Sermon Three: “Be Changed” 1 Peter 2:1-8 Page 1888 “BeCOMING HOLY” Sermon Three: “Be Changed” 1 Peter 2:1-8 Page 1888

Where Have We Been? Prepare your minds for action and Set Your Hope Fully on the Grace of God. Consider Your Connections. Today we are challenged to put effort in to the process of change by letting go of sin and to honor the changes that God provides as he makes connections to himself and one another. God calls us to change and he changes us.

Today’s Text: In the first three verses we are called to rid ourselves of sinful behaviour. In the next five verses we are called to consider our connection to Christ and the consequences of not making that connection while time is available.

The Process of Change: Connecting to Jesus enters us into a change process. People become closer to God through one choice at a time and we can become farther from God one choice at a time. If, or where, your life is not drawing closer to God then confess, repent, reaffirm your commitment and turn back to God.

1 Peter 1:17-25 The passage ends reminding us that we are born again of imperishable seed by the knowledge of the word of God which stands forever. These new connections lead to the “therefore” of 2:1 and our text today.

1 Peter 2:1 page 1888 “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.”

1 Peter 2:1-3 Page 1888 1Pe 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

The Cornerstone If you change this one stone you change the building!! If you reject this stone then the whole building is flawed. Is Jesus your cornerstone? Is everything else connected to Him and His word?

1 Peter 2:4-5 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:6 6 For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

1 Peter 2:7-8 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,’” 1Pe 2:8 and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message —which is also what they were destined for.

1 Peter 2:8 “Destined?” Acts 4:12 Rejecting Jesus has eternal consequence. ἐτέθησαν (etethēsan) — 2 Occurrences Acts 7:16 Verb-Aorist Indicative Passive-3rd Person Plural GRK: Συχὲμ καὶ ἐτέθησαν ἐν τῷ NAS: to Shechem and laid in the tomb KJV: Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre INT: Shechem and were placed in the

“God’s Word” Translation : a stone that people trip over, a large rock that people find offensive." The people tripped over the word because they refused to believe it. Therefore, this is how they ended up.

We Are Changed! Connecting Christ changes us. He calls us away from sin and into a life of love.   First of all – Are you connected to Christ and His grace? Has His grace covered your sins? If not this week is a good week to make the change and connect to the cornerstone.

How Are You Showing Love? How are you doing with showing God’s love to others? How are you showing love for the family of God? How are you loving those who love you? How do you show kindness to strangers? How are you loving the lost? How are you loving your enemies?

Next Week: 1 Peter 2:9-12 – “Be Attractive” as God’s people who are aliens and strangers in this world.