Somewhere over vacation I fell behind. I have a plan, I want to follow it, but I deviate often. With maturity I have put speed lower on the list and I use my plan as a guide and now try to learn to not be stressed by the gap. Slow, small steps.
1 Peter 2:4-6 Revised Standard Version
4 Come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God’s sight chosen and precious; 5 and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and he who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
1 – What is your First Impression?
Be a living stone with strength from God. Others discussed the rejection of Christ and that while we are rejected, Jesus and we are chosen and precious to God.
2 – Explain the meaning and differences of “Living Stone” and “living stones”.
Obviously, the Living Stone is Christ who is/was perfect and we are imperfect living stones seeking to walk as Christ and to get after the work He left to us.
3 – What impression does “built into a spiritual house” give you?
That we are the temple of God. We are living stones being molded to fit together in the church which is replacing the earthly temple.
4 – How do you describe holy preisthood?
Separated by God to be noticeably different and to bring others into right relationship with God by being a light and a witness to the gospel. We are displacing the sons of Aaron as priests serving man as Jesus displaced Aaron (and Moses) as the intercessor with God.
5 – How do you understand “spiritual sacrifice acceptable”?
Instead of the priests sacrificing animals on our behalf, we are surrendering to His Lordship, taking up our cross daily and sacrificing our lives by using our God given spiritual gifts to serve Him.
6 – How do you test “stands in scripture”?
Our discussion was around how the truths in the Old Testament that are referenced in the New Testament are true for us in Christ just as they were true for the Jews before Christ. Christ came to fulfill the Old Testament and while we are not bound to the law of the Torah as the Jews were to be ritualistically clean and holy (separate), we are called to be in right relationship with God and our neighbors.
7 – How do you understand “will not be put to shame”?
The discussion was scattered, but I summed it up as trust and belief is required. Follow through is not enough. Those who did not believe but acted will be told by Christ “I never knew you.” and their lack of believe will not get them to heaven and they will be shamed for pretending in front of God and everybody.
8 – How are you like the “religion” of the Old Testament”?
We are the temple, we are the priesthood, and we are the sacrifice. It is not a religion of proxy, but a religion of personal relationship.