“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.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
“Christ hungers to receive from His vineyard the fruit of holiness and unselfishness. He looks for the principles of love and goodness. Not all the beauty of art can bear comparison with the beauty of temper and character to be revealed in those who are Christ’s representatives. It is the atmosphere of grace which surrounds the soul of the believer, the Holy Spirit working upon mind and heart, that makes him a savor of life unto life, and enables God to bless his work.” – Ellen, G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 298.
Discussion Questions:
- What is it like to be called out of darkness into “His marvelous light?” (NKJV). What does that mean? If you were to explain this idea to someone who didn’t believe in Jesus, what would you say? What is the darkness? What is the light? And what is the difference between the two in the context of what Peter is talking about?
- “‘Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess. Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the LORD our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?’” (Deut. 4:5-8, NKJV). In what ways do these words apply to us as Seventh-day Adventists and what we have been called by God to do because of all that we have been given?
- Read 1 Peter 2:3. What does Peter mean when he says, “If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (NKJV)? How have you “tasted” of His grace?
- Look around at your local church. What is it about your church, if anything, that makes it and you who are members of it appealing to those who know nothing about Seventh-day Adventists or about what we believe?
|
(15)
#1 question is the reason we were chosen. We were chosen because God made the determining choice to bring us out of darkness, sin.
#2 Gods church is composed of many Christian believers currently in different churches.
#3 Our Salvation is dependent on Gods Grace, Ephesians 2:8.
# 4 There are exceptions at times.
The people who know nothing about us are none the less sensing the contentment, assurance and peace we have. They do not know how to relate to it. But deep in side they yearn to have it also. Thought they protect themselves from it, not knowing how to relate to it, like the demoniacs, they wish they had it also. All they miss is the invitation. Oh! To see the importance of our responsibility.
Called into the royal priesthood through grace by our Royal Father Himself and the High Priest. It is therefore no longer about me/us but about God who has called us. It is not my/our owner but God\'s owner at stake . That is the more reasons, divine instructions should guide me/us in the priesthood. It is no longer I/us but Christ to be known, be seen and be heard in/from me/us. The hymn \"NOT I BUT CHRIST\" gives me a good summary.
The Lord is the light , there is no darkness in Him. Devil is a deceiver, destructor with sorrow and pains.
I will tell someone there is a savior name Jesus Christ who loves him/her above all things from the world. .this Savior will transform their lives in a
instant if you pouring your heart sincerely to him. You will be astonish how your life would change.
Peter is encouraging us to make sure we are observing God's command diligently with wisdom and love. We are God's agent, we are representing Gods characters on earth. The Devil is extremely furious of this set up plan of God, we, as His children we are his agent in this planet.
"Peter" we are indeed taste the grace of God,
because we ride of malice, evil behavior, hypocrisy eny, and jealousies and so forth. The word of God nourishes us like a baby milk from the mother. also how to develop a strong Spiritual relationship with our saviour Jesus Christ.
To those who know nothing about seven day adventist, I dialogue with them gradually with evidence about my saviour Jesus Christ. Specially I let them know how amazingly God is so good to me.
Happy Sabbath everyone.
God bless.
To be a royal priesthood is more than being christians only. We need to believe wholly in christ by following in His footsteps.
Is the royal priesthood, chosen generation, devout Christian..any better than the atheist, follower of any other religion, or world loving secular person or even criminals in jail/prison?
Could they be called such by the Spirit-filled apostle if they weren't? If not sanctified by the word of truth by the indwelling Spirit, they would be called something else.
That is a challenging question Jim and I am sure that many of us would in our own egocentric way answer yes. However if we stop to think about it, then maybe we need to expand our answer carefully.
If we read the idea of a royal priesthood etc as "privileged" then I think we have misinterpreted it. Perhaps it is better to read it as "given responsibility". When we read the rest of 1 Peter 2 we find admonition on how best to serve, seeing we have been given that responsibility.
The expression "any better than" could mean a number of things. I hesitate to say that we Christians are better than anyone else simply because it sounds pompous and arrogant. As someone once said, "The view from the high moral ground might be good, but it is an awfully slippery place to stand!" If we have better knowledge than anyone else then that knowledge also comes with responsibility.