SCRIPTURE | 1 Peter 2:4–8 “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 UPON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.” 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.” They stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this stumbling they were also appointed.”
OBSERVATION | Our first lesson is the duty of every true believer, to teach others the truths of the Word as the power of God. So many today have gotten so focused on our Christian story or testimony. Yet here, Peter who was appointed and inspired by God to write Holy Scripture as new revelation taught us the Holy Word which had previously been written. So, did all the other human authors of the New Testament.
In doing this they teach us how great the authority and value of God’s Word is. It teaches us not to turn to well-crafted tales and entertaining messages. As I write this, a recent “Renewing Your Mind” episode has RC Sproul warning about pragmatism. Pragmatism is the emphasis of what is practical and what “works” and is most often at the expense of what is true. The modern church is over due to repent of worshiping the god of pragmatism.
We don’t see pragmatism when Peter teaches from the written Word instead of using cleverly devised tales (2 Pt 1:16). Nor do we see “what works” when Jesus gets in people’s faces and offends them with insulting truths (Matt 23:23–33), or even puts passion behind a scourge of cords as He clears the temple (Jn 2:15-17). John MacArthur has said often, “The truth always offends error.” We might add that the error is both in what we believe and how we live. So then, when modern pragmatists remove the offence of the truth of the Word from Christianity, they in turn embrace and make comfortable the very things that are contrary to the Word of God. This distortion of the truth is the devastating result of pragmatism, stated simply, and it is a devastation that is plaguing the church today.
Our second lesson in these passages is that Jesus is “precious” to the believer (v.4, 6). His supreme “value” (v.7) is not lost on those who are His own. The worldlings are “offended” (v.8), “disobey the Word” (v.8), and thus “reject” the true Jesus as He is revealed in Holy Scripture.
We learn that they were appointed to this, which teaches the often-rejected election of the “doomed” (v.8 NASB). What is called single predestination theology teaches that God does not elect the damned, but only the saved. This is taught by looking narrowly at passages like Ephesian 1:4-5. Yet here we learn of both God’s “choice” of the saved (vs. 4) and his “appointing” of those who “disbelieve” and “reject” Jesus. Those who are “offended” by Him and are “disobedient to the word” (vs. 7-8) were appointed to this.
We see this elsewhere in scripture. God elects both “vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory” (Rom 9:23) and “vessels of wrath having been prepared for destruction” (Rom 9:22). Is man responsible for sin still then? Absolutely! Paul deals with this in Romans 9:18–21. Yet, like two sides of the same coin, God is still the completely Sovereign King over every soul’s destination, and every man is still responsible for either sin or the response of faith and repentance.
Our third lesson is how some “reject” Jesus “because they are disobedient to the Word” in contrast to true believers who does not (v.7, 8). Instead, the true believers are as “living stones” which become a spiritual house in their “holy” and “acceptable to God” sacrificial-living (v.5). Here is true worship (Jn 4:20-24; Rom 12:1-2). Seeing Jesus as “this precious value” (v.7) and giving all that we are to follow Him in ways that are acceptable to Him. A true believer lives for this purpose. To glorify God in all things, because He is so un-measurably worthy!
In these two contrasting destinations and ways of living are the complete union of justification and sanctification on the one side, contrasted with damnation and sinful living on the other.
APPLICATION | Do I teach the offensive truth of God’s Word faithfully to others? Do I value Jesus as precious or am I offended by His Lordship over my whole life? Do I live sacrificially for Him in holy obedience? If not, repent. Have your sins washed by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and be forgiven. Then begin to follow His offensive way of living in obedience to the Word. Walk the now ancient path of living in a way that is acceptable to Him alone.
PRAYER | Father, too often I live for myself and only turn to you to serve my plans and desires. Open my eyes to see how precious Your Son is. Grow my love for the Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Grow my hatred of my sins which He died for. That I would live in awe of Him and of His Word. That I would live a holy and acceptable life of sacrifice for You and Your glory alone. Amen.
