The Church and The Cave 1 Peter 2:4-10
What is the church? That’s a question that will lead to many answers. For some people today they understand the word “church” by location. They go to a church, a specific church building, but that’s not the Bible’s definition of church. For others the church is an organization you join with other like-minded people. People who love pickleball join pickleball leagues. People who like to ride motorcycles join motorcycle clubs. People who are into politics join a political party. People who love books join book clubs. There is an endless list of organizations that we can join, but the church is much more than an organization to join. Some people see the church as a group to get involved with if you want to socialize with others. I’ve even heard the church called the poor man’s country club. Community is definitely a strength of the church, but the church is much more than an opportunity to socialize. Some people understand the church to be a charitable organization that does good work in the community like the Red Cross or Habitat for Humanity. The church does good work, but good work does not define the church. Last week we began looking at Peter’s four descriptions of the church when he reminded the scattered exiles…
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9 NIV)
“A chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession…” That is an amazing description of a ragtag group of people who had no standing in their communities. They were nobody to those who were somebody in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia and yet Peter tells them they are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s special possession. How did they achieve such wonderful titles? What did they accomplish to move into such a position? The question should be “What was done for them?” instead of “What did they do?” Back in Peter’s opening of this letter, he described the answer to that question this way.
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. (1 Peter 1:1-2 NIV)
They had been elected, chosen by God…through the sanctifying work of the Spirit…to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood. So you see, it was Jesus’ work on their behalf that set them apart as God’s special possession and made them into a holy nation. That is the definition of the church. The church is the community of those who have been redeemed, reconciled to God, through Jesus Christ. The church’s identity is not based on our ethnicity, nationality, social causes, status in society, or our agenda. Our identity as a collective group, or as the “Body of Christ” as Paul calls us, is based on our relationship to Jesus. Let’s read our Scripture from 1 Peter 2:4-10.
4 As you come to him, the living Stone-- rejected by humans 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. 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." 7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," 8 and, "A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message-- which is also what they were destined for. 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:4-10 NIV)
Last week we spent our time taking a look at the first two descriptions: “a chosen people” and “a royal priesthood.” So today we will spend our time on trying to understand what it means to be a “holy nation” and “God’s special possession.” I mentioned last week that each of these four descriptive phrases was first applied to the Israelites that God rescued from the oppressive hand of the Egyptian Pharaoh. Let’s go back to Exodus 19:5-6 and you can see the two phrases we will study this morning. After God freed them from the Egyptians, He told Moses to speak to the people.
5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." (Exodus 19:5-6 NIV)
What does it mean for the followers of Jesus to be a holy nation? The phrase is made up of two Greek words, the word, “ἔθνος” (ethnos), which means “nation” or “people” and the word “ἅγιος” (hagios) which means “holy” or “set apart.” This word “ethnos” is the word from which we get our English word “ethnic” or “ethnicity.” It describes a group of people united in kinship, culture, language, religion, and tradition. In America we have created two different categories, race and ethnicity, by which we identify people. The race of a person is determined by their physical and biogenetic traits whereas ethnicity describes a person’s cultural identity. In the Bible there are only two different groups of people, Jews and Gentiles. Those two groups have their own cultural distinctives.
The people God rescued from Egypt, His chosen people, were called to be a holy nation, a set apart people who were set apart for a purpose. God’s purpose for His chosen people was that they would be a light to the nations, that through Israel the nations of the world would see how God’s love had transformed them, and they in turn would turn from their ways and serve the Living God. For that to happen, Israel had to be a holy nation, different from the other nations of the world. In Leviticus 19:1-4, we read,
1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy. 3 "'Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God. 4 "'Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:1-4 NIV)
“Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the LORD your God.” What God is telling them is this: Don’t be like the nations around you. Don’t live the way they live. Be holy, be different, in the way I am different.
In Deuteronomy, as Israel was getting ready to enter into the Promised Land, Moses reminded them once again of how important it would be for them to live set apart lives for God’s purpose and glory.
