Peter’s letter is important and timeless because he is guiding them to live out a gospel-centered worldview amongst a culture that would be in tension with it.  Much like our own.  

    • Culture – Shaped by Greek philosophy which emphasized individualism 
    • Politics – Governed by the Roman Imperialism that demanded nationalism 

1 Peter 2:1,  CSB - Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.  

    • Malice – Acting with self and/or evil intent. 
    • Deceit – Manipulation of the truth for personal gain, and/or self-justification 
    • Hypocrisy – Inconsistent living that distorts values on the basis circumstances 
    • Envy – Being consumed with what others have and strategizing how to get/take it. 
    • Slander – Belittle others in front of others in order to win favor.  

2 Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, 3 if you have tasted that the Lord is good.  

Embracing DEFENSELESSNESS and DEPENDENCE in order to be STRENGTHENED by God’s word.  
Three ways the Bible says to think of God’s word: 

    • Jesus is the WORD – Jesus is the grace and truth of God embodied and exemplified. 
    • Creation was from the WORD – We were created with intention and purpose, from love and for love. 
    • Scripture are the WORDS – The words of God are living and active, and Scripture gives us the wisdom of God for living and worshipping in the world he created according to the design he created us with.  

4 As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by God— 5 you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  

    • We come as individuals – Each a living stone, individually chosen.  
    • We come together – Being put together as part of the City of God.  

9b, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  

    • Defend – The legitimacy of our hope.   
    • Display – A lifestyle consistent with belief. 
    • Declare – Proclaim the praises of God to one another 
    • Disclose – Tell the stories of God’s work in our lives 

I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. 

To “abstain from the passions of the flesh” requires us to live with: 

    • Renewed minds  
    • A disciplined tongues 
    • Controlled bodies 

12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.