Exploring 1st Peter and Our Christian Journey

Peter has led us through a number of explanations and definitions regarding our position as Christians in chapter one. This allows him to give us a wherefore in the first part of chapter two. This IF/THEN approach, so far in our study of 1st Peter has proven to be a pattern. In verses 3-5 he first describes how we are redeemed and kept by the power of God and then in verse 6 he essentially explains: This then is background on the suffering they were experiencing.

The Pattern of IF/THEN in 1st Peter

In verses 10-12, Peter talks about how the prophets used to seek diligently to comprehend the salvation that we believers have experienced. Then in verse 14 he says, “wherefore, gird up your loins etc." If (or since the prophets only could look into the salvation you possess) THEN you ought to now gird up your loins. Then in verse 17 the cycle repeats, and Peter writes:

17 “And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work…” and then he delivers the “then” saying: “Then pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.” Chapter one ended with an “if” or “since” collection with Peter telling us that we have been “redeemed by the Word,” with “incorruptible seed” and this launches us into his next series of “then’s” at verse 1 of chapter two with him saying:

Application to Our Lives

1st Peter 2:1 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. Let’s stop there. Back to verse 1.

1st Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, You have been redeemed by incorruptible seed, by the Word, “wherefore.” “As a result.” It is interesting that Peter needs to even remind us of these responses. I mean, since we have been redeemed by incorruptible seed why do we need these “then” reminders? Isn’t the seed taking over and filling us and causing all of our predilections to self to die?

If we speak and teach in hyperbole then we could assume this is so – that once God has redeemed us with His incorruptible seed we are free from evil and sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. and are completely new creatures in Christ. This used to be sort of pushed on me when I was in school and I believed it for a while. The trouble is it smacks squarely against the totality of scripture – including what Peter continues to say here in his epistle.

If our being redeemed by incorruptible seed ensured that we would abide fully in Him as new creatures then Peter and the rest would not spend time reminding us of the fact that we are His nor include follow-ups of what our behaviors should be as a result.

The fact that the warnings and admonitions are throughout the New Testament tells me a couple of things: First, while believers HAVE certainly been redeemed by incorruptible seed that seed is small, it requires proper soil, and constant watering of the word. The receiving of the seed from God is the “IF” or the Since) and the “IF’s” are very rational and necessary reminders that receiving the seed is not the end game and that the very human potential to allow the seed to wither up and die is all too real.

Additionally, as Peter and Paul and John are constantly supplying us with reminders of what the presence of God in us “OUGHT” to look like it suggests (with scripture) that The Spirit needs to be fed instead of the flesh. There is a war in our flesh against the things of the Spirit having power. We are therefore admonished to die daily, to take up our cross and follow Christ as a result (IF or Since) He is alive and growing in us.

The Battle Between Flesh and Spirit

The longer I live the more I realize the reality of this life-long battle and the attitudes and actions required for victory – with the victory being defined as living by the Spirit and therefore offering God an abundance of the fruit of the Spirit as a result. This is the reason for the “Then Admonitions.” Those great passages in Ephesians give us yet another reminder, saying:

Ephesians 4:17-32 says it this way “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in

Understanding the Call to Renewed Living

the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

The Biblical Invitation to Cast Off the Old

We recall in our study of Hebrews the writer opening chapter 12 up with:

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore (since or If) seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Getting more specific, Paul says in Colossians 3:8-10

“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Interestingly, Peter writes here in verse one:

Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, And Paul says:

1st Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings

They are exact, proving either the Holy Spirit give both Paul and Peter the same words, or Peter was influenced by Paul, or Paul was influenced by Peter. Whatever the case the meaning is the same – “lay aside” remove from thyself, set away.

The Word is Apoth-eeth-amee.

The Call to Cast Off Darkness

In Romans 13:12 where we read:

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off (Apoth-eeth-amee) the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.”

The allusion is applied to a race or sporting event where as a means to free oneself or unburden oneself of clothing so as to perform. Set, or more violently and expeditiously, “cast” off these things . . . entirely. Really, don’t retain them in your life. They are interfering with our call to bear fruits of love.

