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BEREAN COMMUNITY CHURCH

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1 Peter 2:9-12

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Wednesday March 9, 2021

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1 Peter 2:4–12 (NASB95)

⁴And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 

⁵you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

⁶For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.” 

⁷This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very corner stone,” 

⁸and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. 

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⁹But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 

¹⁰for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 

¹¹Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 

¹²Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

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Group Discussions

1. Share the inductive questions you came up with in your prep of 1 Peter 2:9-12.

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• Share some of the observations you made in your study of 1 Peter 2:9-12.

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• Who are the people of God? What is their purpose?

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• What does it mean for a Christian to be living on earth as an alien and a stranger?

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Purpose: Praise & Glory

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The Septuagint (LXX)

• Latin for 70

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• The earliest Greek translations of the Old Testament from the original Hebrew

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• Audience: Jewish community living amongst the Egyptian Greeks.

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• New Testament authors would have quoted the Septuagint.

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Isaiah 28:16 (NASB95)

¹⁶Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.

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1 Peter 2:6 (NASB95)

⁶For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

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Who are the people of God?

In the Old Testament (Old Covenant)

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• The nation of Israel, beloved and chosen of God. (Exodus 6:7; Deut. 7:6-9)
• “Judeans” to “Jews” (2 Kings 16:6; Esther) – post-exile

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In the New Testament (New Covenant)

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• All who put their faith and trust solely on the work of Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 4:9; Revelation 21:3)
• The Household of God; The Church of the Living God (1 Timothy 3:6)
• Those who receive the Spirit, the Blessing of Abraham (Galatians 3:7-8; 14)

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Who are the people of God?

In the Old Testament (Old Covenant)

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• The nation of Israel, beloved and chosen of God. (Exodus 6:7; Deut. 7:6-9)
• “Judeans” to “Jews” (2 Kings 16:6; Esther) – post-exile

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In the New Testament (New Covenant)

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• All who put their faith and trust solely on the work of Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 4:9; Revelation 21:3)
• The Household of God; The Church of the Living God (1 Timothy 3:6)
• Those who receive the Spirit, the Blessing of Abraham (Galatians 3:7-8; 14)

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THEN… Has the Church Replaced the Nation of Israel as the People of God?

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[Romans 9:22-26; 11:1, 11,25-36]

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No.

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Exegesis vs. Eisegesis

Exegesis: the process of drawing out the meaning from Scripture in accordance with the context and discoverable meaning of its author.

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Eisegesis: the process by which the reader imposes or injects his/her interpretation into the text.

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Who are the ‘Gentiles’ (2:12)?

Ethnos – “nations” / unsaved world [Luke 2:32; Romans 2:14; 15:9-12; 1 Corinthians 15:1]

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• All who are not Christians (both literal Jews and literal Gentiles)

1 Peter 4:3 (NASB95)

³For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.

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Will the Gentiles Give Glory to God?

Glorify – doxazo

• Used 61 times in the NT
• Never used of unbelievers admitting God or His people have been in the right.

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Revelation 16:8–9 (NASB95)

⁸The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire. 

⁹Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.

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For Next Bible Study (Wednesday 3/16)

1. Carefully read 1 Peter 2:13-20.

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• Ask inductive questions of these verses and come up with observations.

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• How do these verses fit into the context of the rest of the section, chapter, and letter?

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• What are some practical and measurable applications you can draw from these verses?�
• What does it mean to “be subject” in regard to the authorities in our lives?

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Group Discussions

1. What three words would the “gentiles” - nearest and dearest to you - use in describing your life? Would you say that these words are accurate or slanderous?

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• How can your small group members pray for you as you fight to abstain from fleshly lusts?

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• How can your small group members pray for you as you witness and minister to specific “gentiles” around you?

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