1 Peter 1:22-2:3

I’ve been reading these 7 verses over and over for the last couple of weeks. I realized that I could go into many different directions from these passages. But the one very important thing of a Bible study is that you should not loose the sight of the whole picture for the sake of the small portion even though that small portion talks about our favorite things.

Tonight’s title sums up our study of this portion of Scripture. Unity in the body of Christ is essential. We all heard that “United we stand, divided we fall.”

Mark Twain used to say he put a dog and a cat in a cage together as an experiment, to see if they could get along. They did, so he put in a bird, pig and goat. They, too, got along fine after a few adjustments. Then he put in a Baptist, Presbyterian, and Catholic; soon there was not a living thing left.

In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels threatening him with her fist if he didn’t. “What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?” asks Linus. “These five fingers,” says Lucy. “Individually they’re nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold.” “Which channel do you want?” asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, “Why can’t you guys get organized like that?”

Tonto and the Lone Ranger were riding through a canyon together when all of a sudden both sides were filled with Indian warriors on horses, dressed for battle. The Lone Ranger turned to Tonto and asked, “What are we going to do?” Tonto replied, “What you mean ‘we’, Whiteman?”

We laugh at these stories about unity, but we also realize that we are facing serious problems among Christians because of disunity. During the war of 1812 in Tennessee, Major General Andrew Jackson who became the seventh president of the United States, noticed a fight was about to happen among his troops so he cried out to them, “Gentlemen! Let’s remember, the enemy is over THERE!”

I don’t have a problem with different denominations getting united under the name of Jesus Christ for His name’s sake. But in many cases, several churches tried to unite together by overlooking the difference in the basic principal doctrines of Christianity for the sake of unification. For example, some of the liberal churches have their own doctrines that Scripture is not necessarily true and can be changed according to our environment. That is the most absurd thing for any Christian to even think about, let alone to say. The inerrancy (which means absolutely no error) and infallibility (which means absolutely trustworthy) of Scripture was ignored by their own customized and politically correct doctrines, such as ordaining gays or women as their pastors. Under that kind of condition, we cannot have unity. True unity can only comes through the Word of God in love for one another.

God does not want us to be exactly the same. If that were the case, He would have made us from one mold. Look around the room. Do you see anybody who looks exactly alike?

1 Peter 1:23-25 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word, which by the gospel was preached to you.

Though Christians commonly use this phrase “born again” today, it is rarely found in the New Testament.

Our first birth was a birth of “flesh,” and the flesh is corruptible. Whatever is born of flesh is destined to die and decay. This explains why mankind cannot hold civilization together: it is all based on human flesh and is destined to fall apart. All the way from the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11, to “Babylon the Great” in Revelation 17–18, man’s great attempts at unity are destined to fail.

If we try to build unity in the church on the basis of our first birth, we will fail. But if we build unity on the basis of the new birth, it will succeed. Each believer has the same Holy Spirit dwelling within (Rom. 8:9). We call on the same Father (1 Peter 1:17) and share His divine nature.

John 17:21-23 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

Luke 6:13-16 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

What a combination! From fishermen to nobody, from tax collector who worked for the Roman Empire to Zealot who wanted to destroy the Roman Empire. They are an absolute odd bunch. Jesus didn’t change their outward appearances. But through His living Word, He changed their hearts for one another and changed the world right side up.

Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Sounds like something a teacher would say to a roomful of kindergartners. “Share, Don’t be selfish. Think of others first.” How many marriages or family problems could be solved if we practice what these two verses say?

What kind of things are holding us back from unity in Christ?

These are the tools of satan against the body of Christ:
MALICE

The Greek word is a general word for the wickedness that characterizes unbelievers entrenched in the world system. These sins would be categorized as those that would hurt and injure others or wickedness that is not ashamed to break laws.

The Greek word means two-facedness or trickery. It is from an obsolete primary verb, dello (probably meant to decoy). The earliest form of the word meant, “To catch with bait” It refers to a deception that is aimed at attaining one’s own end.

The Greek word means to act a part, hide behind a mask, or appear to be someone you’re not.
“Hypocritical Christians are the main source of atheists because of their unmatched words & actions.” - D.C. Talk

The Greek word involves hidden resentment over another’s advantage and wanting that advantage for yourself. Edward Gordon Selwyn comments that this sin is “a constant plague of all voluntary organization including Christianity. Even the Twelve Disciples themselves were subject at the very crisis of our Lord’s ministry.”

It occurs most often when the victim is not there to offer a defense or set the record straight in a backbiting way. It is especially prevalent when a rumor is being passed around regarding someone. Slander is disparaging gossip that destroys our confidence in an individual and weakens that person’s reputation.

So what should be our objective?

In other words, becoming mature in the Lord with sincere love for one another. When you walked into this church, you might have had an uncomfortable feeling towards one of the brothers or sisters in this place. Now that God spoke to you through the Word, you cannot deny His command. Before you leave this place, make everything right with that person. If you need to forgive him, forgive. If you need his forgiveness, ask him for his forgiveness. Don’t worry about the other people around you. Do what is right in the sight of God.

If you want to contact the webservant of Calvary Chapel of Sahuarita, please send an e-mail.



