PRECIOUS THINGS 2
2 PETER 1:1, 4
“Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 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.”
Introduction:
In this message on the PRECIOUS THINGS we will see HOW DIFFERENT the attitude of a true Christian to that of an unbeliever; how the true believer COPES with the difficulties of life, and what God’s attitude is toward those who have received His Son as their Saviour.
I. HE IS PRECIOUS UNTO YOU WHO BELIEVE
1 Peter 2:7, “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner.”
A. To the believer He is precious even though he hasn’t seen Jesus, 1 Peter 1:8, “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”
1. Though we have not seen Him face to face, yet we are blessed, John 20:29, “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
2. “Believing, ye rejoice,” Habakkuk 3:17-18, “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
3. There is JOY and PEACE in believing, Romans15:13, “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.”
B. To the Unbelieving…
1. JEW He is a stumblingblock, 1 Corinthians 1:23, “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;”
2. GENTILE it is foolishness and unbelievable, 1 Corinthians 2:14, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
II. THE TRIAL OF YOUR FAITH IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD
1 Peter 1:7, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
A. Rejoice in the trials of your faith, 1 Peter 4:12-23, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
B. These trails work patience in the believer, James 1:2-3, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”
C. These trials bring good results, Job 23:10, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”
III. THE CHOSEN OF GOD ARE PRECIOUS TO HIM AS CHRIST IS PRECIOUS
A. The Believer is NOT CONFUSED, but INFORMED in the truth, 1 Peter 2:4, 6, “To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall NOT BE CONFOUNDED.”
B. The Believer is the TEMPLE of the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
C. That temple is built on a FIRM foundation,
1. This spiritual house is WELL BUILT, Ephesians 2:20-21, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:”
2. It is FIT for the habitation of God, Ephesians 2:22, “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
CONCLUSION
There are many precious things that God has blessed us with in this life. The most precious of all is our Saviour, Jesus Christ who continues His work in the presence of the Father on our behalf.
Now I may ask if He is precious to you. He gave His life to save you from hell and ask that you only believe. Trust Him today and He will become precious to you also.