Identity of a Christian - Part 6

Identity of a Christian - Part 6

1 Peter 2:1-10

 However, not long after that, that temple became a idol to the nation of Israel.  They no longer came there to meet with God, but they used it as a status symbol and when they were in trouble they would rob that temple of its gold and offer the gold to foreign kings to appease them or to hire them to help the Jews win a particular battle.  The nation turned their backs on the God who was to rule them.  Indeed that stone and wooden temple had become just a bunch of stones.  It was a dead place.  Sadly, while Jesus was on earth, the Jews also rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah.  He was a living stone, but they cast Him aside.  They did not want a king to rule in their hearts.  They just wanted a symbolic figurehead and one that would relieve them of the foreign rulers they had.

There were those then as there are those now who have come to Him, and been forgiven and saved because Jesus Christ is a living stone.  He laid down His life, He shed His blood for mankind, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  This is a great blessing, and He is indeed precious to all who are saved through His blood, as He truly is precious to God the Father.  He is called “the only begotten Son of God”.  Precious  indeed.

v.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.

Here we see a beautiful picture of the effect of coming unto Jesus.  Of being saved through His precious blood.  We who are saved, are made lively stones. 

John 5:24

“24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

 This is a beautiful promise of God.  The person who comes to Jesus Christ for salvation is passed, present tense, right now, not at some time in the future, but at the moment of salvation the person is passed from death unto life.  What a beautiful promise!  I trust that this is true in your life today.  That you have passed from death unto life.  This is a work of God.  The born again Christian had nothing to do with this.  Prior to salvation the born again Christian was dead in trespasses and sins.  Separated from God.  However, even in that separated state there was the ability to hear God calling and drawing the lost sinner to Himself.  Praise God for those who have come.  The good news is that there is room for many more yet in the presence of God!  Yes there is room for you today if you are reading this but not yet saved through the blood of Jesus Christ.