Grace in Focus Podcast Summary

Episode Title: Longing For the Pure Milk of God’s Word (1 Peter 2:1-12)
Hosts: Bob Wilkin and David Renfro
Date: January 8, 2026
Duration: ~13 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the transformative exhortations in 1 Peter 2:1-12, specifically encouraging believers and churches to deeply desire the Word of God, live out their identity in Christ, and function as a spiritual community. Bob Wilkin and David Renfro dig into how these verses distinguish between justification and sanctification, explore the church as a spiritual house, and discuss the practical and theological implications for both Jewish and Gentile believers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Desiring the Pure Milk of God’s Word (1 Peter 2:1-3)

• Corporate Setting:
  The passage is addressed corporately—urging the local church to lay aside malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and evil speaking. This clears the way for the body to receive biblical teaching without impediment.
  • Wilkin: “We, as a local church, need to lay aside all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and evil speaking...when we come together to hear the Word of God taught, we are going to be hindered in our ability to take it in.” [01:53]
• Preparation for Worship:
  Entering church shouldn’t be approached casually or with reluctance; it requires intentional spiritual readiness, akin to a newborn longing for milk.
  • Wilkin: “We should be anticipating...prepare ourselves to eat this spiritual feast. Part of the way we do that is laying aside anything that's going to hinder us.” [02:48]
• Greek Wordplay:
  There’s a subtle Greek play on the words “Christos” (Christ) and “chrestos” (gracious)—highlighting that the Lord Jesus is the very embodiment of grace.
  • Wilkin: “...there's a play on words in the Greek...Christos is very similar to Chrestos. How is Chrestos translated? Gracious.” [03:17]

2. Corporate Worship and Scriptural Growth

• Historical Context:
  In the first century, only local churches had copies of the Scriptures. Hearing the Word together was vital for communal spiritual growth.
  • Wilkin: “The local churches had the scrolls and the local churches had copies of books of the New Testament. That's where you would go to hear the word of God taught.” [04:22]
• Modern Application:
  Even with easy Bible access today, regular, corporate exposure to preaching remains crucial for ongoing maturation.
  • Wilkin: “This verse is calling us to corporate worship and to hear the Word of God taught. And this is...where we grow is week in and week out.” [04:43]
  • Renfro: “There's no such thing as knowing too much...You can have a surface knowledge...if you have a good understanding...it's time for you to dig into some of the details. That's a lifelong process.” [05:02]

3. Living Stones and Spiritual Sacrifices (1 Peter 2:4-8)

• Believers as Living Stones:
  Drawing from OT imagery, believers are depicted as living stones being built into a spiritual house, with Christ as the foundational, chosen, and precious stone.
  • Wilkin: “We're a spiritual house. The foundation is Christ. We're part of that. We're living stones.” [05:17]
• Contrast to Old Covenant:
  The emphasis shifts from physical to spiritual sacrifices, underlining the change from Mosaic Law to Christ-based faith.
  • Renfro: “Notice it's not physical sacrifices. ...Things have changed.” [06:03]
• Progressive Growth:
  The text’s trajectory: First, listen to Christ; second, grow in Him; third, build your life on Him.
  • Renfro: “First of all, listen to him. Secondly, on the basis of what we hear, let's grow in our knowledge.” [07:25]

4. Royal Priesthood and the “Holy Nation” (1 Peter 2:9-10)

• Identity in Christ:
  Peter’s audience is called “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special people”—summarizing their spiritual privileges and responsibilities.
  • Wilkin: “He talks about the readers...a royal priesthood and holy nation...God's own special people.” [09:36]
• Clarification on Replacement Theology:
  The phrase “holy nation” is not an assertion that the church replaces Israel.
  • Wilkin: “This expression, a holy nation, has been used...to teach replacement theology. The church is now the new Israel. And that's not what Peter is saying here, right?” [10:04]
  • Renfro: “You belong to a group of people that are way beyond the boundaries of where you were born…Our relationship in the church is patterned after what Israel did, but it didn't replace it.” [11:21]

5. Mission and Witness in the World (1 Peter 2:11-12)

• Pilgrims and Testimony:
  Believers are described as sojourners, called to abstain from fleshly lusts and maintain a powerful testimony through their conduct, glorifying God before unbelievers.
  • Renfro: “We are…sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts. In other words, we have a testimony to the outside world.” [12:08]
• Looking to Christ’s Return:
  The “day of visitation” likely refers to Christ’s return, urging believers to live in a way that shines before others until that day.
  • Wilkin: “The day of visitation probably refers to Christ's soon return.” [12:39]
  • Renfro: “Because he could come back at any time.” [12:43]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On spiritual hunger:
  “We should be anticipating...prepare ourselves to eat this spiritual feast.” — Bob Wilkin [02:48]

• On spiritual growth:
  “There's no such thing as knowing too much...That's a lifelong process.” — David Renfro [05:02]

• On church identity:
  “We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood…called out of darkness.” — David Renfro [10:45]

• On spiritual heritage:
  “Our relationship in the church is patterned after what Israel did, but it didn't replace it.” — David Renfro [11:21]

• On witness to the world:
  “We have a testimony to the outside world. And that's an important aspect of this.” — David Renfro [12:08]

Key Timestamps

• 01:04 – Introduction to 1 Peter 2:1-12; laying aside hindrances
• 02:21 – Longing for the Word; church as a feasting ground
• 03:17 – Greek wordplay: Christos and chrestos (gracious)
• 04:22 – Historical setting: early church’s approach to Scripture
• 05:17 – Spiritual house: living stones and spiritual sacrifices
• 06:03 – Shift from Old Testament to New Covenant sacrifices
• 07:25 – Growth and responsibility in Christ
• 09:36 – The “holy nation”: church and Israel
• 10:45 – Believer identity: chosen and called
• 12:08 – Sojourners: testimony in an unbelieving world
• 12:39 – Day of visitation and anticipation of Christ's return

Conclusion

This concise, insightful conversation between Bob Wilkin and David Renfro highlights the importance of a corporate, eager approach to Scripture, our collective identity as God’s people, and our call to spiritual maturity and vibrant testimony as we await Christ’s return. Listeners are encouraged to engage deeply with the Word and with their local church, both for personal growth and for the good of the faith community.