1 Peter 2:13-25 - For the Lord’s Sake

It is an excellent question to ask.  That is, why not just live to do whatever makes us happy?  Why not live according to worldly wisdom.  Why not give up on even trying to do what is right and honorable?  Peter who knew the challenges of his own human nature very well gives us the answer: for the Lord’s sake.  That’s why.

Peter helps us get perspective on who Jesus is and who we are in Christ.  Is Jesus, the righteous descendent of David, not our King right now?  He is.  And Jesus is our only Shepherd (Ezekiel 37:24 and 2 Corinthians 6:16).  Jesus is the Temple - raised just as He said He would be raised (John 2:19; Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days.”).

        But what about us, how does this impact us today and the way we think and live.  Well, that’s the exciting part Peter is encouraging us with.  The Spirit of Christ lives in us now!  We have a special union with God.  As a believer in Jesus, you have the supernatural indwelling of God.  It has to mean something, and it does.  You see, the body of the Son of God was the once-for-all-time sacrifice that purified God’s people (Hebrews 10:12). There will never be another man-made temple on this earth.  Jesus is the final fulfillment of all prophesy regarding the Temple.

Are you a baptized believer in Jesus Christ?  Is Jesus your Lord and King?  If so then you have access directly to God.  It’s not something to be taken lightly.  We go into the Most Holy Place with reverent fear.  Always.  Yet we have that direct access.  We do not deserve such access, but God declared from the beginning that His people, the nation of Jesus Christ would be made clean through the blood of the Lamb of God (Revelation 21 and 1 Peter 2:9).

I don’t fully understand it, but I trust God’s word.  It says that our bodies are now the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).  Wow.  

We often pray to God, “Your will be done.”  Peter tells us that we are to live honorable lives as that is God’s will.  Our honorable behavior proves God is who He says He is, what God is doing, and what He will do (2:24).

God’s people are His spiritual temple - we are the temple God proclaimed in Ezekiel 37 - we are the body of Christ, living stones that God is building into His temple, one person at a time.  One body with many parts (1 Corinthians 12:13).  For the “person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him” (1 Corinthians 6:17).

We are in a spiritual war today.  It may be hard to imagine given the tranquility of God’s creation (I’m outside on the deck this morning listening to a chorus of bids, and enjoying coffee with cream - God’s creation is amazing and good.  As is His mercy!).  But it’s true.

God gives us, His royal priests and His holy nation, a command to live in honor of Jesus Christ.  We are to pay high respect to every person for the sake of our King (2:17).  And we are to deeply love our Christian brothers and sisters. Shame on us if we don’t see people the way God wants us to see them.

The devil has schemes and plans in place to accuse us and entrap us today.  Put on the full armor of God and let’s honor Jesus by speaking well today and by blessing everyone we encounter.  To God alone be the glory.  Amen.

One year ago we celebrated Ben's graduation from University.  This weekend we are celebrating Solomon's graduation.  So much to be thankful for.