I’m sure most of us have experienced the frustration of being encumbered by an article of clothing that is heavy or hot or getting in the way of your race or work – like a cuff that keeps catching on a nail – CAST IT WAY! (show the frustration)

But not in the Romans passage that Paul doesn’t just say to cast the things off but adds, “and put on the armor of light.”

In this we discover not only “the setting aside of dark things” but the putting on of light things – a really, really important part of the Christian walk or we might end up living out a terrifying situation Jesus described in Matthew 12:43 when He said:

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry

The Struggle with Flesh and Spirit

As you may know, I do some counseling with a number of people both here in CAMPUS but far more with people around the Nation who contact us due to the online ministry. One trend I see in the lives of people who struggle mightily with their flesh—whether it be outright sins like lust, drugs, drink, or violence or sins of the soul like jealousy, pettiness, or hate—is they focus, focus, focus on the sin itself (instead of casting it OFF) and generally speaking, most do not replace what they DO cast away with the armor of light.

So, going into what Peter says here, we would do well to remember that it’s NOT just the act of casting off darkness but it’s the simultaneous application of light. Quite frankly, in my estimation, the order, at least in my life, is bring the light in and the dark disappears.

So, understanding this lets look to Peter’s laundry list (which as we said mirrors Paul’s)

Laying Aside Dark Traits

“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,”

In scripture, kakian, the Greek, is described in a number of different ways including evil, wickedness, maliciousness (twice), naughtiness and, as it is translated here in the King James, malice. Bottom line, it’s a general term for evil actions. Set them aside.

“And all guile.” The word is DOLOS in the Greek and appears to be from an obsolete primary verb, dello (which probably relates to our word, “decoy.” It’s trickery, baiting people, craftiness, and subtilty, and attempts to prey upon.

Looking to my childhood, I think of the Mel Blanc RoadRunner cartoons which, in my estimation, perfectly depict the wise as a serpent but harmless as a dove roadrunner and the conniving, cunning trickster Wiley Coyote. Chuck Jones, the creator of the cartoon, took the idea for Wiley Coyote from Mark Twain’s book, Roughing it, where he describes the Coyote as a “long-slim, sick and sorry looking skeleton” that is “a living, breathing allegory of Want. He is always hungry.”

It is Wiley’s insatiability that contributes to his incessant guile. The idea, especially taking in Paul’s added advice to put on the armor of light, is to replace the WANT of the flesh with WANTS of the Spirit. In this, we shift from fighting fighting and fighting the flesh to feeding, feeding, feeding the Spirit. Had Wiley done this, he would have given up on the bird.

Other Undesirable Traits

Hand in hand with Guile—“hypocrisies.” We get this one because we’re all to some extent or another guilty—the word is also translated “dissimulation,” in scripture. Feigning to be what we are not and in religion assuming a false appearance of holiness or piety when in reality we are wolves in sheep’s clothing—to appeal to yet another magnificent cartoon theme.

“And envies.” The best definition I think for the Greek word? Ill-will. Hatred of others on account of something they possess or achieve. It’s close to jealousy but not the same. Envy happens when someone has something we lack and we hate them for having it. Jealousy is when we have something and that thing is threatened by a third party. Envy is uncategorically evil but scripture says that God is even jealous—so there’s a place for righteous jealousy.

Peter adds, “And all evil speaking.” “Katalalia” speaking against others is how evil speaking here is defined. This word only shows up here and in 2nd Corinthians 12:20 where it is translated backbiting. So we are talking about unkind words, mean gossips, and slander of every kind.

I notice in really little children, many of these things are absent. Yes, they are selfish and the like, but often, when children are unexposed to others and then find a friend or have a new experience, they frequently describe their friends in really honest, kind terms. Maybe those cartoons have more influence on the fallen nature than I believed? But it seems that children who are protected from the ways of the world haven’t acquired true envy (yet) nor are they hypocritical.

