First Epistle of Peter
CHRISTIANS AS LIVING STONES
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:5 (KJV)
In this verse, we first have the stones of the temple, then the temple itself and then the priests of the temple. Everyone of these terms apply to the people of God, not to any one class, but to all. The "ye also" applies to all those to whom he is writing. These are the scattered Christians of Asia minor; (1 Pet. 1:1), not any special class, but all.
"as living stones"
Christ is the "living stone" in verse 4. We all are the "living stones" of this verse 5. As we come to Him and trust Him, we become partakers of His life and nature. It is really astounding how the Word describes us with the same names as it ascribes to Him. He is the Son of God; we too are sons of God. He is the heir of God; we are joint heirs with Him. He is the great High Priest; we too are priests, as our verse and also verse 9 tells us. He is King of Kings; we too are kings (Rev. 1:6). He is the lamb of God; we are God's lambs and sheep. 1 John 3:2 is an astounding verse. "Beloved, now are we the sons (children) of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."
Hopefully, many who read this have heard His voice and received this life from Him. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live" (John 5:25). All by nature are "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1). But those that hear His voice and obey His will, live.
"are built up a spiritual house"
Or "are being built up." God's "spiritual house" or temple is going up. It is not a temple made of brick or stone, but one made up of human beings, "living stones." Every time a soul is saved another stone is placed into this building. It is rising fast. Some of these days, the last stone will be added, and then as the building is complete, Christ will come and take His people home to heaven. Today, we are obviously placing too much on physical buildings and material things in our worship of the Master.
No doubt, Peter is writing of exactly the same thing that Paul does in Ephesians 2:19 to 22. Verse 21 and 22 read, "In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."
A house or a temple is made to live in. This spiritual house is God's dwelling place. In the Old Testament tabernacle and temple, He made His habitation in the Holy of Holies. Now He dwells no longer in a temple made by hands. He dwells, by His Spirit, in the hearts of His people (1 Cor. 6:19). He also makes His abode in the midst of a group of Christians; for He says in Matthew 18:20, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." See also Revelations 1 to 3, where we see Him in the midst, in connection with the seven churches of Asia Minor. If each Christian would remember that he had a heavenly guest in his bosom at all times, what a salutary effect this would have on him. If each group of Christians that gathered in His name, would likewise remember His presence, how it would have a hallowing effect upon their coming together.
"an holy priesthood"
In verse 9 we read, "ye are...a royal priesthood." In Revelations 1:6 we have, "He hath made us kings and priests unto God." All Christians are holy priests. We have dealt with the subject of holiness at quite some length in connection with verses 15 and 16 of chapter one. In Christ Jesus we are all holy priests; priests set apart by God. I trust that any who might read this material is presently functioning as a priest, and that our lives are practically set apart for Him. It may sound strange to some to be told that every Christian is a priest, and yet, when we know the functions of a priest, it may not sound so strange.
But what now is the work of a priest, and are we functioning as such? One has put it this way. A prophet (likewise a New Testament preacher) brings God to the people; a priest brings the people to God. Every time we pray for others, the lost, or the sick physically or spiritually, or pray for any saint for any reason, we are acting as priests. We may not all be able to be preachers, but we surely can all be priests, from the youngest to the oldest, women as well as men. In Old Testament times, only the seed of Aaron could be priests, and it was a dangerous thing for any other to force himself into that place. This, King Uzziah found out to his sorrow (2 Chr. 26:19). But now, every child of God is a holy priest.
"to offer up spiritual sacrifices"
To offer up sacrifices was also the work of a priest. The Old Testament priests brought material sacrifices, such as lambs, goats, oxen, etc. The New Testament priest brings spiritual sacrifices. Below are a few of these spiritual sacrifices, as mentioned in other parts of the Word:
In Hebrews 13:15 we read, "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." Here is a sacrifice the Lord delights to have us offer, a "sacrifice of praise." Do we praise Him continually, thanking Him for His great salvation and mercy toward us? Do we thank Him every day for saving our souls? Do we praise, adore and worship Him? Above all else, the Lord is seeking worshippers. To the woman at Samaria's well the Lord Jesus says, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him" (John 4:23). Worship should come even before service. No doubt, the Lord delights in the worship gatherings of the body of Christ on earth. In them, they bring Christ to God in praise, thanksgiving, and worship.
Ten lepers came to the Lord Jesus one day. He sent them to the priest, and on the way they were all healed. One turned back and fell at His feet, and with a loud voice gave glory to God"And Jesus answering said, 'Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?'" Are we like this one that turned back to thank and to praise Him? Or when He says, "Where are the nine?" would He be referring to us? Most of us dislike ingratitude in one whom we might befriend. The Lord hates to see it in His children.
In Hebrews 13:16, we have another sacrifice with which the Lord is well pleased. "But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." There is a great deal of confusion among some Christians about doing good. Some think good works is one's salvation, or at least a part of it. The Scriptures plainly state that this is not so. Ephesians 2:8, 9 and 10 plainly state that it is of grace through obedient faith and not of any works we may perform,, but hasten on to say that good works should be the natural result of salvation. Every time a Christian does a good deed to another Christian, or to an unsaved person, it is a sacrifice with which God is well pleased. Because there is no salvation in good works, let us not therefore belittle them, but as we read in Titus 3:8, let us "be careful to maintain good works."
"To communicate" means "to share with others" (Heb. 13:16). This is also a sacrifice in which the Lord delights. The world, for the most part, is very selfish. They have very little for others. The Lord loves to see an unselfish attitude in His children. There is a great deal of suffering in the world. Perhaps a little sacrifice on our part will ease this to some degree.
In Philippians 4, we read of the material help that the saints of Philippi extended to the apostle Paul. In verse 18 he says that this remembrance of Him was "an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God." The Lord loves to see His holy priests ready to sacrifice some of their means that His work may be carried on. In this dispensation of the grace of God, the Lord does not require that His people tithe (give a tenth), yet surely, if their love is as it should be, they surely will not want to fall behind God's Old Testament people in this regard. If this was generally practiced or exceeded, there would be no shortage in carrying on the work of the Lord.
Some apply the 19th verse of Philippians 4 wrongly. "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Remember Paul is writing this to the Philippians who had just met his need. Can this verse rightly be applied to those who are not cheerful givers to the work of the Lord?
Just one more sacrifice that the Lord desires that His priests bring; "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Rom. 12:1). Here what the Lord asks for, i.e., "our bodies" or we might say "ourselves." He wants us to lay down our lives for Him. Surely, if we are ready to do this, all the other sacrifices will naturally follow. Since He died for us, we should live for Him. Remember what we read in 1 Corinthians 6:19 and 20; "Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price." The Lord Jesus bought us with His blood. We are His possession. We cannot do as we please; we must do His bidding. If we have not as yet done so, let us, right now, lay our bodies down on the altar as a sacrifice to Him. He is worthy.
"acceptable to God by Jesus Christ"
At the end of our verse, (1 Pet. 2:5), after extolling the saints of God, Peter returns to our Lord Jesus Christ, as the source of all our blessings. All the priests' sacrifices are acceptable only in Jesus Christ. Sometimes, unsaved people think that their goodness, or their giving, merit some consideration from God. Only as one is in Christ, can any sacrifice be acceptable to Him at all. There must be a reconciliation between the sinner and the Savior before there can be any pleasing God.