9 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD; because of these same detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God. 14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so. (Deuteronomy 18:9-14 NIV)
The sad tragedy is that Israel failed miserably. God promised them that if they failed to live set apart lives for His glory and purpose that He would judge them, He would use the nations of the world to punish them. And it happened. The northern Kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians in 721 B.C. The southern Kingdom of Judah and the capital city of Jerusalem was invaded by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. and for the next 70 years they were exiles living in a strange land. In Psalm 137:1-4 we read,
1 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. 2 There on the poplars we hung our harps, 3 for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" 4 How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land? (Psalm 137:1-4 NIV)
In Jesus, a new chosen people, a new holy nation was about to emerge. This holy nation shares a common culture, but it’s not a culture derived from any nation on the planet, but it is the culture of our King. Miroslav Volf grew up in Croatia and became a follower of Jesus in high school. He is now the Director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture at Yale University. He writes,
All the churches of Jesus Christ, scattered in diverse cultures, have been redeemed for God by the blood of the Lamb to form one multicultural community of faith. The ‘blood’ that binds them as brothers and sisters is more precious than the ‘blood,’ the language, the customs, political allegiances, or economic interests that may separate them. We reject the false doctrine, as though a church should place allegiance to the culture it inhabits and the nation to which it belongs above the commitment to brothers and sisters from other cultures and nations, servants of the one Jesus Christ, their common Lord, and members of God’s new community. (Miroslav Volf, inspired by The Barmen Declaration)
That is so powerful! We all have different backgrounds. At Britton Christian Church we are from many nations and cultures, each of them different one from another, and yet we are one new community, a redeemed community created by Jesus our Savior.
Far too often the church in America has tried to imitate the world, but with a Christian twist. Twenty years ago the new trend in church conferences was how to develop an “attractional model” for our churches in order to spur on church growth. By “attractional model” they meant that we should implement elements in our worship services and church life that would attract unbelievers. The conferences were a big hit and churches that adopted the model did grow, but I think it was a miserable failure. We are not called to put a Christian spin on what the world is doing, we are called to be holy. Paul urged the church in Rome,
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)
“Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The city of Corinth was the Las Vegas of the first century. It was a multicultural, metropolitan city with travelers coming and going. It was filled with all kinds of religious shrines and temples. Paul wrote to the followers of Jesus in Corinth and reminded them of who they were.
2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ-- their Lord and ours: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:2-3 NIV)
They were “the church of God in Corinth.” They were “those sanctified in Christ Jesus.” They were “called to be his holy people, together with all of those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…” What was said of them can also be said of us. We are the church of God in Oklahoma City. We are “those sanctified in Christ Jesus.” We are “called to be his holy people, together with all of those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We do not live like those in our city. Our minds and hearts and desires have been and are being changed because of our relationship with Jesus. Tim Keller once said,
When you become a follower of Jesus it affects everything, everything. The way you do business, the way you think of yourself as a man or a woman, the way you relate to other races, the way you do art and see art, the way in which you see money and the way in which you spend your money. Everything, socially, economically, spiritually, culturally, emotionally, everything is affected because you are a holy nation. It’s absolutely comprehensive because the Church is a colony of heaven, our citizenship is in heaven, and therefore our values, our way of thinking, comes down and mixes in with what we are and transforms us in every single area of life. (Tim Keller. People of God. February 13, 1994)
Let’s take a look at the last descriptive phrase Peter shared with the followers of Jesus living under the rule of the Roman Emperor. He wanted them to know they were “God’s special possession.” Peter has once again borrowed from what God said about His people, the Israelites, back in the Hebrew Bible. In Exodus 19:5, we read,
5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession… (Exodus 19:5 NIV)
God also calls His people “my treasured possession” in Malachi 3:17. It’s important for us to understand the word Peter uses in 1 Peter 2:9, which is translated as “possession.” The Greek word, “περιποίησις” (peripoiēsis), means “possession” or “gaining.” It is used to describe the act of gaining possession of something.
In Acts 20, Paul was meeting with the elders from Ephesus for the very last time. He knew he would never see them again so he wanted to share with them his final instructions. Listen to what he had to say in Acts 20:28.
28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. (Acts 20:28 NIV)
We did not become God’s special possession because of anything we did to impress Him. We are not currently His special possession because we have lived such a good life. God is not like a coach who will bench you if you mess up. He is not like the boss who will fire you if you fail to meet your quotas for the quarter. He loves you with an everlasting love and His love was proven when He made you His special possession. Did you hear that? He made you His special possession. How did He do that? Listen to what Paul told the people of Corinth.
