Rev. Richard Tok’s semon on 13-May-2012
1 Peter 2:1-3
Introduction
At the breakfast table with friends I was asked by an older brother young in the Christian life: “Reverend, I went to a special meeting of another church and heard that Christians should not behave like No.1 but No. 3. Can you please explain to me?” I thought for a moment as I haven’t a clue what No.3 means. I asked him to share what was said by the speaker leading to that point. He said a Christian grows from No.1 to No.3. At No.1 he receives but at No.3 he gives. Christians should not remain at No.1 but go on to No.3 and be a blessing to other people. Then I got the point and explained.
I think Christians should grow up and change for good. Christians grow from stage 1 to stage 3 and perhaps stage 4. New believers are like new born babies, demanding. When hungry they cry to be fed and when wet or dirty cry for their “pampers” to be changed. Young Christians demand attention, assistance, guidance and encouragement. When they stumble and make mistakes they expect to be excused, tolerated, understood and be forgiven.
At stage 1 the young believer is self-centered. By stage 3 he is older and becomes other people-centered. His life, like a cup is full and running over.
When a Christian is older his ways and bahaviour should have changed. Christians should not just grow old but mellow. Some Christians have not changed but grow old with their old ways and bad habits. When those bad characteristics are exposed they are terrible and horrible. Christians ought to mature with desirable changes to their ways – perhaps more patient, more tolerant, more generous; less demanding, less materialistic and less judgemental. We should all mellow like wine and be vintage – to be appreciated and accepted. Older Christians whose ways do not reflect their maturity are a disappointment and a stumbling block.
In other words character change is a necessary expectation of Christians. This is not just an expectation people are looking for. Our God and heavenly Father requires of us to grow up and change and reflect the good qualities of godliness! Have we grown up and mellowed as disciples of Jesus Christ? The passage for our meditation today covers this subject – character change – repentance leading to sanctification. Christian pilgrims are transformed from death to life. They depart from sinfulness to holiness, leaving earth for heaven.
Scripture reading: 1 Peter 2:1-3
1Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander of every kind. 2like newborn babes, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Mark Twain, the author of Tom Sawyer and Huckle Berry Finn said: “Most people are bothered by those passages in the Bible they cannot understand; but as for me, I always notice that the passages in the Scripture which trouble me the most are those which I understand.”
What Mark Twain had said is a commentary of the three verses above. Do we understand the three verses? They are quite simple, straightforward and clear. Each one of us should ask: What should I do in response to these verses? Peter wants us to act on three important matters. Take three important steps in response to lead a holy and godly life.
1. Get rid of all evil behaviour (v1)
Peter in speaking to the scattered Christians in Asia Minor reminded that they have a relationship with Christ. It was based on believing that Jesus Christ died for their sins. He rose again from the dead to give them hope of forgiveness and new life. By the Holy Spirit they were born again. Their old life style, attitudes and values are matters of the past.
That actually meant repentance – a turning away from sinful living to righteous living. Peter explained repentance as “rid yourselves of all malice, and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander of every kind.” Genuine repentance starts with getting rid of evil and wickedness. It is turning from them to righteousness and holiness. He reminds us Christians to be like God their heavenly Father. Just as he who called you is holy so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
This is exactly what James echoed in James 1:21, “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent…”
What are the evil and wickedness that Peter said we should cast off?
Malice – desire to harm out of hatred.
Deceit – cause a person to accept as true something that is false.
Hypocrisy – falsely making oneself appear to be true and good.
Envy – feeling of jealous resentment at another person’s success or fortune.
Slander – make false statement that damages a person’s reputation
(defamation of character).
These are the sins we should throw aside. They relate to all that is untrue – lies. Sin is deceitfulness and untruth. Sometimes some “Christians” try to deceive other people. We wonder whether such people are genuine Christians or not in the first place. Such people do not realize that they actually deceive themselves – self deception!
If we take Peter’s teaching seriously many of our life’s problems would be resolved. When we take his teaching lightly we create problems for ourselves and give others problems too. When we take God’s word to heart we find it tough to obey in the beginning. But obey we must. Persevere to obey. Perseverance toughens us and godly character is formed. We need to be consistent and persistent to put away evil and put on good behaviour.
When we compromise a little here and little there, life seems easy, like a bed of roses. We get away with wrong doings because we seemed clever at hiding our wrongs. But soon our sins will find us out and catch up with us. When our compromising ways are exposed we are shamed. Our reputation is torn to shreds. We reap what we sow. One mistake destroys a life time of good. Repent before we are found out. Be reconciled to God. Make settlement with fellow men.
God is the source of truth. Satan is the father of lies. We can trace Satan’s track record of lies, half-truths and deception all the way back to the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve, our original ancestors were tricked and tempted. We who descend from them are even more vulnerable to Satan’s devices. If we wish to enjoy the favour of God in truth and love we ought to cast off these wicked ways. When we stay close to Christ, godly ways will fill the space in our lives. Then life here on earth and with fellow men would be fruitful and meaningful.
2. Feed on Spiritual Milk (v2)
One natural desire of babies when hungry is to crave for milk. That longing needs to be satisfied by mother’s breast or a bottle.
Peter told the Christians to turn away from evil and the devil and to turn to good and God. Repentance is turning from a life of sinfulness to a life of righteousness.
This requires effort and will from the Christian. He must have the desire to be transformed and makes up his mind to do it. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews said: “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles… let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
God wants to feed young Christians with the pure milk of His Word. The Word of God is unadulterated and sincere. God’s Word is truth as opposed to the falsehood of the devil. The evil of the devil we are to throw off.
