Purpose of Salvation

5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests.[a] Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6 As the Scriptures say,

en by Peter

A.D. 64-67

“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,[b] chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”[c]

7 Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him.[d] But for those who reject him,

Possibly from Rome

Addressed to the believers of Pontus , Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bythinia

“The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.”[e]

8 And,

Jews or Gentiles

“He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.”[f]

Experiencing Persecution

They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.

General slander because of their separated way of living.

9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,[g] a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

Persecution under Nero

Blamed for the fire in Rome

10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”[h]

Christians believe to be a Sect of Judaism until then when it became an illicit religion

Christians became outlaws instantaneously.

The Letters of James and Peter The Circumstances behind the Letter

Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burned, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired

The Nature of the Church

Relational ()

Living Stones Built into his Temple

In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Individual Christians find their true place only when they are built into the structure

C. E. B. Cranfield writes, “The free-lance Christian, who would be a Christian but is too superior to belong to the visible Church upon earth in one of its forms, is simply a contradiction in terms.”

Holy Priesthood

One who has access to God

Only High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies

Through Christ everyone has access

Brings others to God

Pontifex Latin for bridge-builder

Share the savior who we have found and now love

Bring Offerings to God

Present our bodies as living sacrifices ( )

Bring continues offering

Speak of God’s excellencies

Witness to other the mighty acts of God

You are witnesses of these things.

Remember what God has done for us (last weeks message)

Living a life worthy of him (Actions over words)

The Glory of the Church ( )

Called out of darkness into light

We have come to know God.

No more stumbling around in the dark

We know goodness

We found the way, no longer a aimless

We know the power (to serve Him)

Made His People

Called out of insignificance into significance

Greatness lies not in the self but in an individual is given to do

Chosen to be His people and do his work in the world.

Called out of no mercy into mercy

Non-Christian religion is the fear of God

Christians discover the love of God and do not need to fear Him

Loving Father

Comforter

Savior

Redeemer

The Function of the Church

Allusions

Church is recipient of the promises made to Israel, the new Israel

Chosen people

Special relationship with God

Dependent of the people accepting the conditions of the covenant

Christians are chosen for three things

Privilege

New and intimate relationship with God is offered

Obedience

Privilege brings with it responsibility

Chosen to be obedient children of God

Not our will but God’s will

Service

Our honor is that we are servants of the most high

Royal Priesthood

Right of access to God

We must offer our work

Offer worship

Offer ourselves

Holy Nation

Hagios means different.

Chosen to be different from other people

Follow the standards of God not the world

People for God to possess

Values lies not in the object but who possessed it

Ordinary items (clothes, walking stick, pen, pieces of furniture) increase in value

Christians, although ordinary, acquire new value because they belong to God

Conclusion

Reminder of who we are as a church

No lone Christians

Our responsibility

Are you living the as part of the Holy nation of God.

It is time to remember what God has dome for us, speak of His goodness and be those bridge-builders between God and those who do not know him.