1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
After re-reading my last post, the one word in this verse that struck me was "envy". Do I not envy others, all those who had done so many other exciting things and who have traveled widely? Having heard the Good News of what the Lord has done, should not one then realize that he has been blessed with every spiritual blessing? Oh that the Lord should teach me to be satisfied in what He has provided for me and that I be given unto living a life worthy of repentance.
2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—
3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Ah to long for that which is good and holy, and which leads into greater and greater maturity in Christ. Do I desire that which is pure? Have I ceased drinking down iniquities as though it were water (Job 15:16) and turned to drink from the Fountain of Living Water? Just as there is the pure spiritual milk, there is milk which is rotten and does no good for the soul or in the maturing of faith.
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.
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."
Christ the cornerstone. How often do we built mighty works where Christ does not form the foundation, but rather tops it off like a cherry on top of an ice cream sundae. We do all sorts of things and give a momentary acknowledgment of Christ at the end. Is it any wonder so many of our programmes fail in light of eternity?
For only that which is done through Jesus Christ is seen as acceptable by God and whosoever trusts in Him, in His Sovereignty, Power and Sufficiency, and contrary to the culture today, they will not be ashamed on that Day when He returns triumphant to claim His Bride.
7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
"The stone that the builders rejected
has 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.
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.
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.
For those who do not believe on Christ, Christ is made to be a stumbling block before them (1 Cor. 1:23). For indeed, the carnal nature cannot perceive or understand that which is spiritual, and those whom the light of God's Word has not illuminated their minds will strive with every ounce of their energy against it. Such are the vessels of wrath prepared unto destruction (Rom. 9:22)
But in His great mercy and infinite wisdom He has chosen for Himself a people that will glorify Him and exalt His Holy Name. He has called them and brought them out by His own hand those who were dead in their sins and trespasses (Eph. 2:1) and called them His own. Why do I not rejoice in this with exceeding gladness? That my Lord and King should show mercy and grace to me in the greatest ever demonstration of His Love of all eternity. Has my heart become so dull to this magnificent truth?
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
In Christ, we are aliens and strangers in a foreign land for as long as remain in this mortal realm. Is it not astounding that many professing Christians seem to be so comfortable in this life and seek to conform the Church to the World? But we are pilgrims and we seek a city with foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Heb. 11:10). This World has nothing to offer us.
And as pilgrims we are called to strive against the flesh, that sinful nature that still resides in our mortal bodies. It is a war, and in war the battles are always costly. It is a great struggle, but He has already promised us the victory and we fight with that in mind.
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
A prelude of sorts to the remaining verses in chapter 2. Even as aliens and strangers in this world, we are commanded to conduct ourselves honorably and with much good works, so that even when the heathens mock and accuse us of evil, it will be clearly seen that there is no rational basis to the charge.
How different is the situation today. We read of Pastors caught in adulteries, prostituting the church for monetary gain or giving vain prophecies. We read of churches spending tens of millions on buildings and renovations while less than a tenth of that is used to help the poor. One would be hard pressed to tell the difference between some worship services today and the rock concerts held outside. So often is the church seen to be as worldly as the World, and all in the name of being relevant.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
- James 1:27
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