the enemies of love.¹⁷ Peter describes a holy life with some illustrations. First is a matter of diet. We are to feed on the sincere milk of the word while avoiding three types of “junk food”:¹⁹

We eliminate all malice from our diets. This has the sense of evil actions in general – those motivated by greed, spite, jealousy, or other moral failings.¹⁹
The second grouping consists of guile and hypocrisies and envies. These are attitudes that project a phony veneer of holiness while at the same time living a life of ingratitude and discontent.¹⁹
Evil speakings describe actions that work behind the scenes to damage the reputation of those whom one dislikes.¹⁹

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Another vivid word picture is painted by Peter as he refers to Christians as needing milk to grow.¹³ Like newborn babes, believers are to feed on the sincere milk of the word, which refers to the divine sustenance drawn from the gospel.¹⁶ When we see what God has done for us, it should humble us and cause us to reach out to others with the same love. We should crave this new way of life.¹⁷ That ye may grow thereby. The purpose of studying God’s truth is not only to learn more, but to become mature in the faith.¹⁸

1 Peter 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

They had found God to be gracious. This realization begins at conversion.¹⁶ The idea of a tree, perhaps with fruit, may have suggested Peter’s next figure of “tasting” to see if the Lord is good, quoted from Psalm 34:8 “Taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him”.¹³

1 Peter 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious.

Jesus is called the living stone and a chief corner stone (v. 2:6), but also the disallowed stone and the stone of stumbling (v. 2:8).¹⁶ Living stone – This phrase anticipates the Old Testament quotations in verses 6-8. Jesus, as a living stone, is superior to the Old Testament temple.¹⁸

1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God, and precious.

Peter taught his readers that they are God’s valuable possession, but like Jesus, believers will be rejected by men. Believers are part of a living temple that is the corporate people of God, His unique possession.¹⁶ The next metaphor for holy lives is seen in becoming a temple and offering sacrifices to God. One stone does not make a building, no matter how immense it may be. God’s spiritual house requires other lively (living) stones. Holiness happens in community. Too often we view the church as a place where our needs are met. Peter gives us the picture of an organization devoted to service, self-denial, and commitment; we are an holy priesthood.¹⁹ Unlike the Old Testament priesthood, in which only those who were born into a certain tribe could be priests, all who are reborn into God’s family, that is, all believers, are priest who have the privilege and responsibility of offering spiritual sacrifices to God (Rom. 12:1-2; Heb.13:15-16).¹⁸ Are built up is the main verb in this section (2:4-8). The choice of the word shows that the building is not haphazard, but is according to an intelligent plan brought to reality by a Master Craftsman, which sets forth the fact of our integration into the body of Christ. The overall design is a spiritual house, which describes the nature of the body of Christ, that is, a house in which God dwells. The material used to build the house is figuratively presented as lively (living) stones.¹⁴ Christians are part of God’s great spiritual building project. Referenced here are stones that are shaped and ready for use in construction, as opposed to natural rock.¹⁸

1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scriptures, Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

The truth that Peter has just proclaimed about Christ is not new. Both Isaiah 28:16 “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste.” and Psalm 118:22 “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner”, teach that there will be those who reject this stone and those who accept this stone.¹⁷ Our temple is built on the chief corner stone, Jesus.¹⁹ Jesus is the foundation stone from which the placement of all other living stones in the spiritual house (v. 5) is determined (Isaiah 28:16). In ancient buildings, the cornerstone was first situated on the foundation and then all of the other stones were aligned to it. Thus as part of the house of God, we need to keep our focus on our cornerstone (Hebrewn12:2).¹⁸

1 Peter 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

Christ is also described as a living stone (lit., “a worked stone” or “a precious stone that is living”). Disallowed by Israel but acceptable (Greek eklekton entimon, to God (v. 5).¹⁴

1 Peter 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Rejection can lead to injury. To stumble means to get hurt.¹⁷ If we are not part of the building, we are stumbling over the truth. Note the parallels between rock of foundation and of offence (“stumblingblock”) here and in Jesus’ words to peter decades earlier (Matt. 16:18-23).¹⁹

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

A chosen generation (v. 9; cp. vv. 4, 6; Isa 42:20) seems to refer to the corporate unity of believers. In Christ, believers of all races are unified as one people. They are also a royal priesthood – a collective company of priests – who offer up spiritual sacrifices to God (v. 5).¹⁶ We have an identity, a mission, a useful purpose, and a new lifestyle because of Christ. We are “peculiar” people not in the sense of being odd, but as being special to God.¹⁷ The priesthood of the believer and his unique relationship to God are described by the terms a chosen generation . . . a royal priesthood . . . an holy nation. Every believer has the privilege and responsibility of direct access to God. With privilege comes a twofold responsibility – sacrifice and intercessory prayer. The sacrifices of the believer are:¹⁴

His body “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto god, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1-2).
His praise to God “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” (Hebrews 13:15).
His substance “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” (Romans 12:13).
His service “So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Hebrews 13:6).

1 Peter 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

We are to tell the world how God transitioned us from death to life and that this is a transition of love, mercy, kindness, and compassion.¹⁷ Thue, the New Testament church stands in a unique relationship to God as did Old Testament Israel.¹⁴

1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

Peter commanded his readers to live honorably as holy strangers or pilgrims so that even hostile Gentile residents of the earth might come to glorify God.¹⁶ Notice how Peter describes the believers: as strangers and pilgrims. The word stranger means a person who is not a part of the life of society in which he or she is presently living. In a spiritual sense, this is true of Christians. The term pilgrim carries the idea of temporarily dwelling in a land with no intention of putting down roots. Certainly, this is how Christians look at their sojourn on earth.¹⁷ Christians are citizens of God’s “holy nation” (v. 9), but live in earthly nations. Therefore, we are strangers and pilgrims, those living in a foreign land.¹⁹ With these words, Peter reminds believers that this earth is not our home. We are foreigners here, traveling to our eternal home, heaven.¹⁸

1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

But we do not give up the good customs of the homeland. Rather, our lifestyle (conversation) among the Gentiles should cause others to glorify God because they see the example we present.¹⁹ Day of visitation. This term probably refers to the final day of judgment when all people, believers and unbelievers alike, will fall on their knees and acknowledge who Jesus Christ is and what He has done through His people.¹⁸

References: Spring 2024, March 3, 2024 – May 19, 2024

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(CWB#2) – Commentary practical and explanatory on the Whole Bible by Rev. Robert Jamieson, Rev. A.R. Fausset, Rev. David Brown by Zondervan Publishing House – Grand Rapids, Michigan. 49506
(ESVSB) – The English Standard Version Study Bible, Personal size. Copyright © 2008 by Crossway. Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway.
(ETB) – Explore The Book by J Sidlow Baxter. Copyright © 1960 by J. Sidlow Baxter. Published 1960 by Zondervan Publishing House – Grand Rapids, Michigan.
(HISB) – The Holman Illustrated Study Bible – The Holman Illustrated Study Bible Copyright © 2006 by Holman Bible Publishers. The Holman Christian Standard Bible Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers.
(HRTB) He Reads Truth Bible Copyright © 2019 by Holman Bible Publishers Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Based on the Christian Standard Bible Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
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