	1 Peter 1:22-2:3
	Unity in Love through the Word
	I’ve been reading these 7 verses over and over for the last couple of weeks. I realized that I could go into many different directions from these passages. But the one very important thing of a Bible study is that you should not loose the sight of the whole picture for the sake of the small portion even though that small portion talks about our favorite things. Tonight’s title sums up our study of this portion of Scripture. Unity in the body of Christ is essential. We all heard that “United we stand, divided we fall.” Mark 3:25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. Mark Twain used to say he put a dog and a cat in a cage together as an experiment, to see if they could get along. They did, so he put in a bird, pig and goat. They, too, got along fine after a few adjustments. Then he put in a Baptist, Presbyterian, and Catholic; soon there was not a living thing left. In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels threatening him with her fist if he didn’t. “What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?” asks Linus. “These five fingers,” says Lucy. “Individually they’re nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold.” “Which channel do you want?” asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, “Why can’t you guys get organized like that?” Tonto and the Lone Ranger were riding through a canyon together when all of a sudden both sides were filled with Indian warriors on horses, dressed for battle. The Lone Ranger turned to Tonto and asked, “What are we going to do?” Tonto replied, “What you mean ‘we’, Whiteman?” We laugh at these stories about unity, but we also realize that we are facing serious problems among Christians because of disunity. During the war of 1812 in Tennessee, Major General Andrew Jackson who became the seventh president of the United States, noticed a fight was about to happen among his troops so he cried out to them, “Gentlemen! Let’s remember, the enemy is over THERE!” A. UNITY BASED ON THE WORD 1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, I don’t have a problem with different denominations getting united under the name of Jesus Christ for His name’s sake. But in many cases, several churches tried to unite together by overlooking the difference in the basic principal doctrines of Christianity for the sake of unification. For example, some of the liberal churches have their own doctrines that Scripture is not necessarily true and can be changed according to our environment. That is the most absurd thing for any Christian to even think about, let alone to say. The inerrancy (which means absolutely no error) and infallibility (which means absolutely trustworthy) of Scripture was ignored by their own customized and politically correct doctrines, such as ordaining gays or women as their pastors. Under that kind of condition, we cannot have unity. True unity can only comes through the Word of God in love for one another. B. UNITY, NOT UNIFORMITY God does not want us to be exactly the same. If that were the case, He would have made us from one mold. Look around the room. Do you see anybody who looks exactly alike? 1 Peter 1:23-25 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word, which by the gospel was preached to you. Though Christians commonly use this phrase “born again” today, it is rarely found in the New Testament. Our first birth was a birth of “flesh,” and the flesh is corruptible. Whatever is born of flesh is destined to die and decay. This explains why mankind cannot hold civilization together: it is all based on human flesh and is destined to fall apart. All the way from the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11, to “Babylon the Great” in Revelation 17–18, man’s great attempts at unity are destined to fail. If we try to build unity in the church on the basis of our first birth, we will fail. But if we build unity on the basis of the new birth, it will succeed. Each believer has the same Holy Spirit dwelling within (Rom. 8:9). We call on the same Father (1 Peter 1:17) and share His divine nature. Jesus was asking for “UNITY”, not ‘UNIFORMITY” oneness not sameness. John 17:21-23 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. Let’s look the twelve disciples of Jesus: Luke 6:13-16 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor. What a combination! From fishermen to nobody, from tax collector who worked for the Roman Empire to Zealot who wanted to destroy the Roman Empire. They are an absolute odd bunch. Jesus didn’t change their outward appearances. But through His living Word, He changed their hearts for one another and changed the world right side up. C. UNITY, NOT SELF SEEKING Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Sounds like something a teacher would say to a roomful of kindergartners. “Share, Don’t be selfish. Think of others first.” How many marriages or family problems could be solved if we practice what these two verses say? So how can we be united? Through the Word of God! D. UNITY AGAINST HUMAN NATURE What kind of things are holding us back from unity in Christ? 1 Peter 2:1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, These are the tools of satan against the body of Christ: MALICE The Greek word is a general word for the wickedness that characterizes unbelievers entrenched in the world system. These sins would be categorized as those that would hurt and injure others or wickedness that is not ashamed to break laws. DECEIT The Greek word means two-facedness or trickery. It is from an obsolete primary verb, dello (probably meant to decoy). The earliest form of the word meant, “To catch with bait” It refers to a deception that is aimed at attaining one’s own end. HYPOCRISY The Greek word means to act a part, hide behind a mask, or appear to be someone you’re not. “Hypocritical Christians are the main source of atheists because of their unmatched words & actions.” - D.C. Talk ENVY The Greek word involves hidden resentment over another’s advantage and wanting that advantage for yourself. Edward Gordon Selwyn comments that this sin is “a constant plague of all voluntary organization including Christianity. Even the Twelve Disciples themselves were subject at the very crisis of our Lord’s ministry.” EVIL SPEAKING (SLANDER) It occurs most often when the victim is not there to offer a defense or set the record straight in a backbiting way. It is especially prevalent when a rumor is being passed around regarding someone. Slander is disparaging gossip that destroys our confidence in an individual and weakens that person’s reputation. E. APPLICATIONS So what should be our objective? 1 Peter 2:2-3 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. In other words, becoming mature in the Lord with sincere love for one another. When you walked into this church, you might have had an uncomfortable feeling towards one of the brothers or sisters in this place. Now that God spoke to you through the Word, you cannot deny His command. Before you leave this place, make everything right with that person. If you need to forgive him, forgive. If you need his forgiveness, ask him for his forgiveness. Don’t worry about the other people around you. Do what is right in the sight of God. If you want to contact the webservant of Calvary Chapel of Sahuarita, please send an e-mail.