"Come to him ... be yourselves built into a spiritual house" (1 Peter 2:4-5). This speaks to us of personal conversion and life in fellowship with God's people. The life of holiness, to which we are called, is to be lived in fellowship with God's people. We are to encourage one another to live a godly life. Our growth in grace is strengthened as we worship the Lord together. At the heart of our life together, there is worship - and there must also be witness.
(1) "Come to him" - This is the way of entering God's kingdom. Have you come to Christ and entered God's kingdom? Let this question really reach your heart today. Be sure to answer it with faith - not an empty profession of faith, but a real, living faith.
(2) Once you have come to him, you are to be built into a spiritual house.
* God has given us so much - "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3).
* Why? - so that "you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:10).
* How is this done for us? - Through growth in grace: "5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love" (2 Peter 1:5-7).
* What difference does this make? - "8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins" (2 Peter 1:8-9). That's why it's so important that we "make every effort to confirm our calling and election" (2 Peter 1:10).
* Every day is another opportunity for repentance. Every time you hear the gospel, God is calling you to repentance - "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
* Every day is another opportunity for living a godly life, making progress in the way of holiness - "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives" (2 Peter 3:11).
(3) Being built into a spiritual house involves being a witness for Christ - "Earnestly contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). In today's world, we face many challenges to our faith. Let us commit ourselves to being Christ's witnesses.
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