As the Christian grows he discovers that God’s Word is milk for babies. For the older and mature the Word is strong meat ( 1 Cor. 3:1-4; Heb 5:11-14). God’s Word is bread (Matt.4:4) and honey (Psalm 119:103) for every believer. Men shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
When we feed on God’s Word it brings light and life to us. It makes us alive and sensitive to good and bad, right from wrong. Christians search their heart and soul regularly. So we constantly correct ourselves before our God. We get to know the heart and desire of God. Then we seek to honour him. Our lives change and we become more and more like Him. We treat ourselves properly and we treat others rightly as God’s Word teaches.
Listen to this: For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any two edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13
Are you aware that God’s Word has life, gives life and nourishes life? But not all God’s children benefit from His Word. They do not seem to have a life! What is the reason? They have no appetite! Some of them have been eating wrong things, junk food. That is why Peter wants God’s children to throw away wrong attitudes and practices that spoil their appetite and stunt their growth.
Let us be honest. Some have been believers for a long time. They command respect until they stumble and fall. They have not grown. They have not changed. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone and the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is not true for some. Surprisingly, some people have taken on the form of church life but do not practice the Christian life. It is time to check ourselves before we fall too deep in waywardness.
The examples of evil behaviour Peter highlighted needs a revisit. When a person is malicious he is wicked. A deceitful person is crafty, using devious words and actions to get what he wants. Those who are guilty of malice and deceit find ways to hide them. That leads to hypocrisy. They hide behind a mask and pretend (think of plays and parties where people wear masks). Envy or jealousy leads to ill will not good will among people. This finally explodes into slander – speaking evil of everything and everyone, destroying lives.
Listen to 2 Timothy 3:1-5 But mark this: There will be terrible things in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying the power. Have nothing to do with them.
If these attitudes and actions are in our lives we will surely have no appetite for the pure Word of God. If we do not eat we stop growing. No food, no growth, no satisfaction! In an environment where Christians are not feeding there will be trouble. No peace of heart; no peace of mind! Privately, there will be interpersonal differences. Corporately, they undermine church unity. Better feed on the Word of God. Be peacemakers not troublemakers.
3. Grow up in Salvation (v2)
In the natural world there are creatures that do not grow normally. We have pygmies in the Congo and pygmy elephants in Kinabatangan, Sabah. They are stunted. Perhaps these two examples are natural due to genetics and environment. Among human beings there are dwarfs. Something in their physiology has gone wrong to make them remain unusually smaller and shorter.
One of the causes for stunted growth is poor feeding, unavailability of food and the lack of desire to eat. So there are Christians who are stunted spiritually although they have been believers for many years. They may not have been introduced to Bible reading or Bible study. Some people avoid group study and prefer to do it privately. There are benefits in group as well as private study of God’s Word. We should be doing one of them.
We have often heard the saying, “Men shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” It is sad when Christians deliberately choose to ignore our heavenly Father’s advice or command. Some Christians proudly say that they are not the studying or the reading kind. Can anyone say, “I’m not the eating kind?”
Having read a little some people claim to know a lot. Some like to show they know – “the know all.” Some like to argue and debate showing off their ignorance. People do not realize that ignorance of Scripture cause people to be misled by deviant groups. Christians misbehave or act in a misguided way thinking they are right.
Listen to the following verses and discover what God can do for us through His Word:
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11
Your word is lamp to my feet and light for my path. Psalm 119:105
All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God
may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate
On it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything
written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8
Peter told the scattered Christians: “Grow up in salvation.” It simply means know what you believe and know why you believe. Every Christian must know his faith. The Words of the Bible is light and life to us who read it or feed on it. We must have the assurance of salvation. Our confidence is based on our trust in Jesus, for what he said and who he said he is.
“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by me!” John14:6
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John11:25
Peter did not want the early Christians to remain as spiritual babies. They live closely with their old religious community and can easily fall back under the pressure of persecution. They had to be clear about life and death, heaven and hell, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Christians today are not any different. We live in a non-Christian environment. We need strong Biblical foundation. We must be grounded and planted deep in Christ and His Word. Being Christian is being Christ-like in word, thought and deed. The Christians will not be like babies easily tossed back and forth by waves or thrown here and there by every wind of teaching. We would not be prey to cunning and crafty men who scheme and cheat. But be able to separate false teaching from the truth. Christians have fallen away due to the choices they make.
Peter wants all Christians to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18). Read the Gospel according Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and the Acts of the Apostles. There you will know what God our heavenly Father had planned and implemented, what Jesus said and did and the wonderful works of the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion
“Now you have tasted that the Lord is good (v3).” Peter said if you get rid of evil and wickedness in your life and feed on the word of God you will realize how good your God is. Some Christians have not tasted the goodness of God. They do not know how good God really is. Get right with God by getting rid of the wrongs in our lives. Then enjoy good spiritual food – His word – do personal devotion at home and join a group study.
Our good God is also a gracious God. He gives us more than we ask. We may not get what we ask because He does not give what we want. He gives us what we need. When we have tasted and known God we desire more. It begins with His Word. Read the Bible, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and the Acts of the Apostles and you will realize how wonderful God is in Jesus Christ.
God’s Word is an introduction to God Himself. Take the invitation to read and know Jesus Christ personally. As God becomes real and personal in your life you proceed to do another thing. Go on to invite your friends to “taste” the Good News and the person the Good News is about. Just like good vintage wine, appreciating and accepting God and His Word, begins with tasting. “O taste and see that our Lord is good and gracious!” Consequently, we all grow and mellow like vintage – appreciated and accepted.
Rev. Richard Tok