18 Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. 19 Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20 NLT)
“He bought you with a high price.” Our desire to live godly lives, to love others the way Jesus has shown His love for us, and to refuse to live like those who do not know Jesus is not to gain His approval, but it is because He has approved us, He has made us His special possession through His death on the cross for our sins. Paul wrote,
8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. (Romans 5:8-10 NLT)
Let’s take just a minute and let that sink in. While we were still sinners Jesus died for us. When we could have cared less about God or what He has done for us, Jesus died for us. For some of us, while we were mocking Jesus and His followers, Jesus died for us. Is that not mind-boggling? If you are a follower of Jesus this morning, does that not humble you beyond description? He did that for me while I was turning away from Him. He made me and He has made you, those of you who are His followers, His special possession. Why has He done this? First and foremost because He loves you. There is a second reason and it is found in the last phrase of 1 Peter 2:9. Will you read it with me just one more time?
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9 NIV)
He gave His life for you so that “you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” There was a time in each of our lives when we too were walking in darkness, that is before He called us out of darkness into His wonderful light. There are some people here this morning who are still walking in darkness, even though you would never describe yourself in that way. I remember all too well when I was walking in darkness. Nobody could convince me I was walking in darkness. I could see clearly. I understood what I wanted in life. I understood clearly how the world worked. I saw what I saw and drew my conclusions based upon what I saw. And this is how many of you are living this morning.
The Greek philosopher Plato wrote a masterpiece about 2500 years ago called The Republic. In his book, he tells a story, an allegory he titled, The Cave, that describes the life I was living and the life many of you are living today. He wrote the story of The Cave to describe how people acquire knowledge about beauty, justice, and goodness, but I think it has an even greater application for how God calls us out of the darkness into His marvelous light.
In the story, Plato writes about people who have been trapped in a cave from birth. The inside of the cave is the only reality they have ever known. They are chained at their feet and at their neck so they can only stare at the wall of the cave in front of them. Behind them there is a fire and between the people and the fire are people carrying objects that cast shadows on the wall. The residents of the cave see the shadows and come up with all kinds of stories describing what they think is reality. They were convinced their stories were true because they didn’t know the shadows were only shadows, illusions of what was really happening behind them. Those who are chained end up taking great pride in their supposed understanding of the world and how it works, based only on shadows.
One day, one of the men was freed from his chains and he eventually found his way outside of the cave into the glorious sunlight. The light was blinding since he had spent his entire life deep in the cave. After a while his eyes adjusted to the light and he began to see plants, animals, birds, trees, and even himself. He was amazed! He then began to realize the shadows he saw while he was living in the cave were only poor representations of what was actually happening in the world, what he was now able to clearly see. It dawned on him that it was the sun that allowed him to truly see.
The man continued to marvel at everything he saw in every direction he looked. He began to think about his friends back in the cave. He had to tell his friends. He went back to the cave and realized that it seemed much darker than he ever imagined while he was chained in the darkness. The darkness of the cave didn’t suit him like it had before he had seen the light. When his eyes adjusted to the darkness he found his way to his friends. He tried to explain to them they were being kept in the dark about the world and the beauty of life outside the cave. Those who had known nothing but the cave their entire lives wouldn’t listen. They wanted nothing to do with what they thought was nonsense being shared by their friend. They were so locked in to their perception of reality that they concluded their friend had lost his mind, he was a mad-man. He was persistent, but they would not budge. Eventually they plotted to kill him.
Plato wrote his allegory almost four hundred years before Jesus was born. In Plato’s story it was the sun that brought true knowledge about the reality of life, but in God’s story it is the Son, Jesus our Lord, that brings life and gives us new eyes to see, a new mind of understanding, and a new heart and desire to live as God’s chosen people, as a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s special possession.
12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." (John 8:12 NLT)
I believe with all of my heart that the Son is shining His marvelous light into darkened hearts here in this sanctuary this morning. He will loose your chains and lead you out of the darkness. Won’t you receive Him as your Lord and Savior this morning?
Mike Hays
June 2, 2024
