Is Jesus Precious To You? 1 Peter 2:1-12

1 Peter 2:1-3

A. 1 So (therefore, because Jesus lives inside of you) put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good

    B. 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings. 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious (good).

        C. 4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, A. 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

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

                    E. 7. Unto you, therefore, which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient (disbelieving),

            D. the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of thecorner, (8) And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient (disbelieving): whereunto also they were appointed (tithemi).

        C. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a 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.

    B. 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 
A. 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

  At the center of the chiastic structure in 1 Peter 2:1-12 are two contrasting statements. First:" Unto you, therefore, which believe he is precious" and second, "but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed" The whole pattern of your behavior outlined in this passage breaks down to a question: Is Jesus precious to you or not?

   Jesus is the block that sets the pattern. The pattern gives the building (God's church) its form and structure. Look at Jesus and see the perfect expression of God. Jesus displays God's great Love for man. Jesus is the Logos, a word or piece of language. The language indicates a coupling of the internal mind, inner mind (Spirit), and reality. The internal mind of God and the external world are not separate things but one thing with two aspects. God's Son is the logos; He gives insight into the external reality of God's internal mind. The understanding He gives is that internally in the mind of God is Love. God factorizes Himself into this world through Love. We factorize ourselves into God's world through Love. This is how we transfer goods from this world to Heaven, a different realm. 

   The tears are wiped away because we are admitted into God's life, and our inner minds become like Gods, and we see and act towards the outside world the same way He does. The suffering, the pain, and the humiliation become an expression of Love and the glory of God (The treasure is the inner world, aka Love.)

   Understanding the internal world is key to living well in the external world. The outward expression of the inner Love of God is key to teaching how to live well. Living well is only learned through one experiencing life in the collective face of the community of believers guided by the Spirit. 

Beautiful Hair, Expensive Jewelry, and a Fire Fit in 1 Peter 3:1-6

   In 1 Peter 3:1-6, the Apostle Peter uses rhyming ideas to contrast what a follower of Jesus should and should not do. A theme in 1 Peter is "do this" and "don't do this." Here is what the literary structure of the passage looks like:

A. 1. In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands. So that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2. As they observe your pure behavior in fear.

    B. 3. And let not your adornment be 

        C. merely external             

            D. Braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, And adorning with dresses.

    B. 4. But let it be

        C. the hidden person of the heart,

            D. with the incorruptibility of a gentle and quiet spirit, Which is valuable in the sight of God. 

    X. 5. For in this way in former times, the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves,

A. Being submissive to their own husbands. 

X 6. Thus, Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children. 

A. If you do what is right without fearing any terror.

    Peter frames the passage with a pair of ideas: "be submissive to your own husbands" in verse one, then second, "fear" in verse two. These two ideas are parallel in verse 5, "Being submissive to their husbands" and "without fearing any terror." These two rhyming ideas are intentionally put at either end of the passage to tell us what comes between them in 1 Peter 3:2-5 is one complete idea. 

  In verses 3 and 4, Peter gives two contrasting commands. In 3, he says "let not" and "let it be." In verse three, Peter provides an instruction with about the adornment "let not," then gives a location of the adornment "external," and then follows with an example of the adornment "hair," "jewelry," and "dresses." In verse 4, Peter uses the same format as verse 3. He starts with command about the adornment, "let it be," then gives a location of the adornment, "hidden parts," then gives an example of the adornment "a gentle and quiet spirit."

   Peter follows these two examples of what not to do and what to do with a call in verse 5 to follow the example set by godly women in the Bible. This idea of following the example of holy women is paralleled in verse 6 by a call to follow the example of Sara. Peter does this because he wants his readers to see female submission as trusting in and fearing God, not their husbands. Peter says many husbands would be "disobedient to the word" and needed to be "won without a word by the behavior of their wives." In the Bible, the subtle craft of femininity is not outward adornment aimed at attracting a male but a godly spirit woman that will please God. 

Eyes, Ears, and Face in 1 Peter 3:8-17

In his first Epistle, the apostle Peter gives some very poignant and straightforward advice framed in a chiastic structure. Here is the chiastic structure of 1 Peter 3:8-17:

A. 8  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

    B. 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, you should inherit a blessing.

        C. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days,

            D. let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

                E. 11 Let him eschew evil and do good; let him seek peace, and ensure it. 

                    F. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers:

                    F. but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 

                E’. 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

             D’. 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

        C’. 16 Having a good conscience;

    B.’ that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

A’. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil doing. 