Becoming as Little Children

Because of this type of heart, I think Jesus said in Matthew 18:3:

"Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

With this in mind, we understand better verse 2 where, after having said to set aside these character flaws and sins, Peter adds:

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

So we are presented with a comparison – “as newborn babes.” In other words, Peter’s readers are to adapt to their faith as newborn babes.

In our former lives, we learned to deceive, be hypocritical, and have malice and envy, but we are to set those things aside and become as “newborn babes” (in Christ), and like a newborn infant, we, as newborn Christians, would desire what Peter calls, “the sincere milk of the Word.” An amazing facet of newborn mammals is the innate desire for mother’s milk. It is instantly present at birth and present to ensure the survival of the infant. The imagery is impressive and meaningful because just as the very existence and continued health and growth of an infant is based solely on access to the mother’s milk, Peter seems to suggest that the very existence of a babe in Christ is reliant upon what Peter calls the Milk of the Word.

The Importance of the Word

I believe this with all of my heart and take it very seriously in our missional outreach and counseling for people coming to the Lord. There is NOTHING more important – not fellowship. Not marriage to another believer. Not church positions or church activities. His Word – the hearing of it, the teaching of it, the reading of it by the Spirit.

I think being in His word is more important than casting off sin because the result of being in the word will be the casting off of sin, but the casting off of sin WITHOUT the word does not mean the heart has changed.

Heart – mind, will, and emotions first – and the actions will follow. That which alters these inner elements is the washing of the Word. And we begin with washings (and feedings) of milk. I find myself extremely frustrated when believers who are babes spend time trying to talk about or delve into meaty topics when they have not developed the tools to both chew and digest it. They typically find themselves spending an exorbitant amount of time trying to explain the ontology of God or musings on who the anti-Christ is before understanding who God, because He so loved us, sent . . . and what He said and did on our behalf.

Foundations in Faith

We cannot forget what Jesus said to his disciples who came to Him in Matthew 18 verse one (where we read):

Matthew 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

I truly think that in order for believers to remain and retain the simple humility of children in Christ they have to have cut their teeth on a sound and grounded understanding of the Milk of the Word. It’s the proper nutrition for a new believer and serves to help form the building blocks of a healthy and sound theological frame.

Without it, I think the believer develops what seems like a deficiency in their walk, and having jumped from the world to being a meat eater, they are like a giant redwood that is rotting inside and incapable of standing up to the winds that seek to bring them down. In my estimation, this is exactly what happened to the man they called Canada’s Billy Graham, Charles Templeton. Early in his walk, he was received as a great orator and was then accepted into a PhD program (off this reputation) before he had a real understanding of the Word.

Having said all of this, and I might as well mention this here, we know from our studies in Hebrews that believers cannot remain Milk drinkers indefinitely. Let’s appeal to Paul and what he had to say regarding this in 1st Corinthians 3:1-3, where he says:

1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto

Spiritual Growth and Maturity

you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

In other words, milk drinkers or babes in Christ have a great propensity to “debate and envy and divide” – but meat eaters are far more mature and having learned to chew and digest weightier matters are not so quick to such things. Nevertheless, Peter here does commend to his reader that they desire, “The sincere milk of the word.”

The Sincere Milk of the Word

There are a couple main Greek words that relate to sincerity. One is aptharsia and it means sincerely. The other is adolon and it means without guile or deception. This second term is the word used here in 1st Peter chapter 2. What’s the difference? Strangely, it seems the passage is saying that as Newborns in the faith that they (and we) desire the clearest, unabridged, unadulterated teachings of the Word.

We might suppose that some might seek to have their ears itched, or their imaginations fired up, or their intellects massaged by the Word – maybe there are those who seek to have their ideas of what the Word should say echoed when they hear it taught, but to hear the word taught without guile or deception is what Peter is suggesting AND NOT just to hear the word taught with sincerity. There seems to be an allusion to the gospel in its purest and most simple form which can be adapted to become a great nutrient of the new-born soul. Why? Peter adds: “That ye may grow thereby.” The word literally means to increase in size, grow up.

