Sermon - "Who Do You Think You Are?" (1 Peter 1:2:1-12)

Sermon - “Who Do You Think You Are?” (1 Peter 2:1–12) First Baptist Church - Eureka Springs, Arkansas firstbaptist-eurekasprings.org SERMON OUTLINE A. Introduction Peter continues explaining what it means to live as someone who has been born again through the Word of God. Christians have been given new life, built together upon Jesus Christ, and made part of a people who belong to God. B. Walking Through the Main Text 1) God’s Children Should Grow (2:1–3). Peter tells Christians to put away malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander, and to long for the “pure spiritual milk” of God’s Word so that we may grow. God gives believers new life and continues helping us grow in holiness as we turn away from sin and seek nourishment from His Word. (James 1:21; Psalm 119:103) 2) Jesus is the Cornerstone of Your Life (2:4–8). Jesus is the Living Stone rejected by people but chosen and precious to God, and believers are being built together upon Him as a spiritual house. Because Jesus is the cornerstone, our lives must be brought into line with Him. Those who believe in Him will not be put to shame, while those who reject Him stumble over the very One God has chosen. (Ephesians 2:19–22; Matthew 7:24) 3) Live Like Someone Who Belongs to God (2:9–12). Peter calls Christians “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession” who have received mercy and been called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light. Because we belong to God, we should proclaim His greatness, resist sinful desires, and live honorably before unbelievers so that our lives point others toward Him. (Exodus 19:5–6; Matthew 5:16) C. Conclusion Who do you think you are? If you are in Christ, you have been given new life, built upon Jesus Christ, made part of God’s people, shown mercy, and called into His marvelous light. That identity gives us no reason for pride, because it rests entirely on God’s mercy. But it does give us responsibility: grow in the new life God has given you, bring your life into line with Christ, and live in a way that points others toward God. D. Take-Aways 1) Feed the new life and starve the old one. 2) Let Jesus correct whatever is out of line. 3) Make your life point people to God.