Daily Scripture Reading 1Peter 1:22 - 2:17

For the most part, modern Christians are biblically illiterate. The amount of Bible knowledge possessed by most believers or so-called believers is embarrassingly limited. This is the case even though Christians in the 21st century have more access to the Bible and Bible teaching than any group of people in the history of the world.

A common mentality of those trying to increase Biblical literacy is to preach more sermons, write more books, and record more podcasts. There is also a belief that if we change and improve books and sermons, then Biblical literacy will improve.

Today’s passage contains a command which alerts us to the real problem that is causing Biblical illiteracy. More and better Bible teaching will not solve the problem. We have to address the underlying issue.

The first chapter of 1Peter reminds us that life here on earth is temporary. Everything we can see and touch is destructible and fading away. On the other hand, we Christians have an eternal inheritance in heaven which will never decay.

1Pet. 1:22 ¶ Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a love of the brothers without hypocrisy, fervently love one another from the heart,

1Pet. 1:23 for you have been born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

1Pet. 1:24 For,

“ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS,

AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS.

THE GRASS WITHERS,

AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,

1Pet. 1:25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.”

And this is the word which was proclaimed to you as good news.

1Pet. 2:1 ¶ Therefore, laying aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,

Ponder this list of sins we should lay aside. Human nature is such that we want to deceive, envy, and slander. Being a hypocrite comes naturally. This means as Christians we are called to live a life that is hard. We may not follow our fleshly desires and do what comes easy. Instead, we have to be different than the world.

1Pet. 2:2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

Look at the word “long”. Christians should long for the word of God.

This is an area where modern Christianity is failing miserably. For the most part, modern Christians are biblically illiterate. The problem is not a dearth of opportunity to learn the Bible. Bibles are very inexpensive these days. Plus, radio, television, and the internet are full of Bible teaching. There are endless opportunities to gain Bible knowledge.

The reason many Christians don’t know the Bible is because they don’t care that they are biblically illiterate. Since they don’t care, they don’t put forth the time and effort required to learn the Bible. In other words, most Christians do not long for the pure milk of the word.

The key to increasing Biblical literacy is not more sermons or more books. The content to learn the Bible is already in existence. The key to Biblical literacy is convincing Christians that they need to long for more Bible knowledge.

1Pet. 2:3 if you have TASTED THE KINDNESS OF THE LORD.

1Pet. 2:4 ¶ And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,

1Pet. 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1Pet. 2:6 For this is contained in Scripture:

“BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone,

AND HE WHO BELIEVES UPON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.”

This is a quote from Isaiah 28:16. The rulers in Jerusalem during the days of Isaiah depended on falsehood and lying. The prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of a cornerstone, the establishment of belief in the cornerstone as the key to salvation, and the triumph of justice and righteousness. Jesus is the cornerstone predicted by Isaiah.

1Pet. 2:7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,

“THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,

THIS HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNER stone,”

This is an allusion to Psalm 118:22. Ultimately, the 1st century Jewish leaders were the builders who rejected Christ, the cornerstone.

1Pet. 2:8 and,

“A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE.”They stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this stumbling they were also appointed.

The pronoun “they” refers to the Jewish people in general, and the Jewish leaders in particular. The Jewish people, who had the scriptures, disobeyed the scriptures and stumbled over Jesus.

1Pet. 2:9 ¶ But you are A CHOSEN FAMILY, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

1Pet. 2:10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

1Pet. 2:11 ¶ Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul,

Look at the words “sojourners” and “exiles”. Here on earth, we Christians are in a temporary home. Therefore, we should not adopt the values and priorities of the world which treats earth as their permanent home.

1Pet. 2:12 by keeping your conduct excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good works, as they observe them, glorify God in the DAY OF VISITATION.

1Pet. 2:13 ¶ Be subject for the sake of the Lord to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,

1Pet. 2:14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do good.

Don’t miss the phrase “punishment of evildoers”. Grace, mercy, and forgiveness are important parts of Christianity. However, that does not mean their should not be punishment for evil. One of the main purposes of government is to punish those who do evil.

1Pet. 2:15 For such is the will of God that by doing good you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.

1Pet. 2:16 Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as slaves of God.

1Pet. 2:17 Honor all people, love the brethren, fear God, honor the king.

For the most part, modern Christians are biblically illiterate. The problem is not a dearth of opportunity to learn the Bible. We have endless opportunities to gain Bible knowledge.

The reason many Christians don’t know the Bible is because they don’t care that they are biblically illiterate. Since they don’t care, they don’t put forth the time and effort required to learn the Bible. In other words, most Christians do not long for the pure milk of the word.

The key to increasing Biblical literacy is not more sermons or more books. The key is convincing Christians that they need to long for more Bible knowledge.

Do you long for the pure milk of the word?

Do the people in your church long for the Bible?

What do you need to do differently in your daily life in order to obey the command to long for the pure milk of the word?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”