Of course Peter is speaking of spiritual and heavenly things not earthly and so to grow in such things would mean to grow in the things of the Spirit that produce heavenly attributes and characteristics which lend to fruits of love. We feed a tomato seed water, soil, and sunlight and due to these nutrients it grows (increases) as a means to produce fruit (the reason the tomato plant exists). We feed human infants with the milk so that baby can to grow, mature, and create or add to the world around her or him.

Nurturing the Flock

The Christian life, the Christian believer is no different (preaching again to the choir) and the sheep must be fed heavenly nutrients by and through the word. We sing Ezekiel 34:2 right? Where God says to the prophet:

“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?”

Jeremiah 23:1 “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. 2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. 3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. 4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.”

Because we teach the word here at CAMPUS does not put us on any sort of pedestal – we are simply doing what the Word tells us to do – nothing more. It’s like if a Christian finds a purse on the train with a thousand dollars in it and returns it to the rightful owner. That was not something good – that was simply doing what is expected.

Of course we know the conversation Jesus had with Peter in John 21:15 where we read:

15 “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. (I believe that when Jesus said this to Peter everyone who had received Him or who would receive Him was still a lamb and

The Role of Feeding the Flock

16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (Signifying that as the lambs grow Peter would continue to feed them as sheep) 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, “Feed my sheep.”

This is the job of the sub-shepherds of the sheep – to feed them heavenly spiritual nourishment. It is not to provide them with temporal care, or financial means, or food or clothing. These things are secondary – at best.

From Apostolic Days to Modern Times

It used to be that the church – from the Apostolic days up until I’m not sure when – would distribute to the poor. And it is still a good thing. But with Government stepping more and more into the fray of social services, the churches began to defray their support for the poor and put it into brick and mortar institutions, college campuses, Christian education, and world-wide missional outreach (again, often to the poor). I am not against Christian people – even the local Christian church – supporting the temporally poor and needy. I am especially supportive of individual Christians choosing to help or serve or provide for individual cases in their community. But the PRIMARY purpose of the church must always be the sharing and teaching of the word – without exception.

Jesus' Encounter in John 6

We know the tendencies of human beings though, don’t we – feed the flesh and maybe give the spirit a few crumbs along the way. Jesus encountered this in John 6 after he fed the masses fish and bread. He departed into a mountain alone, then crossed the sea. The next day the people who had eaten of his literal bread were looking all over for him. They were working to find him again. And so in John 6:25 we read:

25 “And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? 26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27 Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.”

Later in the chapter, Jesus says to this same crowd:

47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This (meaning Himself – the Word of God) is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Church Purpose and Social Issues

I sometimes wonder, especially due to the focus on human social issues like hunger and poverty (and the like) that the church sometimes errs on the side of thinking its purpose and value is to feed the masses with bread. In today’s world of corporate and government and social services, I am not so sure this is our place or purpose – at all.

Let me be exceptionally frank since we are on the subject: I don’t know of any good reason why any living adult in this country – no matter how poor they are, would or could go without food – especially in the urban areas of the country. I have a pastors social services book that is full of human resources for people who are needy to obtain help. But I have yet to find a single government or government social service with the sole purpose of teaching and feeding the poor in spirit the word of God.

Give it some thought. In any case, Peter has said:

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

And then adds at verse 3:

3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Understanding Peter's Message

Experiencing God's Grace

Think the better way to understand this passage is to read it as: "Since you have tasted that the Lord is gracious."

I don’t think Peter was expressing any doubt on the state of His readers but was instead saying that since they had had an experimental acquaintance with the grace of God, meaning they have personally come to “taste or experience His grace and love,” they should desire to increase more and more in the knowledge and love of him. This would begin by setting aside the things from their former lives, putting on the armor of light, and seeking the sincere Milk of the Word.

Setting Aside Former Lives

Sermon Summary: Peter encourages his reader to begin setting aside the things from their former lives, (Paul adds that they also “put on the armor of light,”) and to begin to seek “the sincere Milk of the Word.”

Announcements

Dr. Don K. Preston
Volunteers Meeting

REPEAT QUESTION