1 Peter Chapter 2 Pt. 1 Put Off Cultural Corruption And Fill Your Soul With Scripture Truth

{A note about the archive index containing all lessons I have posted on this blog. 

An index for all lessons posted from 2019 through 2021, were posted on September 7, 2022.

An index for all lessons posted in 2022, was posted January 24, 2023.

Each index lists the lesson titles and the dates each one was posted, so that you can study subjects that we have written about.

December is almost here and our thoughts will be turning to Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ. 

In the archives you will find 9 lessons titled "The True Story Of Christmas, that were posted between December 16 and December 21, 2019.

These lessons are very good resources for sharing the true reason we celebrate Christmas, when we gather with our families and loved one.}

1 Peter 2:1-3  Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2)  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3)  If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 

The word "wherefore" connects back the truth that Peter gave us in the preceding chapter. 

That chapter focused on being born again by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

It emphasized the instrumentality of the living Word of God in regenerating each repentant sinner who turns to Jesus Christ.

In chapter 1, Peter urged us to remember that we were bought with a very costly price, the precious blood of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus is the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. He expiated our sins and propitiated the Father with His perfect atoning work.

This being true, Peter pointed us to living a holy life, dedicated to honor our God. He showed that true Christians will love one another. 

Peter gave us doctrinal truths to strengthen our souls, in order for us to be changed in how we think, speak and act.

The Spirit of God guided Peter to list five specific sins that believers in Christ should lay aside immediately.

The words "lay aside" are the exact same words used by the apostle Paul when he was guided to tell Christians to "put off" certain things. 

We must lay aside "malice", which is thinking ill of other people, with the intent to cause them harm, or to get even with them for some wrong they have done to us.  

Malice is so ingrained into our culture that it is a systemic problem. Movies, video games, TV programs, and social media are full of getting back at others and taking revenge upon them.

We must not fall into this kind of thinking. Judgment and vengeance belongs to God alone (See Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30; 2 Thessalonians 1:8). 

God will hold us accountable if we seek revenge, even if it is only in our thoughts. Remember, Jesus said if we think adulterous thoughts about another person, it is as if we have committed the act (See Matthew 5:28).

No wonder the apostles emphasized our need for the Word of God to renew our minds and change the way that we think (See Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 4:8-9).

Laying aside "guile" refers to speech that is designed to defraud another person, in order to take advantage of them. 

It is speaking words that make the hearer believe something that we want them to think is true, when in fact, it is a falsehood. 

"Hypocrisy" is a word that referred to an actor on a stage playing two parts. The actor often had a stick with two different faces drawn on opposite sides of a mask,  to indicate which part he was playing. 

Hypocrisy as it relates to Christians, refers to a person who professes faith in Jesus Christ, but who in reality, walks in darkness, instead of light (See 1 John 1:5-7).

"Envies" refers to being jealous because someone has a nicer home, car, job, clothing, and so on, than what we do. God tells us that godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 1:6-10). 

We must learn to be content whether we have much or little that God has entrusted to us. 

There will always be people who are rich, who live in large homes and who enjoy a luxurious lifestyle. We are not called to pursue those earthly lusts, but are called to live a holy life. 

Mark 12:41-44  And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42)  And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43)  And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44)  For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. 

It is worth noting that when Jesus watched the Pharisee put their offerings into the designated chest, it was the widow who caught His attention. 

Many of the Pharisees were wealthy and were able to make a large offering and not be financially impacted.

The widow was poor and the amount she gave was very small. Two mites is equal to about 2/5 of one penny!

Yet, Jesus commended her because that miniscule offering was all the money that she had. She freely offered it to God, trusting that He would provide for her needs. 

Widows, and the fatherless are always the special objects of God's love and care. He made specific provisions for them in His law, and He will judge those who deny them their provision.

The bottom line, is being content whether we have a little or a lot, because it all belongs to God, and He will supply our needs (See Philippians 4:19).

"Evil speaking" is the last item listed by Peter under the guidance of God's Spirit. Evil speaking is saying nasty things about someone behind their back. It is saying things that slander an innocent person. 

Again, evil speaking is an epidemic on our culture. The anonymity of social media has caused people to say vile, hateful things about others, that would never have been publicly said a generation ago.

No Christian should ever be guilty of having malice, being a hypocrite, speaking with guile, expressing jealousy or saying slanderous hurtful things about other people.

All of that is the "put off" that Peter has given us. We know the apostolic pattern is to follow every "put off" with a "put on." Let us now examine the "put on" that Peter has for us. 

1 Peter 2:2-3  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3)  If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 

It is easy to lay aside malice, guile and evil speaking, if we are constantly feeding on the unadulterated milk of the scriptures. 

If we have tasted of the grace of Jesus Christ, we will not want to sip from the wine of Sodom (the world). 

A newborn babe is fed by his mother because he cannot feed himself. A newborn babe is utterly dependent upon his mother for all things and will die without her loving care and protection.

A newborn babe does not have the twisted thinking and warped logic that we use to reason around the truth of God's Word.  

Thus, it reminds us to come to the Word of God with child like faith, and take God at His Word. Come with pure hearts because Jesus said blessed are the pure in heart. 

The picture is of believers in Christ casting aside sinful and childish things, that drag us down. 

Instead, we drink in and crave the milk of God's Word because it builds up our faith and edifies us. It puts us on the good path to spiritual growth and maturity in Christ. 

Thoughts to Ponder..

The born again, child of God is responsible to live as God commands His children to live. God owns us for His own, He bought us with the expiating blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. 

As Paul put it, we are bought with a price and our body, soul and spirit belong to God, Therefore, we must seek to honor and glorify Him in all that we do.

I pray that the Spirit of God will work in our hearts so that we learn to put aside these specific sins that Peter listed. 

This truth is so relevant for the culture in which we live, because we are surrounded by malice, envy, evil speaking, hypocrisy and guile.

We are called to a higher calling because our home is heaven and all the good things God has promised for us, are awaiting us.

Let the love of God fill our hearts today. Let our speech be seasoned with grace and compassion for others. Let us be used to make a difference in other people's lives. 

Bob