1Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

MEMORY VERSE: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. —1 Peter 2:9

CENTRAL THOUGHT: We, as the people of God, holy, chosen, and separate from this evil world, must be diligent and faithful to glorify Him before all humanity around us.

WORD DEFINITIONS

1 Peter 2:6, “elect”: Counted and selected as the best. “confounded”: Cast down or put to shame.

Ver. 7, “disallowed”: Rejected, refused to be accepted or honored.

Ver. 8, “stumble”: Strike away or turn against. “were appointed”: Made their choice.

Ver. 9, “peculiar”: Special for and worthy of honor and preservation.

Ver. 11, “strangers and pilgrims”: People who are foreigners and contrary to this wicked world.

Ver. 12, “day of visitation”: The final day of judgment.

Ver. 13, “ordinance of man”: Law or established rule.

Ver. 16, “cloke of maliciousness”: Covering or excuse for wrong.

Ver. 18, “froward”: Perverse and crooked.

Ver. 20, “buffeted”: Accused and scolded.

LESSON BACKGROUND

Peter is speaking in this epistle to the souls of men who have been changed from the sinful, worldly way of life to the holy and godly life of a born again child of God. He mentions things that we must definitely lay aside and participate in no more. In this new, spiritual birth we have come to “a living stone,” which is the Lord Jesus Christ, a solid Rock of truth and holiness, well pleasing unto the LORD God Almighty. He is rejected of proud, worldly, and ungodly men, but received by sincere, honest, humble, and earnest souls who are seeking contact and fellowship with God. Such are lively stones, built up a spiritual dwelling of the Holy Spirit, a holy priesthood that offers spiritual sacrifices, acceptable and well-pleasing to God. He then quotes from Isaiah 28:16 about God laying in Sion, the New Testament Church, for a foundation a precious corner stone, and that he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame. He states that Christ becomes a “stone of stumbling and a rock of offense” to those who are not obedient to Him. This is a quotation from Isaiah 8:13, 14 where we are told to sanctify the LORD of hosts and let Him be our fear and dread; He will be for us a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and rock of offense to others. He also quotes from Psalm 118:22, that that Stone which the builders disallowed has been made the head cornerstone. Oh, how vital it is for us to recognize the great Author of our Salvation and make Him our hope and foundation of our faith!

Being called out of darkness into His marvelous light, we are, as strangers and pilgrims on earth, to abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the safety of our precious souls. Peter then counsels us to keep our way of life honest and obedient, and to respect and be submissive to the ordinances and laws of those in authority, namely the king and governors. If the laws of men do not conflict with the laws of God and His Son Jesus, we should be diligent to respect and obey. In addition to our fear of God, he spoke of others we should honor and love. We are reminded that it is praiseworthy for us to endure and take patiently all grief which we wrongfully suffer. This, he states, is acceptable with God.

—Bro. Leslie Busbee

QUESTIONS:

1. What kind of stone did God lay as a foundation for His Church?

2. Who is that precious corner stone on which we must build to be saved?

3. Why is that Stone a stone of stumbling and rock of offense to some people?

4. What can we be if we will believe in Christ and build upon Him?

5. Why are those who believe and follow Christ referred to as pilgrims and strangers?

6. Why should we be submissive to the ordinances of earthly kings?

7. Name the four whom we are to honor, love, and fear.

COMMENTS AND APPLICATION

Oh, how wonderful that God has worked out and provided a Blessed Rock and Foundation upon Whom to build our faith and hope of eternal life and salvation! Jesus Christ came into this world conceived and brought forth by the power of God by a young virgin who was chosen of God. The New Testament account shows our Saviour teaching and working the goodness, wisdom and power of His Heavenly Father. He was crucified by evil men and rejected by the people who were supposed to be the Nation of God, but then we have the glorious declaration of His resurrection from the dead and His ascension to the right Hand of God in the heavenly places!

We can clearly see how Christ fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies, and what it has accomplished for our eternal welfare. There is no reason or true cause for us to doubt and discredit this wonderful Gospel of our eternal salvation! It can and will be, by the grace and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, a solid Rock upon which we build our eternal hope and happiness.

We can believe and trust in the atonement brought to us by His shed blood, and have great confidence in the future glorious coming of our Saviour and King. Let this old world, with all of its pride and vanity, pass away, and hold no more our love and affections! May the Lord strengthen our faith from day to day until He calls us from this life to that blessed eternal world to come.

REFLECTIONS

What does it mean to offer up spiritual sacrifices, and to show forth the praises of God? As Christ has made us spiritual priests (Revelations 5:10), we are now to offer acceptable offerings in righteousness to God (Malachi 3:3-4), which the Hebrew writer explains are the fruits of our lips—thanksgiving and sacrifices of praise (Hebrews 13:15).

A quote written on this page in my Bible illustrates this concept in a touching way: Sis. Karen LaCroix, who bore a great load of affliction to her death said: “Go forth; praise the Lord while bearing His reproach or affliction!” During her last months, she made it quite clear that she wanted to glorify and praise the Lord unto her dying hour, and that we were to sing praise songs at her funeral. This is a poignant example of a “sacrifice of praise.”

Our lesson brings out other ways in which we show forth God’s praises: by denying fleshly desires; by being honest and dependable in all our business dealings; by being good citizens in whatever country we as Christians live.

Talk to any server in a restaurant, and you’ll probably find they hate serving the “church” crowd. Their reasons? Church people, they say, are usually loud, don’t control their children, leave a big mess, are demanding, and worst of all, seem to be disgruntled that they gave their money away at church, so they don’t bother to leave a tip. What a sad report! By such obnoxious manners, professing Christians have not only failed to show forth Christ’s praise, but they are turning people away from the Lord.

It is important that we realize that by showing fervent love to our Christian brothers and sisters and giving service, respect and decency to every human being, regardless of nationality, color, age or gender, we bring glory to our Lord in as great a way as raising our hands and shouting praises in worship.

–Sis. Angela Gellenbeck