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By David Wright The apostle Peter invites his readers to come to Jesus, “to that living stone, rejected by men but in God’s sight chosen and precious; and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:4-5). This appeal presents the church as the reality anticipated by the OT temple and priesthood. Peter’s word picture suggests two important conclusions. First, the church is special. Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem was an elaborate stone building. The intricately-carved wood on the interior walls was covered with gold. But what made the temple so sacred was the presence of God. On the day Solomon dedicated it, “a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord” (1 Kings 8:10-11). The true “spiritual house” is even greater than the stone building foreshadowing it. The church of Jesus Christ is a growing and breathing temple, built of “living stones” (1 Pet. 2:5). Second, the church is holy. The Aaronic priests presented animal sacrifices on the bronze altar in the temple court. Detailed regulations, spelled out particularly in Leviticus, governed all offerings. Every priest was to be a healthy man, free of disability or disease. And every lamb, goat, or bull was to be free of blemish or defect. The holiness of the sacrificial system pointed to the purity of the church, the “holy priesthood” (1 Pet. 2:5). “As obedient children,” Peter urges the readers of his first epistle, “do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1:14-16). Peter’s temple talk is both encouraging and challenging. You, Christian, are a very special person. The presence of God is in your heart and life. You are a living and breathing stone in his sacred temple. But this great honor comes with responsibility too. You, Christian, must be as careful to abstain from the pollutions of the world as the priests were to avoid contaminating their offerings. |