1 Peter 2:1–10

Explore the Bible 
Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries, University of Mobile

LIVING IN A NEW HOUSEHOLD

1 Peter 2:1–10

Having a New Diet (1–3)
Our new diet includes some things to avoid and some things to feast upon often. Why did Peter begin with the call to put away evil attitudes and actions? Probably because such things destroy love and responsibility to love was the big idea in 1:22–25. 

Ill will between Christian brothers destroys the Christ-honoring fellowship of the saints. The five sins Peter listed tear the social fabric of the church. Maturing Christians should be striving for peace, not trying to stir up things. Christians must put away every evil work.

When newborn infants are hungry, they could not care less about the wallpaper in their room or where they sleep. The only thing in the world that will satisfy them is milk. Milk is the very substance of physical life. Milk is necessary if the child is to grow and develop properly.  

The person begotten by God should crave or long for the milk of God’s Word so that he may grow and develop properly in the faith. All Christians, no matter how long they have been saved, should long for God’s Word. The Word of God is the very substance of spiritual life.  

Spiritual growth is not primarily mystical. It is rational in the sense that it is informed and sustained by the Word. Do you hunger for God’s Word? Do you have a plan to study the Bible faithfully? You will never get the Word in you if you are not in the Word. In verse 2 Peter stated that the evidence a person has been begotten by Father God through the Word is that the believer continues to long for the Word and become increasingly mature in the Christian faith.  

Having a New House (4–8)
Peter described people who had trusted Jesus as living stones who were being built up as a spiritual house. Jesus is called the “living” stone because of His resurrection. The One rejected by men but chosen and precious in the sight of God is a pattern for all Christians, for they too are rejected by many men but are chosen and precious to God. 

Christians are “living stones” because of their faith in the resurrected Jesus. Jesus’ resurrection life becomes theirs, even while they live in the midst of a hostile world.  

Christians are being built up as a spiritual house in order to serve Jesus as a holy priesthood by offering spiritual sacrifices to God. Indwelt by the Holy Spirit, all Christians are priests to God. Christians now have direct access to the throne of God by virtue of Jesus’ death and resurrection. We are to offer sacrifices enabled by the Holy Spirit. These sacrifices include all that we as believers do empowered by the Holy Spirit for the glory of God.  

As God’s house, Christians dedicate themselves to serve Him. Those who receive Jesus Christ serve Him. They understand their being a part of the holy priesthood as a privilege and as a responsibility. Those who reject Jesus Christ stumble over Him. Are you obeying the Word? Are you faithfully living for the glory of God?

Having a New Family (9–10)
Our new family exists for a reason. God described those who believe in Jesus as a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a people for His own possession. Father God adopts people into His family, grants them access to Him and creates His holy character within them. God saved a people for His own possession to proclaim His excellencies to others in this world. We exist in order to spread a passion for the glory of God by making disciples of all nations. 

Christians accomplish this Great Commission mission by worshipping our awesome Triune God and by spreading God’s saving wonders to all peoples. Having received the mercy of God, you now have the responsibility to tell others of Jesus and His love.