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OUR PRECIOUS LORD!
1 PETER 2:1-10 (Text Vs 7)
Introduction
Peter mentions three times in this text that our Lord Jesus Christ is “precious!”
Of course we know that the Holy Spirit is the one who inspired Peter to write these words. Nevertheless, I believe that Peter was also expressing how he felt personally about the Lord Jesus Christ.
What do we mean when we say something or someone is “precious?”
The word can mean “of great value or worth” or “highly valued, much esteemed or much prized; beloved.” (Exp. Gold and silver are called precious metals.)
When something is called precious there are usually three qualities we will find:
1. For Something To Be Precious It Should Be Rare.
Jesus is not one of many. He is absolutely unique.
He is the God-man. He is the only One of His kind.
Hebrews 10:12–"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;”
1 Timothy 2:5–"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"
2. For Something To Be Precious It Should Have Intrinsic Value.
(i.e. intrinsic = inherent; essential; belonging naturally.)
Jesus Christ is precious because of who He is.
He is the eternal God incarnate!
Colossians 2:9–"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
3. For Something To Be Precious It Should Be Useful.
Jesus Christ is the answer to the needs of all mankind.
His life gives life to the believer.
His death gives redemption from hell to all who trust Him.
His resurrection justifies us.
His return delights our hearts.
Peter said that Jesus was “precious.” To Peter, Christ was “precious” because
He took this filthy, cursing, self-centered, and fearful fisherman and saved him. He cleaned him up and He discipled him. And then after His resurrection, Christ came to him and challenged him and recovered him when it appears he had quit. And then Christ used him in a mighty way from the day of Pentecost until his death to boldly proclaim Christ.
We can see all of that as we read in the pages of Scripture about Peter. But, think about this. Peter knew that and so much more about what Christ had done for him. (We know more about ourselves than what others know about us.)
And for all that Christ had done for him, Peter talks about how precious Jesus is.
In verse 4, He says that Christ is the stone that is precious. He is the living stone! He is the Rock on which the Church is built! He is the cornerstone! He was disallowed (i.e. rejected) of men, but He was chosen of God!
In verse 7, we see that Christ is the cornerstone of our salvation. A cornerstone is the visible support on which the rest of the building relies for strength and stability. Believers trust in Christ just as a building rests on its cornerstone.
But let’s think about that first phrase in verse 7–“Unto you therefore which believe He is precious.”
Is Christ really “precious” to you? How can you know?
How do you treat other things that are “precious” to you?
We take great care of the things that are precious to us.
We could say that we honor the things that are precious to us.
How do you treat the Saviour? If we say that He is precious to us, shouldn’t we should treat Him as something that is precious.
To the believer, everything which concerns the Lord should be precious!
Dr. Ian R. K. Paisley in his book entitled “The Garments Of Christ.”
“The Person of the Saviour is precious. The Place which the Saviour occupied in the Eternity that is past, and now occupies in the glory of His Kingdom, is precious. His Purpose ‘to bring many sons into glory’ is precious. And when we stand under the shadow of the cross, and lift our eyes to behold the suffering Son of God, His Passion is especially precious.”
Now understand that we could spend the rest of the day talking about how precious Christ is and we would only begin to scratch the surface.
In reality, it would take going through the entire Bible to show this great truth. And even then, I believe that eternity will still reveal even more of the preciousness of Christ than we can even begin to comprehend.
But, I want to just share with you three thoughts about why Christ is so precious:
I. JESUS IS PRECIOUS BECAUSE OF HIS BLOOD.
1 Peter 1:18-19–"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot"
There is a song written by Lanny Wolfe that my wife and I have been known to sing on occasion called “Precious Blood.”
“So many years, so many lambs were offered up
But all the blood that was spilled could never fill that bitter cup
Till one spotless lamb in the form of a man gave His life on Calvary
His was the only blood that could ever set me free. . .
. . .No other blood could conquer death and win the victory
No other blood but the blood Jesus shed for me. . .
. . .For His blood was not just blood of another spotless lamb
But His blood was precious blood for it washed the sin of man. . .”
A. His Blood Redeems Us.
Ephesians 1:7–“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
Christ’s blood has redeemed us from ths slave market of sin where we were held in bondage by Satan.
Matthew 20:28–“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
We who have trusted in Christ’s redemption will never have to suffer the weight of our sins because Jesus took them away.
All our sins are under the blood!
We sing the old song, "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh! precious is the flow That makes me white as snow; No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus."
Galatians 3:13–“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:”
Titus 2:14–“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
His Blood Redeems Us!
B. His Blood Rinses Us.
1 John 1:7–"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
Titus 3:5-7–"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
I have been washed white as snow. Not by the works of my own righteousness but by the One who cried on Calvary "It is finished."
How much of my sin did He take from my life? "ALL!"
Psalms 103:12–“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
Why a person would want to walk around carrying the weight and guild of their sin when they can be clean is beyond me.
His Blood Redeems Us.
His Blood Rinses Us.
C. His Blood Resists For Us.
Revelation 12:11–“And they overcame him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."
Any time you want to see Satan flee, start talking about what the Blood of Christ did for you. Satan doesn’t like to think about the power of the Blood.
The Blood of Jesus was Satan’s ticket to his final destiny–
The Lake of Fire.
We who trust in the Lord can overcome Satan. He is a defeated foe. But He is not rolling over and playing dead.
Satan is a defeated foe but he’s not dead.
