Podcast 104, 1st Peter, “Pt 2, Ch 2”

Peter occupies a special place among the apostles. His name was Simon but Christ gave him the name of Cephas which means stone.

John 1:42

And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

The Greek equivalent is Petros, which also means rock or stone. Therefore, he is generally known as Peter. There is another scripture dealing with the name of Peter that is easy to misunderstand. It is a famous scripture.

Matthew 16:13-17

When Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Peter was often the first to act and the first to speak. He was the first to get out of the boat and walk on water. Here he is the first to acknowledge Christ as the Son of the living God. Jesus blesses Peter for his answer and then teaches Peter and the other apostles an important doctrine of Christianity. He said, “for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” Jesus is speaking of revelation. Only through revelation can anyone know Christ. Paul tells us:

Galatians 1:11-12

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The following synonyms are given for ‘revelation’: divine communication, inspiration, prophecy, heavenly message, vision, oracle, disclosure of truth, communication, enlightenment, awakening, etc. Some things can only come through revelation. A testimony of Christ is one of those things. Even though Peter was in the presence of Christ, still he only knew that Jesus was the Christ through revelation. Christ is teaching that principle to Peter and to the other Apostles. Christ continues.

Matthew 16:18-20

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Jesus is playing on the work ‘rock.’ As stated, it was Jesus who gave Peter the name ‘Cephas’ or rock, but Peter is not the rock upon which the church is built. Christ is.

1 Peter 2:1-5

Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Christ, not Peter, is the ‘living stone.”

1 Peter 2:6-7

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

All Christians agree that Christ is the ‘chief corner stone, elect, precious.” Those who believe in Christ, not Peter, ‘shall not be confounded.” It is Christ who is precious. It is Christ who is ‘the stone which the builders disallowed.’ It is Christ, not Peter, who is “made the head of the corner.” It is Christ also who is a ‘stone of stumbling.’

1 Peter 2:8

And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Therefore, when Christ said to Peter, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,” he was not referring to Peter. He was speaking of himself. Christ is the rock, and only through revelation can we know that Christ is the chief corner stone. Christ must always remain the central figure.

That is powerfully emphasized in Peter’s own words.

1 Peter 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

It was Christ who calls us ‘out of darkness into his marvelous light.’ Also, note the phrase, “But ye are a chosen generation.” That would have been offensive to the Jews for they saw themselves as The Chosen Generation. The title is the same but now it does not refer only to the Jews. It refers only to the followers of Christ whether Jew or Gentile. Another change that would have been very offensive to the Jews is “royal priesthood.” Before only the literal seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob held the royal priesthood. Now it was also to be given to all followers of Christ. Once only Israel was the holy nation. Now only followers of Christ are ‘the holy nation.’ Those who belong to the holy nation are called out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Peter continues.

1 Peter 2:10

Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

In time past they were not the people of God but now they are. Who are the people of God? Once it was only the literal seed of Abraham. Now it is only the followers of Christ regardless of their genealogical tree. That is why they are called a ‘peculiar people.’ Before they had not obtained mercy, but now they had. The mantle of the priesthood has shifted from physical blood line to spiritual blood line, from lineage to faith, from the law of Moses to revelation of Christ.

But to become members of that ‘chosen generation,’ that ‘royal priesthood,’ that ‘peculiar people,’ there is a price to pay. They must become pure.

1 Peter 2: 11-16

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

Gentiles now are defined as those who do not belong to the Church of the Firstborn. Members of Christ’s church are the elect, the chosen ones. They now have a higher law to live than the strict Mosaic law. In the words of Paul,

Ephesians 2:15

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

For example, The Ten Commandments, repeated by Christ, never grow old or wear out or become outdated. They remain firm, but the Sermon on the Mount presented a higher law. The Ten Commandments condemned adultery. The Sermon on the Mount condemned lust, the prelude to adultery. The two great commandments of love the Lord and love our neighbor, superseded the Ten Commandments with the knowledge that if we lived the Royal law, we would naturally live the Ten Commandments or the Law of Liberty.

Peter teaches the higher law.

1 Peter 2:17-21

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

That requires more than the Mosaic Law required. Rather than an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, it is to ‘Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Which are the harder commandments to obey, The Mosaic Law, or the New Gospel of Jesus Christ?