In God’s great salvation we have a promised inheritance of eternal life w/God. So we can rejoice in suffering and live holy lives. Even as exiles in a hostile land.

Peter’s letter now changes form the individual to the community of faith. I. Live as the People of God 1) Love one another (1:22-25) 2) Long for God’s word (2:1-3) 3) Live as God’s dwelling (2:4-8)

1 Peter 1:22-2:8 1. Love One Another (1:22-25) a. The gospel has enabled you to love one another purely (22-25) i. You were purified by obedience to the truth (22) 1. You were converted when you believed the gospel 2. It purified you from cold-hearted indifference toward others

ii. You were born again into eternal life by the word of God (23-25) 1. You were born into sinful flesh (perishable seed) 2. You were born again into the imperishable – the spirit a. Enabled by the living & abiding word of God

1. Long for God’s Word (2:1-3) a. Like a newborn longs for milk (2a)

b. The word of God leads to growth into salvation (2b)

c. Put aside attitudes and actions that poison community (1) i. Malice, Deceit, Hypocrisy, Envy, Slander

d. The taste of God’s goodness at salvation makes you long for more (3) i. Kindness, loving self-sacrifice, beauty, majesty, forgiving,

1. Live as God’s dwelling (2:4-8) a. God is building you into a spiritual house and holy priesthood (5) i. You are like living stones (5)
2. Because of your faith in Jesus, his life is your new life
3. The church is God’s new temple.
4. The physical temple pointed a greater one

ii. Jesus is a living stone (4), 1. Jesus is ever-living – eternal, resurrected 2. Rejected by men (4b) a. Religious leaders despised him and crucified him 3. Chosen and precious to God (4c) a. God made him the cornerstone by raising him to life

iii. Jesus is the cornerstone (6) 1. Laid by God as the cornerstone to shape and uphold his church

iv. We who hope in him will receive honor with Jesus Christ (6,7) v. Those who do not believe will stumble over Jesus as salvation (8)

The recipients of the letter are facing similar rejection as Jesus: Rejected by men, but chosen and precious to God.

b. Offer spiritual, acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ (5b) i. Praise God’s name 1. That people around the world will join in worshipping him ii. Do good, be generous toward others

15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. - Hebrews 13:15-16 I. Live as the People of God 1) Love one another (1:22-25) • The gospel enables you to love purely 2) Long for God’s word (2:1-3) • You’ve had a taste of his goodness, long for more 3) Live as God’s dwelling (2:4-8) • Praise his name, do good