The objective of this lesson: To deepen our understanding of our response to God's caring for us.
The first part of this text (2:1-3) correctly belongs to the last thought of chapter one (1:22-25). Understanding what God did for them in Jesus Christ produced a permanent change in these Christians. That change expressed itself in an obvious manner by the way they treated people (especially people in Jesus Christ). The evidence demonstrating they looked upon other Christians as family loved sincerely, fervently from their hearts was this: they refused to use hatred in any form, deceit in any form, pretense, envy in any form (he used the plural), or slander in any form (he again used the plural) in their relationship with Christians.
When God truly changes us through Jesus Christ, His changes motivate us to treat people with a thoughtfulness and kindness that we did not even consider when we were slaves to sin. That change will be evident in the respect we feel and kindness we show to others who are in Jesus Christ.
They had a lot to learn, just as infants have much to learn. These new converts were (1) to see themselves as babies, (2) to recognize their need to grow and develop, and (3) to look to the word for their growth (the unadulterated spiritual milk that came from the word). God provided them salvation through His incredible accomplishments in Jesus Christ. It was now their responsibility to personally develop in that salvation.
Probably no understanding is more important than realizing we need to grow spiritually. It is so easy for us to become 'know-it-alls'' who (with limited understanding of God or His will) have all the answers for everyone else. The center of our search should always be for a better understanding for self.
This development did not occur because it was the 'natural' way to function. It was not! In their former existence, hatred (ill will), deceit, pretense, desires to use others for personal benefit, and desires to ruin others by ruining their reputations were the 'natural' way to function. This new character they acquired through salvation in Jesus Christ was anything but natural!
It is critical that we understand as Christians that spiritual development commonly requires us to act in ways that are 'unnatural' as far as the influence of ungodliness is concerned.
They would not commit themselves to this new character in their relationships because it was 'natural.' They would commit to this new character because they tasted the Lord's kindness. Because they accepted (with a degree of understanding) the incredible things God did for them in Jesus Christ, God's kindness fundamentally changed them as people. God's kindness transformed them into a kind people.
Spiritual commitment requires the 'unnatural' in the consideration of those who are unconcerned about God's ways. God's ways are 'natural' to those in Jesus Christ only because they have seen God's kindness. The ways of those in Christ result from a response to God's kindness in Jesus Christ.
There is much rich imagery in 2:4-10. Most Caucasian American Christians do not relate to that imagery. Many people in minorities understand those images quite well. Basically those images depict people who were on the 'outside,' knew they were on the 'outside,' and understood that nothing they did could put them 'inside.' Gentiles often despised Jews because Jews considered themselves as 'insiders' and all gentiles (anyone who was not Jewish) as 'outsiders.' Often those 'inside' were seen as arrogant and aloof. Too often those who considered themselves as 'insiders' were arrogant and aloof!
Those who have experienced being on the 'outside' wishing they could be 'in' quickly relate to the rich imagery in 2:4-10. To the people to whom Peter wrote, these images did not deal with a spiritual hypothetical. They understood how the kindness of God was given to them through God's achievements in Jesus. Jesus was opportunity, not a cause for tripping and falling.
In a way, what Peter said declared that all people had a right to be 'in' God's new kingdom or under His rule. Quite often Christians today look at Peter's statement as the right of all people to be a part of the church. That is correct if in affirming that fact, we use the first century concept of 'church.'
Peter said that in Jesus Christ those who were 'outside' could become God's people. That was always God's intent (Genesis 12:3).
What is meant by the first century concept of the church? Their concept of the church often is not the 21st century concept of the church. Our modern concept thinks of the church as an institution. The Greek word translated 'church' in English translations of the Bible is ekklesia. The word, prior to Christian usage, was not a religious word. It simply meant 'the called out.' It referred to any people who for any reason were 'called out' or distinguished from others to serve a designated purpose. In the terms of the early Christian movement, it referred to those men and women who were 'called out' from sin and its evil expressions by submitting to Jesus Christ in order to surrender their physical existence to God's purposes. Any person who gave himself or herself to Jesus Christ was a part of the 'called out.' Such people no longer lived for selfish purposes, or society's purposes, or physical purposes. Instead, they lived for God's purposes.
In order to change today's image of 'the church' into a more biblical concept of the church, we must change our concept of 'the church.' That change must include what we do as well as what is believed and how things are done. We are not called to be the member of an institution, but to adopt a life taught us by Jesus.
These people were to understand that God's purposes are defined by Jesus Christ. Thus Jesus Christ redefined who they were and how they lived. Jesus Christ was their guide to and in God's ways. Jesus Christ redefined their existence, the nature of their relationships, and their human-to-human interactions. They trusted God's rock which was the cornerstone of His new temple. Their new relationship with God made them God's chosen race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, or a people owned by God. Peter's concepts in today's text remind one of Paul's concepts in Romans 11:11-36. People who were in the past considered nothing were then considered significant.
We must give to Jesus--and only to Jesus--the right to define who we are as persons and how we live as God's people.
The concept associated with 'church' in this context primarily involved 'who you were' and 'what you were' because of God's acts through Jesus Christ. It primarily involved existing for reasons and in relationships that were not characteristic of their society. They were 'called out' of society's objectives, the emperor's objectives, and physical objectives to serve God through Jesus Christ for eternal objectives.
These people previously existed with a wrong concept of God or no concept of God. Many (if not all) of them did not come from 'good backgrounds' and 'good concepts' that were compatible with an accurate concept of a kind, involved, compassionate God. The transition from 'who they were' to who they are in Jesus Christ involved enormous changes. To understand that the concept of 'church' involved much more than belonging to a group involved radically new concepts. They were to be different because they were in Jesus Christ, not to be different for the sake of being different. God made them who they were. Allegiance to the kindness of God changed them.
Spiritually, the persons to whom Peter wrote were not accustomed to being considered specifically God's people. They were accustomed to being called the nondescript gentiles who did not belong to God. Now they are God's people in God's mercy because of God's achievements in Jesus Christ. No longer were they part of the spiritual darkness. Through Jesus Christ, God called them to be a part of His marvelous light.
They had to see themselves differently if they were to become different persons. If the change was to be more than 'habit deep' and involve the heart (who they were as persons), they had to know that they were God's people. God did not just tolerate them. They were His people.
This concept reminds one of Jesus' words in scriptures like John 10:16, Matthew 8:10-12, and Luke 13:23-30. Consider statements like Matthew 3:8, 9 and Galatians 3:26-29. Beware of placing your spiritual confidence in the wrong things! God can cast out those who are certain they are 'in' and bring in those who were certain they were cast out. The key is not who you consider yourself to be or where you came from, but your relationship with Jesus Christ.
Read the recommended passages. Place each in its context. Share the core thoughts with the class.
For Thought and Discussion
The evidence cited was the way they saw and treated other Christians.
It was their responsibility to grow in the salvation God gave them.
This development did not occur because it was 'natural.'
They struggle because it is 'inside--outside' concepts, and they have never personally experienced being the 'outside' people.
It is proper if we use the 1st century concept of 'church.'
Be certain to include in the discussion the concept of being 'called out' of sin and its evil expressions to use one's life to fulfill God's purposes.
Jesus Christ redefined who they were and how they lived.
It involved who they were and what they were because of God's acts in Jesus Christ.
It should remind us of Jesus' words in John 10:16, Matthew 8:10-12, and Luke 13:23-30.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 4