• I Peter 2:4-8
  • Hebrews 11:8-10,13-16
  • Where do you find your identity?
  • Who are the people of God?
    • Identifying God’s people
    • “As living stones”
    • Ephesians 1:18
  • God wants you as His inheritance.
    • Philippians 1:6; Ephesians 2:10
    • Romans 8:29
  • The living stone, rejected but chosen (I Peter 2:4)
    • The stone imagery is historically rooted in Messianic hope.
    • Daniel 2:44-45
    • Jesus is the living Messiah, the fulfillment of the prophets’ message of hope.
      • I Peter 1:3,21 – Our hope and faith are resting upon Jesus’ resurrection.
  • Now, you yourselves as living stones (I Peter 2:5)
    • I believe this is part of the idea of “getting our minds ready for action” (I Peter 1:13)
    • As “living stones,” that is, we are modeling the life of Jesus, God is using us.
      • We are precious, valuable, and chosen.
      • We are being built into a spiritual house.
    • This is who we are!
  • This picture is amplified in that we are a “holy priesthood”
    • We are people set apart for God’s use and God’s service.
    • The beautiful picture is that all Christians are priests.
    • Everyone who comes to the living stone is a priest.
    • We have direct access to God.
    • This is a call to our holiness.
    • Romans 12:1-2
  • Peter is going to use three quotations from the Old Testament to further identify who we are as the people of God.
    • Jesus, the cornerstone (I Peter 2:6)
      • Isaiah 28:16
      • When we build our lives on Jesus, we will never be put to shame.
      • We will be rejected by the people of this world.
      • Our trials and hardships are not a symbol of God’s rejection.
      • What about the unbelieving? Acts 4:11-12
    • Isaiah 8:14-15
      • Your can refuse Jesus, but you’re building your life in such a way that it will end in disaster.
        • Don’t stumble by disobeying the message.
        • Don’t put your life on the wrong course.
        • Tear down that life built on an improper foundation.