Identity of a Christian - pt.1

1 Peter 2:1-10

“1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

5 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.

6 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.

7 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,

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.

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:

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.”

There is no ranking of a person that can be of greater significance than to be a child of God.  There is no position on earth that is worth having than to be called a son of God.  In salvation we have passed from death into life.  In salvation we have been given everlasting life.  In salvation we have been adopted into God’s family.  There is no greater blessing that person could ever have than to be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

 In this passage the apostle Peter begins by challenging and in fact commanding the born again Christian to lay aside certain sins.  Salvation is a gift of God.  God provides salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Those who are saved are given the power to be called sons of God.  As sons of God we are now able to put away those bad habits that we developed as lost people.

The first one is “malice”.  Malice is a wickedness that is not ashamed to break the law.  Lost people think they have truly accomplished something when they defy God’s laws.  Every lost person has lied.  Many times the lost person looks for a way to cover up the lie.  They also are guilty of stealing.  Again, they try to behave as though they have done nothing wrong.  There are so many ways that the lost are not ashamed to break God’s law.  God says those who are saved need to lay aside malice.  No born again Christian can be content to break God’s law.  The born again Christian needs to purposefully lay aside malice.