Page 45 - General Epistles (James through Jude) Textbook

Study Section 9: Chosen for a Purpose and Living Godly Lives in Pagan
Society.

9.1 Connect.

There is a famous spiritual song entitled, “This World is Not my Home!” The words go
something like this:

This world is not my home I'm just a passing through, My treasures are laid up somewhere
beyond the blue, The angels beckon me from heaven's open door, And I can't feel at home in
this world anymore!

Oh lord you know I have no friend like you. If heaven's not my home then lord what will I do?
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door, And I can't feel at home in this world anymore

We are reminded in this song that we are pilgrims on earth. This is not our home. We are just passing
through. In this section of I Peter, we are reminded that we are sojourners and pilgrims. Our home is
eternal. We need to be busy about preparing for eternity. What we do here ought to count for eternity
and not just for the hear and now. Let’s see if we can build that thought into our minds as we study…

9.2 Objectives.

1. The student should be able to know the purpose of God’s choosing/election of Christians.

2. The student should be able to know what godly-living looks like in pagan society.

3. The student should be able to define pagan society in light of Peter’s writing.

9.3 Chosen for a Purpose and Living Godly Lives in Pagan Society (1 Pet. 2:4—3:7).

Chosen by God and Precious to Him (1 Pet. 2:4-10).

Peter—in his continued address to his audience experiencing grief suffering—encouraged
them that their continued relationship with the Living Stone (cf. Ps. 118:22-23; Isa. 8:14-15;
28:16)—Jesus Christ—also, they as living stones, are being built up into a spiritual house. In the
Old Testament, God is identified as the rock. “As for the Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are
just. He is a reliable God who is never unjust, he is fair and upright” (Deut. 34:4 [NET]). In some
passages, He is called Israel’s rock and redeemer; “May my words and my thoughts be acceptable in
your sight, O Lord, my sheltering rock and my redeemer” (Ps. 19:14 [NET]). It could possibly mean that
God is the defensive wall and footing for the nation. So, is Jesus Christ to all Christians. Spiritual house
possibly means a household of believers. If Peter still had Old Testament thoughts in mind, spiritual
house would be symbolic of a temple where the children of Israel (together as a unit) would worship
God ceremonially. So, while in tight connection with the Living Stone (who is Jesus Christ), Peter’s
audience were being built up. Now, that phrase is coming from a Greek word which is in continuous
tense. The “being built up” does not happen once but it is viewed as a steady and on-going act.

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