As we saw last week, Peter is writing his letter to a community of Christ followers suffering under persecution. Believers were being ostracized, imprisoned, and martyred for their faith in Christ. So, Peter reminds them of their identity in order to fuel their perseverance. Based on his first chapter, Christians have transferred their citizenship. This world is not our home, which means our circumstances—no matter how painful—are temporary. So we should set our hope on eternity with Christ and pursue holiness until then.

Beginning in chapter 2, Peter begins to offer a practical glimpse into what a holy life looks like.

1 Peter 2:1–2

2 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

When we consider this list a little more carefully, it becomes clear that it focuses on sin that tears at the social fabric of relationships.

Each is divisive and finds its root in an ill will (or “malice”) toward others.

This is a destructive trait in general, but especially in terms of relationships among believers.

It divides when the gospel is about unifying the body of Christ.

We need to be serious about cleaning out our lives

As you reflect on Peter’s charge in verse one, what do you need to “rid yourself” of?

Peter begins this portion of his letter by explaining what to get rid of for the sake of a holy life. But there’s another side to holiness—what we should crave for a holy life. Pursuing holiness is not merely about changing behavior. It requires an internal change in terms of our desires—the things we love and hate.

1 Peter 2:3

3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

According to verse 3, what does Peter describe as our motivation for holiness? (The fact that we have “tasted that the Lord is good.”)

What does this component of holiness—the requirement of an internal change—teach us about a true pursuit of godliness? (That it requires more than simply a change in behavior. We desperately need the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts, which is possibly only through faith in Jesus Christ.)

How have your “appetites” changed since coming to know Christ? What do you desire now that you would never have desired previously?

So, holiness is not simply about what you avoid or flee. It’s also about what you pursue. And Peter makes it clear that Christians ought to crave “pure spiritual milk” in the same way that newborn children depend on their own sustenance.

1 Peter 2:4

4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—

To some degree, we’ve seen how our identity in Christ brings us a new responsibility at the same time. Beginning in verse 4, Peter returns to a discussion of identity in order to flesh out exactly who we are in order to understand how we ought to live as a result.

1 Peter 2:5-10

5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,

a chosen and precious cornerstone,

and the one who trusts in him

will never be put to shame.”

7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone,”

8 and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble

and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

What stands out to you about the descriptions of our identity in Christ in verses 5 and 9–10?

What about the description of Jesus in verses 6–8?

The experience of Jesus is a model for our experience as his people. Peter describes him as “rejected” by the world but “precious” to those who believe.

If our Savior was not exempt from suffering, we should expect the same.

But more importantly, all of Peter’s descriptions of believers in Christ—chosen people, royal priesthood, holy nation—are plural.

This is an important emphasis because we were made for community as we participate in God’s redemptive work.

That’s why belonging to a body of believers is so crucial—so that each of us can serve with our God-given gifts for the sake of his kingdom.

When you think about the idea of pursuing holiness, are you tempted to view it as something you have to do on your own?

How would your spiritual life change if you were to invite other believers into your life in a deeper way?

Before moving on from verse 9, Peter makes a final point about our identity.

He says that we have been transformed into a new people for a specific purpose: to declare “the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

What are some practical ways that we can live out this purpose?

Peter isn’t commanding us to argue unbelievers into the kingdom.

True salvation requires the miraculous work of God in our hearts.

GO DEEPER

Read more about how Paul declares the praises of God in the following verses:

Acts 17:22–34

22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’[a] As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’[b]

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

How would you describe his tone in Acts 17:22–31 when speaking to those who commit unrighteousness?

How did his listeners respond?

Acts 17:32-34

32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

Romans 1:18–32

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

How would you describe Paul’s tone in Romans 1:18–32 while describing those who commit unrighteousness?

What can you take from Paul’s model and apply to the way you “declare” God to those around you?

God doesn’t command us to argue without love. Rather, we are called to share what he has done in our lives and let that transformation be the basis for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.

Earlier, we talked about some of the ways God has changed your desires through Christ.

What are some of the other differences he has made in your life?

What could you do to be intentional about sharing your story with someone this week?

Through Christ, we have received the mercy of God such that he has brought us into his family and given us the opportunity to participate in the expansion of his kingdom.

In addition to declaring the praise of our God, Peter includes one final responsibility before moving on to the next section: we are to live righteous lives such that unbelievers have no ground on which to accuse us of wrongdoing.

1 Peter 2:11-12

11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

The world should see a difference in the way we live. Our actions ought to refute their prejudices about Christians.

Peter specifically mentions in verse 12 that unbelievers may unjustly accuse Christians of doing wrong.

What are some examples of ways you have seen this in your own life?

Or that of other Christians?

What would it look like to respond in a way “that they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (v. 12)?

Last Word

Compared to those who do not know Christ, our lives should look different because we have a new identity. Yet that should not be a difference we display arrogantly. Rather, our new identity should be lived out in a way that reflects the love God has shown to us. As he is patient, so we should be patient. As he is gracious and merciful, so we should extend grace and mercy to those who do not embrace his truth.

Through Christ, we have been called into the greatest story the world has ever known, that of God’s redemptive work. Don’t take that lightly but remember that it does not depend on you either. God is looking for the faithful, not the perfect, and he is drawing you into spiritual maturity through his Holy Spirit.

Live It Out

Pray: Ask the Lord to help you see the areas of your life that need to be cleaned out and be intentional about following his direction as he does so.

Speak: If the Holy Spirit convicted you of your need to share the good news of Jesus with someone, be bold in doing so this week trusting that he will supply you with the words.

Accountability: Reach out to 2–3 trusted believers who know you well and invite them to help you stay accountable in pursuing the areas of holiness you most need to grow in.