“The church is very precious in God’s sight. He values it, not for its external advantages, but for the sincere piety which distinguishes it from the world. He estimates it according to the growth of the members in the knowledge of Christ, according to their progress in spiritual experience. “Christ hungers to receive from His … Continue reading –>
The parallels with the Old Testament church didn’t end with just salvation and our being called out and chosen by God. The question is, Called out and chosen for what? Peter quickly gives the answer. Peter points out that this special relationship is for a purpose. Christians are to “proclaim the excellencies of him who … Continue reading –>
In the book of Exodus, chapter 19, the Lord said to Moses: “‘Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed … Continue reading –>
Peter is writing very much from an Old Testament perspective. And central to this perspective is the idea of covenant, a theme so central to Jewish and Christian theology. What is the covenant? “Covenant” (Hebrew, berit) is a word that describes a treaty or formal agreement between two parties. It could be made between two … Continue reading –>
Read 1 Peter 2:4-8 (see also Isa. 28:16; Ps. 118:22; Isa. 8:14-15). What crucial truth is Peter referring to here? What is he saying to us about how we should act in response to Jesus? After telling his readers to seek spiritual nourishment, Peter immediately directs their attention to Jesus Christ, the Living Stone, most … Continue reading –>
First Peter 2:1 begins with “therefore,” meaning that what follows results from what came before. First Peter Chapter 1, we saw, was a tour de force in regard to what Christ has done for us and how we should respond to what He has done for us. In the next chapter, Peter picks up this … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: 1 Pet. 2:1-3; Heb. 4:12; 1 Pet. 2:4-8; Isa. 28:16; Exod. 19:3-6; 1 Pet. 2:5,1 Peter 2:9-10. Memory Text: “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His … Continue reading –>
Read Ellen G. White, “Christ the Way of Life,” pp. 365-368, and “Perfect Obedience Through Christ,” pp. 373-376 in Selected Messages, book 1. It’s amazing how rich and deep this first chapter of Peter is and how much ground it covers. Peter begins his epistle with a meditation on the character of the Godhead, bringing … Continue reading –>
Peter next steers Christians to the ultimate expression of what living a holy and faithful life will be like. Read 1 Peter 1:22-25. What crucial point is he making here about what it means to be a Christian? Peter’s starting point is that Christians are already purified (“Seeing ye have purified . . .”), and … Continue reading –>
Read 1 Peter 1:13-21. According to this passage, what should motivate Christian behavior? The word therefore, which begins 1 Peter 1:13, NKJV, shows that what Peter will say next grows out of what he had just said. As we saw in yesterday’s study, Peter just had been talking about the grace of God and the … Continue reading –>
