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THE CHURCH: GOD’S PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY

Lesson #15

Who Are We Now?

1. 1 Peter 2:1-3 - Thirsty Babes

2. 1 Peter 2:4-9 – Living Stones

3. 1 Peter 2:10-12 – Holy People

TRUTH

God’s people enjoy a new identity and a new

community in Jesus Christ.

Thirsty Babes1 Peter 2:1-3

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not

of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of

God; 24 for

“All flesh is like grassand all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,and the flower falls,

25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”And this word is the good news that was

preached to you.1 Peter 1:22-25

2 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

1 Peter 2:1

MaliceWickedness. Depravity. A desire to harm other people by doing evil

despite the good you’ve received.

DeceitCunning. Treachery. Deliberately tricking or misleading by lying.

Hypocrisy

Play-Acting. Being one thing on the outside and another on the inside. Presenting good motives that mask

selfish desires.

EnvyInappropriate Jealousy. Desiring

something possessed by someone else, causing discontent and

resentment. Unable to be thankful for the good that comes to others.

SlanderEvil Speech. Destroying a person’s

reputation through gossip, rumors and lies. Malice often manifests itself

through 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.

1 Peter 2:2-3

The Word of God is our nourishment for spiritual growth.

TRUTH

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!Blessed is the man or woman who takes

refuge in him!”Psalm 34:8

Living Stones1 Peter 2:4-9

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and

precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy

priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus

Christ.1 Peter 2:4-5

6 For it stands in Scripture:“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,a cornerstone chosen and precious,

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

1 Peter 2:6

7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejectedhas become the cornerstone,”

8 and“A stone of stumbling,and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

1 Peter 2:7-8

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for

his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of

darkness into his marvelous light.1 Peter 2:9

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my

treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’

Exodus 19:5-6

6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to

be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the

earth.Deuteronomy 7:6

Who Are We in Christ?

Who Are We in Christ?• A Chosen Race

Who Are We in Christ?• A Chosen Race• A Royal Priesthood

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy

and find grace to help in time of need.Hebrews 4:16

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be

healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

James 5:16

Who Are We in Christ?• A Chosen Race• A Royal Priesthood• A Holy Nation

“…that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his

marvelous light.”1 Peter 2:9

Who Are We in Christ?• A Chosen Race• A Royal Priesthood• A Holy Nation• A People for God’s Possession

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my

treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;

Exodus 19:5

Who Are We in Christ?• A Chosen Race• A Royal Priesthood• A Holy Nation• A People for God’s Possession• A True Worshipper

Drawing near to God through Jesus Christ changes your eternal identity.

TRUTH

Holy People1 Peter 2:10-12

10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now

you have received mercy.11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to

abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the

Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and

glorify God on the day of visitation.1 Peter 2:10-12

There is a war raging against you if you bear the identity of Christ.

TRUTH

WORLD

WORLD FLESH

WORLD FLESH DEVIL

TRUTH

God’s people enjoy a new identity and a new

community in Jesus Christ.