ByLast week, by the grace of God, I published the previous Study Scripture article on 1 Peter 2:1-3, where Apostle Peter emphasised prioritising spiritual growth while laying aside anything that impedes it. And this week, I’m glad to say that today’s article is a build-up of it. The theme of this article: “You are being built into a spiritual house,” is a result of what happens to you as a believer when you focus on growing in the Lord. The centrality of this theme is in 1 Peter 2:5. But let’s take on the verses one by one.
Verse 4
“As you come to him, the living Stone —rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him”
1 Peter 2:4 (NIV)
The beginning part of this verse, “as you come to him (Jesus Christ),” is a powerful statement from the Apostle Peter, which means that drawing near to God occurs intrinsically when you grow spiritually. And that is evident in several lives, including myself.
For any child of God that I’ve observed paying attention to growing spiritually, his love for God continually grows. And that can be your story too.
James 4:8 NKJV says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you …”. So from this, you’re required to step up in knowing God for yourself first before God will also reveal Himself in extraordinary ways unto you. And that comes with a price. Why? Because you must convert the time you’ll use to play and do nothing to studying the Word or praying or fellowshipping with the Lord. Not everyone will like you for taking steps to develop a deeper intimacy with the Lord. But pal, it is worth it.
For you as a believer, your salvation in Christ is fully secure. You’re in the body of Christ. But to know and enjoy what is in God’s gift of salvation is dependent on you placing emphasis on your inner man’s growth.
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Jesus was rejected by humans but chosen by God
The one to whom you’re coming near as you grow spiritually – the Lord Jesus Christ, was rejected by men but chosen by God. This truth is in the same 1 Peter 2:4 (NIV), which says, “… the living Stone —rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him.” But when was Jesus rejected?
John 1:10-11 (NKJV) says,
[10] “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. [11] He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.”
When Jesus came physically into the world, which was created by and for Him (see Colossians 1:16), the world didn’t know Him. So He went to His own – the Israelites, but they didn’t receive Him. See the controversies they had about His ministry – so pathetic. But despite all the challenges Jesus faced, He’s still the living Stone chosen by God and precious to Him.
Today, when you decide to draw near to Him and follow hard after that decision, don’t be surprised when people turn against you. They will, but it’ll not keep you from experiencing the depths of God’s love these haters ever wish to get. Press on.
Verse 5
“you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 2:5 (NIV)
With a background understanding of verse 4, verse 5 is a continuance of what the Apostle was saying.
As you come to Jesus, you also, as a living stone before the face of God, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood. But before I expound on the other parts of the scripture, what does it mean to be built into a spiritual house?
What it means to be built into a spiritual house
Making several Bible translation comparisons of 1 Peter 2:5, all of them centre around the saying that each child of God is being built into a spiritual house.
Take this scenario for an example. If you’ve finished building your house and are about to furnish it, does that mean that house is incomplete externally? No! But inwardly, yes. Why? Because it doesn’t have everything in it to be a house you can comfortably live in.
In the same way for you as a believer, your salvation in Christ is fully secure. You’re in the body of Christ. But to know and enjoy what is in God’s gift of salvation is dependent on you placing emphasis on your inner man’s growth.
How well do you feed your spirit with God’s Word? Do you do it casually or intentionally? If you don’t do it well, you’ll remain saved yet become an unfruitful child of God. Nevertheless, if you do it well, you’ll have the divine enablement to do what the rest of the scripture says, “…offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” What does that mean?
Offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ
In the Old Testament, there was something the priests frequently did for the Israelites. That is, to offer sacrifices unto God, although it was in various forms. And even though there were several ordinances around each one for it to be acceptable, it still impacted their lives. Today, through Jesus, every spiritual sacrifice you make as a priest in Christ is acceptable unto God.
As a believer growing in the Lord, you’re being built up in your inner man to understand and perform this spiritual duty – both for yourself and others (because in the Old Testament, no priest goes before God to do something for others excluding himself). This is why interceding for people will become a part of you as you mature spiritually.
Don’t let the devil deceive you that God doesn’t see your sacrifice. It’s a lie. There is no condemnation upon your life to be used as a basis for heaven to reject your spiritual sacrifice (see Romans 8:1). Keep praying for people and raising them in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
Verse 6
[6] Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
1 Peter 2:6 (NKJV)
“Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
Even though 1 Peter 2:6 is a quote from Isaiah 28:16, it gives us more evidence that Jesus is the chief cornerstone, elect and precious to God. Remember that because of this truth, your faith is built upon Christ. And when you believe in Him, He’ll not put you to shame.
Don’t cease loving Him.
