1 Peter 2:1-10

Part 2 of 3 (60.04b)

Note to discussion leaders: The original plan was to cover 1 Peter 2:1-10 in one session, but due to the number of questions and observations made by the group participants we only covered one paragraph of the pericope in each of three sessions. A separate study guide was created for each session. It would be good to consider all three study guides as you prepare to study this pericope so you are prepared no matter how many sessions it takes you to cover this pericope (1 Peter 2:1-10).

Part 1: 1 Peter 2:1-10 (60.04a) (created intending to cover the whole pericope)
Part 2: 1 Peter 2:1-10 (60.04b) (created intending to finish the pericope, focusing on the second and third paragraphs - vv. 4-10)
Part 3: 1 Peter 2:1-10 (60.04c) (created to finish the pericope, focusing on the third paragraphs - vv. 9-10)

Our Growth in Salvation

What does this Bible passage say?

Do you remember our lesson on Hope and Faith; that our hope in Jesus Christ motivates our faith in Jesus Christ? The more our hope grows, the more our faith grows. That is pleasing to God (Hebrews 11:5) and beneficially advantageous for us (2 Timothy 3:16).

This lesson teaches us that hope from salvation by Jesus Christ comes from Our Growth in Salvation (1 Peter 2:1-10).

In our previous session, we covered verses 1-3 of 1 Peter chapter 2, which contains two instructions:

Stop five behaviors that are part of our sinful first (old human) nature (v. 1)
Crave one behavior that must be part of our godly second (new spiritual) nature. (v. 2)

Verse 3 points out that these instructions are for those who actually experienced the kindness that God expressed through Jesus. This is a reference to those who have been born again (1 Peter 1:3) and believe in Him (1 Peter 1:3, 8, 21).

► This would be a good time to

evaluate how well you are stopping and craving as instructed in these three verses;
plan how you will respond to the instructions in these verses.

~~~

This passage teaches how we can grow in our salvation. Notice the progressive rhythm of the paragraphs:

Craving The Word of God (2:1-3) - this paragraph is prescriptive - it instructs us.
Building Upon the Son of God (2:4-8) - this paragraph is descriptive - it informs us.
Serving in the Family of God (2:9-10) - this paragraph has descriptive information that helps us understand the prescriptive nature of the paragraph (in v. 9f, "so that you can ...").

In this session we will dig into the second and third paragraphs of this passage. Let's grow our hope ...

Read 1 Peter 2:1-10 slowly, thoughtfully, and prayerfully from your own Bible and the Study Text provided on this web page.

You may also find reading from other translations helpful, such as these on the Blue Letter Bible website:

Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)
New Living Translation (NLT)

Regarding verses 4-8:

What is a "cornerstone"?
What does this passage say about this cornerstone?

Regarding verses 9-10:

How is the family of God described?
What is the family of God supposed to do?

Bible Study Passage

Crave The Word of God (2:1-3)

Therefore, stopping

all meanness,

and all deception,

and hypocrisy,

and envy,

and all slander,

2 crave the pure, spiritual milk of the word,

like newborn babies crave their mother’s milk,

so that you may grow in your salvation,

3 assuming you have actually experienced the kindness of the Lord.

Build Upon the Son of God (2:4-8)

Every time you come to Him

who is the living stone,

rejected by men as worthless,

but chosen and precious in God’s sight,

5 you yourselves are being built up,

like living stones,

as a spiritual house,

into a holy priesthood,

to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6 As it is written in the Scripture, God said,

“I chose a valuable stone,

which I placed as the cornerstone in Zion;

and anyone who trusts in Him

will never ever be disappointed.”

7 Therefore, He is of precious value for you who trust Him.

But for those who do not trust Him,

“The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.”

8 And,

“He is the stone that causes people to stumble, the rock that makes them fall.”

They were destined to stumble and fall because they do not obey God’s word.

Serve in the Family of God (2:9-10)

But you are

a chosen family,

a royal priesthood,

a holy nation,

God’s own people,

so that you can proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you

out of darkness

into His wonderful light.

10 “Once you had no identity as a people;

now you are God’s people.

Once you received no mercy;

now you have received God’s mercy.”

Read the Study Text and complete the study question above before answering the following questions.

What did this Bible passage mean
to the people of its day?

(Learn about them, then)

Keeping in mind that the people Peter wrote to people who:

were living as refugees, scattered across five Roman provinces, (1 Peter 1:1)
were chosen according to the pre-planned purpose of God, (1 Peter 1:1-2)
and grieved by various trials. (1 Peter 1:6)

What did God want or not want them to know, feel, think, say or do?

Considering their circumstances, what effect do you think this passage might have had on those people back then?

What is the message of this Bible passage
for people today?

(Learn for us, now)

What do believers in Jesus today have in common with the believers in Jesus that Peter wrote to back then?

What does God want or not want us to know, feel, think, say or do?

How can/should/must I do to participate with God according to this study passage? (Click HERE for ways that can help you respond to God's word.)

How will this passage grow your hope and faith in Jesus Christ?

(This Page Last Updated 9/10/2024)

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