Explore the Bible By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
BUILDING OUR FAITH
1 Peter 2:1–10
Spiritual Milk (1–3)
Because they have been begotten by God by means of His Word, they are exhorted to lay aside all in their lives that quenches love for one another. Jesus followers need to put away every evil work. These sins tear the social fabric of the Church. Ill will toward one another destroys the Christ-honoring fellowship of the saints. For there to be sweet fellowship believers must put away their sins daily.
Not only must Jesus followers put away every evil work, they also must pursue the life-transforming Word. In comparing believers to newborn infants, Peter is not saying that they are immature in their faith but that all Christians are to be like infants who long for the pure spiritual milk, a reference to Scripture. Just as milk is the very substance of physical life, 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. The evidence that a person has been born again by the Father through the Word is that the believer continues to long for the Word and desires to grow and mature spiritually.
Spiritual House (4–8)
“As you come to Him” indicates a personal relationship with Christ that began at conversion but continues presently. Salvation commences at conversion but deepens with discipleship. There is a core reality that will transform how you understand the Christian life. This reality is crucial. Everything that I am by position in Christ, God is working out in my life practically. As believers continue to fellowship daily with Christ they “are being built up as a spiritual house.”
Believers are “living stones” in God’s new temple, the spiritual house. As Jesus saves a person, another stone is quarried out of the pit of sin and cemented by grace into the spiritual house. Peter understands that the Old Testament temple anticipated the new temple where God dwells (in His people). Not only are believers God’s temple, they also are a “holy priesthood,” which offers “holy sacrifices” by the power of the Holy Spirit. As a part of the “holy priesthood” we get to offer spiritual sacrifices. These sacrifices include our bodies (Rom. 12:1), generous sacrificial offerings (Phil. 4:18), compassion for the ignorant and the lost (Heb. 5:1–2), praise to God (Heb. 13:15) and prayer (Rev. 8:3).
To support the idea that Jesus is the Cornerstone of God’s temple, Peter cites Isaiah 28:16. Jesus is the elect Messiah whom God has honored by raising Him from the dead. Whoever trusts in Jesus will not be put to shame on the last day at the judgment. But unbelievers will fulfill the prophecies from Psalm 118:22 and Isaiah 8:14. Their stumbling is their own fault because they are tripped up due to their refusal to obey the “word” of the gospel.
Spiritual People (9–10)
Peter writes to encourage the suffering believers. He begins by declaring that while the world may be against them, God has chosen them and made them to be a member of His family. Peter views the Church as the new Israel, for he picks up what is said of Israel in Exodus 19:5–6 and applies it to the Church. The Church is “a royal priesthood” and “a holy nation.”
As God’s chosen ones, Christians are to “proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” God has called us out of the world to call us into His family. God has called us out of the spiritual darkness so that we might declare the gracious gospel of Jesus Christ.
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