1 Peter 5:8–“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
But the precious blood of Jesus can overcome whatever fiery darts that he may hurl our way!
“Would you be free from your burden of sin? There’s Power In The Blood! Would you over evil a victory win? There’s wonderful power in the blood!
JESUS IS PRECIOUS BECAUSE OF HIS BLOOD.
II. JESUS IS PRECIOUS BECAUSE OF HIS BOOK.
2 Peter 1:4–"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
Psalms 19:10–“More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”
Psalms 119:103–“How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
The Words of His Book Are “Wonderful Words Of Life:”
"Sing them over again to me, Wonderful words of life, Let me more of their beauty see, Wonderful words of life; Words of life and beauty, Teach me faith and duty: Beautiful words, wonderful words, Wonderful words of life;"
Peter expresses one of the true feelings of his heart in John 6:38.
"Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life."
A. His Book Is A Complete Book.
Nothing needs to be added or subtracted.
We don’t need another book and we don’t need another book about THE BOOK.
Proverbs 30:5-6–“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”
Revelation 22:18-19–"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."
When the Apostle John, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, penned the final words of Revelation 22:21–"The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you all", all revelation that we need to proclaim as God's Word had been plainly given.
Paul told the Corinthian saints in 1 Corinthians 13:10
“But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”
That which was in part were the visions, dreams, and the words of the Apostles that were confirmed by signs, wonders and miracles.
When the Word of God was complete there was no need for that which had been in part any more.
Why should we seek anything more when we have God's complete Word here in my hands.
His Book Is A Complete Book.
B. His Book Is A Changeless Book.
1 Peter 1:23-25–“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
Malachi 3:6–"For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."
God has not changed His mind. He doesn’t need to update His book for the times. He doesn’t need to revise it in any way.
What was truth in Paul’s day is still true today!
God has not and will not erase out of His book the things that many people no longer view to be sin anymore.
God has not changed His mind about sodomy.
Sodomy is still just as exceeding sinful in God’s sight as the day He rained fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah.
It is still an abomination against God even if our society says it is politically incorrect to say so. I’d much rather be right in the sight of my Saviour than in the sight of men.
And just as abominable in God’s sight is fornication.
Illicit relationships may be gaining more and more acceptance in our culture, but they are not gaining acceptance with God.
Premarital sex
Unmarried individuals shacking up.
Adultery.
Any sexual relations outside of a monogamous marital relationship between one man and one woman.
Also, God still has not changed His mind about abortion. There are even many people in Churches today who find preaching against murdering babies to be offensive.
I’d much rather face the wrath of man for preaching the truth than to stand before God for having bought into the lie that killing babies is okay because it’s a woman’s choice.
God has not changed His mind about the matter of becoming intoxicated by anything.
Proverbs 20:1–"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."
Ephesians 5:18–“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”
Young people, you ought to determine with the help of God, that booze will never pass through your lips and that you won’t do drugs! And if it has passed through your lips or you have done drugs that you’ll never do them again!
His Book Is A Complete Book.
His Book Is A Changeless Book.
C. His Book Is A Correcting Book.
2 Timothy 3:16–“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
1. It Teaches Us What Is Right–That’s Doctrine!
2. It Teaches Us What Is Wrong–That’s Reproof!
3. It Teaches Us How To Right What Is Wrong–That’s Correction!
4. It Teaches Us How To Keep Right–That’s Instruction In Righteousness!
We can do two things with correction. We can receive it and be better for it or we can reject it and become bitter over it!
Proverbs 15:10– “Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.”
Jeremiah 5:3-6
Proverbs 3:11-12–“My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”
D. His Book Is A Comforting Book.
When we are downcast, there is no greater comfort that can be given than the Words of our God.
Psalms 119:81–“My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.”
Our God is the God of all comfort.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4–“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
Romans 15:4–“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
Isaiah 26:3–"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength"
III. JESUS IS PRECIOUS BECAUSE OF HIS BLESSED HOPE.
Titus 2:13–“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”
The word “hope” means “a sure expectation.”
Romans 15:13–“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
2 Thessalonians 2:16–“Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,”
Hebrews 6:18-19–“That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;”
What is our “hope” or what is our “sure expectation” as Christians?
A. We Have The Blessed Hope Of The Resurrection.
Acts 24:14-15–“But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: 15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Romans 8:22–25
1 Corinthians 15:20-23
1 Peter 1:3–“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
B. There Is The Blessed Hope Of His Second Coming.
Marvelous message we bring, Glorious carol we sing,
Wonderful word of the King–Jesus is coming again!
May be morning, may be noon, may be evening and maybe soon!
O what a wonderful day it will be–Jesus is coming again!
John 14:2-3–“. . .I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
Acts 1:11–“Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
Titus 2:13–“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”
1 John 3:2-3–“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
C. There Is The Blessed Hope Of Eternal Life.
Colossians 1:5–5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Titus 1:2–“In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”
Titus 3:5-7–“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
D. There Is The Blessed Hope Of Glory.
Colossians 1:27–“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”
1 Peter 1:4–“To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,”
Conclusion
Jesus Christ is Precious. . .
Because Of His Blood!
Because Of His Book!
Because Of His Blessed Hope!
Because Of All Of This And So Much More!
Is He precious to you? If you say that He is precious are you treating Him as if He is precious?
Home Page Contact Us Service Times Sermons Are You Going To Heaven?
NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!