Life and Building in Peter's Epistles

 

Life and Building in Peter's Epistles

1 Pet 1:23 "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible"

2 Pet 1:3-4 "His divine power has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness"

 

Aspect	Content	Scripture References
Center	1. Life - The Triune God embodied in Christ, realized as the Spirit	1 Pet 1:23 "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible"
	2. Building - The church as Christ's Body	2 Pet 1:3-4 "His divine power has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness"
Goal	Obtaining a spiritual house built with living stones	1 Pet 2:5 "You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house"
	- Christ as the incorruptible seed and living stone	John 1:42 "You shall be called Cephas (which means Peter)"
	- Believers transformed into living stones	Matt 16:18 "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church"
Means	1. Growth in Life:
	- Loving the Lord and attending to the spirit	1 Pet 1:8 "Though not seeing Him, you love Him"
	- Experiencing the breaking of the cross	1 Pet 4:14 "If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed"
	- Putting away all malice and guile	1 Pet 2:1 "Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy"
	2. Nourishment of the Word:
	- Receiving pure milk of the word	1 Pet 2:2-3 "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word"
	- Meditating on God's word through prayer	Psalm 119:15 "I will meditate on Your precepts"
Results	1. Building up of spiritual house	Eph 2:21 "In whom all the building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple"
	2. Formation of holy priesthood	1 Pet 2:9 "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood"
	3. Attaining full salvation and transformation	1 Cor 2:15 "But he who is spiritual appraises all things"
Application	1. Corporate Priestly Service:
	- Declaring God's virtues	1 Pet 2:9b "That you may proclaim the excellencies of Him"
	- Offering spiritual sacrifices	Heb 13:15-16 "Through Him then, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise"
	2. Practical Living:
	- Acting according to God's leading	2 Cor 10:13 "According to the measure of the rule which God has apportioned"
	- Allowing Christ's death to operate	John 12:24 "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies"

 

This table synthesizes the main teachings about life and building in Peter's Epistles from the provided materials, including the central thoughts, God's goals, the means of accomplishment, final results, and practical applications. Each aspect is accompanied by relevant scriptural references, helping us better understand these truths.

 

*Please refer to the 2024 International Thanksgiving Conference  'Living the Christian Life and Church Life under God's Government for God's Economy'  Message Three: Life and Building in Peter's Epistles"