   In verse 8, Peter takes a page from the Apostle Paul in the book of Philippians, urging his listeners to "be of one mind" (Philippians 2:2.) Being of "one mind" means communally conforming to the mind of Jesus, who sacrificed Himself for others. The Apostle John records Jesus' command to His followers to "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." Later in verse 17 of 1 Peter 3, the apostles urge his readers to suffer for "doing well." The "doing well" he is describing is loving one another. This self-sacrificing love might not cause humiliation today, but it was seen as weak and beneath an honorable man in the ancient Roman culture. The suffering one would endure if they practiced self-giving love was public humiliation, scorn, and ridicule. The word "evil" is introduced in verse 8 and repeated in verse 16. "Good is mentioned in the first part of verse 10 and verse 16. At the end of verse 10, Peter talks about not speaking, and in 15, he talks about being ready to speak. Peter says "do good" in verse 11 and uses the word good again in verse 13. At the center of the chiasm is verse 12. In verse 12, there are two antithetical statements. Peter uses this formula throughout this Epistle. Like a father, he says, "Now remember not to do this, but rather do this.” In verse 12 it reads: 

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers:

      But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 

Peter uses pictures of the face, eyes, ears, and face. First, this pictures God as a loving Father and his listeners as God's children eagerly looking at His face for a reaction. Second, Peter uses the face analogy because of how a father's face affects his children. We can build up or crush our children without saying a word. All they have to do is look at our faces. A father's watchful eyes symbolize protection, listening to our problems, love, and provision. The father's face toward his children signifies his presence, and turning away conveys him removing his presence. When we are not all seeking to conform our minds to God's mind of self-sacrificing love, we lose the presence of God in our midst. When we do not "do well" and love one another, we will repay evil for evil. Our words will tear down and not build-up, and there will be no peace. A result is a group of self-seeking individuals who are not practicing self-sacrificing love and will not have the Lord's presence in their midst. A group of children with no father to protect and provide for them. The greatest hindrance to seeking the presence of God is pride (Psalm 10.) Proud people want things their way and seek the reward of control, while godly people seek God's face, and their reward is God Himself. "Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." 

Things I Have Learned About Pharisees:

 1. They still exist today, and many call themselves Christians. 

2. They have an orthodox view of the Bible.

3. Jesus condemned them more than any other group.

4. They place themselves in seats of authority and usurp God’s authority. 

5. They know the law in their heads, but do not love God in their hearts.

6. They say and do not do. 

7. They are actors pretending to be something they are not.

8. They are always willing to make your life harder, but never care to make it easier.

9. They do not help.

10. Their good works are done to be seen by men.

11. They reject Christ.

12. They outwardly appear to accept Biblical authority, but inwardly reject all authority but their own. 

13. They are the Devils magnum opus.

14. They have a false relationship with Gods Words, because they do not have a real relationship with a personal God.

15. They lead from a place of pride, and reject servant leadership.

16. Their heart is full of pride.

17. They never apologize or admit fault, but they expect others to grovel around them. 

18. They do not understand love.

19. Their false truth can only keep people from God. It lacks the power needed to bring people to God.

20. They act the holiest in public, but commit the worst type of sins in private.

21. They possess tremendous energy without truth. Their zeal only leads to more judgment.

22. They do not believe deception is wrong, only getting caught breaking the letter of the law.

23. When they strike they strike fast. 

24. They are dead in their souls.

25. They ignore the more important things (love, kindness, justice, mercy, faith, compassion) 

26. They are proud of keeping all of the little standards (Dress, traditions of men, worship preferences.)

27. They are shallow, superficial and all about appearances.

28. They are unconcerned with an inward relationship with God. 

29. They are attracted to narcissistic leaders.

30. They are wicked sinners in their hearts and mask this by dressing up their outward appearance.

31. They go to great lengths to look as though they are winning. 

32. They prey on your assumption that they are holy.

33. They genuinely believe they are standing shoulder to shoulder with the prophets, but they are not.

34. They are actually standing shoulder to shoulder with the men who killed the prophets.

35. They are the Devils children and like him they lie.

36. They will destroy anyone who: stands in the way of them getting what they want, opposes their pride, challenges their power. 

37. They will make you their proselyte. 

38. Their religion is spiritual poison.

39. They go to great lengths to find people searching for hope and trick them into taking spiritual poison.

40. They disguise themselves very effectively. 

41. They appear to be winning but are actually losing. 

42. Their religion is a hard taskmaster, unloving, relentless

43. They live for the praise of men.

44. They have a preoccupation with the small things of religion. 

45. They deal mostly with externals.

50. They rally around worldly issues (politics, culture, family.)

51. They are obsessed with authority.

52. They revere only what is dead. (Dead style, dead music, dead people.)

53. They like dead things because they are dead spiritually. 

54. True spiritual life makes them uncomfortable. 

56. They lie, gossip, and slander their fellow man under the cover of religion.

57. They are control freaks. 

58. They rationalize their sin as for the greater good of religion.

59. They will destroy your family, children, marriage, reputation, friendships, mental health and basically anything else they touch.

