“So,” in view of the foundational facts of salvation stated in chapter 1; the unlimited atonement of Jesus Christ, our saving faith in Him and our total dependence on His grace to preserve us until our ultimate sanctification; in view of His provision allowing us to “purify” our souls, thereby remaining in fellowship with God and each other, we have no excuse to harbor petty human attitudes and behaviors.
“malice” means unforgiving spirit. It leads to such pettiness as deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander. All these are sins that don’t need to be part of the lives of God’s people. These are sins that must be confessed and cleansed (“put away”) before we are fit to serve our Lord. Those who have been sidetracked by such sins have not grown beyond spiritual infancy. The sins have hindered their growth, like a crippling disease. By this self-regulating of our spiritual fellowship, we are renewed to a true longing for the Word of God (“spiritual milk”) which enables our continued growth “into salvation,” as a small child will “grow into” the human model specified by his dna. The salvation is ours. We live in our salvation. We must take spiritual nourishment, however, to grow up as productive Christians.
As we monitor our own attitudes and make the necessary adjustments to our Lord’s standards, we renew our appetite for the “sincere milk” of His Word, whereby we grow. And we will do that, if we have known, experienced, TASTED our Lord’s grace. A hungry baby desires milk. A hungry believer desires God’s Word. The more we learn and grow, the more we perceive of His standards.
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe,
but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”
but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. I Peter 2:4-8
Acts 4:11 (Peter speaking to the Jews)
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
“The stone” is Jesus Christ, and this is a reference to Psalm 118:22, where the builders are the rulers of Israel. Peter says “you builders”, placing the men of the Sanhedrin clearly in that role. Peter is saying, “By your rejection and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, you have fulfilled one of your own prophecies. And, just as surely as one prophecy has been fulfilled, so shall the other – the rejected stone will become the head of the corner.
1. Christ is the Rock of Salvation: Exo. 17:1-7
2. Christ is the Rock of Judgment: Isa. 8:14; 1 Pet. 2:8
3. Christ is the Rock of Provision: Isa. 26:3,4
4. Christ is the Foundation Rock: Isa. 28:16; Psalm 118:22
5. Christ is the Rock of the Church: Matt. 16:16; 1 Cor. 3:11; Eph. 2:20-22.
6. Christ is the Destroying Rock at the 2nd Advent: Dan. 2:35, He’s the Rock cut out without hands that crushes the image.
The Jews understood these references; and Peter is telling them that they have “set at nought” the Lord, having rejected Him and totally disregarded Him.–from Warren Doud’s Grace Notes
Christ “became” the “head of the corner,” referring to His joining the two spiritual kingdoms, the Church and born-again Israel. After the 2nd Advent, there will also be political unity, but of course made up only of believers in Christ.
In our epistle, Peter was addressing Gentile believers. The same stone, Jesus Christ, who had been rejected by the Jewish nation, is now the cornerstone which connects the believing Jews with the believing Gentiles, building up a spiritual house: The Church. Jesus Christ and Him crucified is THE ISSUE in Christianity.We who are Church are now a holy priesthood, drawn from all nations and all races. No longer Jews, no longer Gentiles, but CHURCH. New Species. Body of Christ.
He is the cornerstone to those who believe. But to those who reject, He is the stumbling stone. They are offended by His Person, they reject His Work, they despise His Name.
This is their destiny, because they reject the Only Savior. There is no more sacrifice for sin.
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