60. They group together.

61. They use their religion as a weapon to control other people.

62. They weaponize weakness.

63.  Are easily and often offended, but rarely are concerned with offending others.

64. Assume dishonest intent in others.

65. What they can not get by flattery they will take by force.

66. Force others to live under the tyranny of the weaker brother.

67. They honestly believe the rules do not apply to them.

68. Their is no amount of evidence that can convince them of who they are. 

69. They are fully confident that they are going to Heaven.

70. Even though many of them believe they are saved. The end result of their lives will be judgment and fearful condemnation. 

One Last Meal

If you knew you could have one last meal, what would it be? Who would invite? What kind of food would you eat? What kind of atmosphere would you want? What would you say? And whom would you tell it? 

John, the author of the Gospel of John, is writing to early Christians, and he is recording the choices Jesus made for his last meal. The meal was Passover, a Jewish celebration meal that dated back to the night before the children of Israel's Exodus out of Egypt. Present with Jesus were his closest disciples, his friends. They had spent nearly three years together and walked over 3,125 miles of dusty roads working together to fulfill Jesus' ministry. There is a banquet room atop someone's house in Jerusalem; the group sat around a table. The band of misfits, unlikely converts, simple fishermen, and educated elites observed, looking for signs of what would come next for them and Jesus. 

Jesus did not disappoint. What He did next revealed to them powerfully just who He was. You must understand what Jesus did next to realize who Jesus was. 

For his last meal, Jesus chose to eat with His friends. He decided to celebrate the Passover God's miraculous deliverance from bondage. He decided to use this meal to show His followers just precisely who He was.

James 4:1-3

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

From the street, you can see a small crowd gathered in a dwelling. Warm orange and yellow radiance spilling out into the street from the glow of oil lamps. Jesus lovers gathering again to fight and talk deep into the night about their Messiah, death and being raised from the dead. About their king and how he is coming back to overthrow Rome. Inside, one man sits in front, a wealthy businessman. Behind him citizens, merchants, and landowners. In the back are the poor, the sick, the lower class. 

They are, after all, still Romans, much like the people you would see at the Saepta or the great Circus. In their midst are as many vices as there are people. Like all other Romans, they dress in the garments of peace, but there is no peace among them. Each one would, for a small gain, bring any other of them to ruin. After all, not one of them can profit anything except by the loss of another. They smile and grudgingly bear the strong, all the while oppressing the small. They are all fueled greedily by diverse lusts, and everyone would wreck the dreams of another for the slightest bit of pleasure. Like a gladiator school, they fight with and are willing to kill the same people they live with. They are like a cage full of wild beasts, except the beasts will not bite the master who feeds them. These men are like all other men. One accuses his brother falsely, another steals from his father, yet another informs against a man for committing the same crime he is guilty of. The rabble takes the side of the guilty man against the innocent. 

Come stop for a second and listen to the faint voice coming from the house to hear what the followers of Jesus discuss so late into the night. 

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet, but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

Supremacy and Influence in the Life of the Christian

Matthew 4:8-11 "Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.' " Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him."

Here we see our Lords third and most terrible temptation. Jesus is tempted to doubt His Fathers love for Him, and to forsake the way of the cross. At the heart of this temptation is an invitation for Jesus to prescribe to a philosophy that many poorly thought out christians share with the father of all lies. It is the belief that the end justifies the means. The Fathers way, and the way the Devil both lead to the same results (Jesus obtaining universal sovereignty.) The temptation is for Jesus to think that as long as the end result reached was good it mattered not how He reached it. But God cares as much about the way we go about accomplishing something as what we accomplish. This is why the Lord rejected the ark returning to Jerusalem in a cart in 2 Samuel 6, and why God would not accept strange fire from Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10. If the action or system by which a result is brought about is corrupt, then the result will be corrupted as well. When we are tempted to use the tools of our enemy rather than the tools that God has given to us to accomplish our goals in this world, then we must recall that our Lord (who called us to take up out cross and follow Him) refused to use the tools of the Devil no matter what the cost. Evil my friends can never be overcome by evil, and God's rule can never be established through the means of the Devils devices. 

Is it worth it? Is the Devils offer of power in this world to do what is good and right or even to stop what is wrong from happening worth the sacrifice of your soul? No.

Mark 8:36 "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?"