A Spiritual House

The term 'spiritual house' is found in the apostle Peter's writings. Let's look at 1 Peter 2:5, "You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

Who is the apostle Peter writing to? 1Peter 1:1 states, "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia." These people were Jewish Christians who had been persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ and had been forced to flee from Israel. They had left behind them the Jewish ordinances and traditions.

The apostle's letter to them encourages them to keep going on in faith and he points out to them that their inheritance is far superior to those under the law given via Moses. 1 Peter 1:3-5, "(3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, (5) who are kept by the power of God..."

In Chapter 2 the image Peter is conveying is that of a building; and he thus uses words relating to this image. However, this is no ordinary bricks and mortar type of building. It is composed of living materials. In chapter 2:4 we read, "Coming to Him as a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious." Christ is the Living Stone!

Peter points out in chapter 2:6 that the Old Testament Scriptures foretold this. "Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, 'Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."

I have a good friend who is a builder. Here in North Queensland, Australia we live in a Cyclone prone area (remember Cyclone Larry and Cyclone Yasi). The majority of houses are built of reinforced concrete blocks, laid on solid concrete slabs. My friend John carefully measures and marks out the foundation slab. When the reinforced concrete slab has been poured and is ready he then very carefully marks out the position of his 'chief corner stone'. The first concrete block laid is the most important! Every other block laid, and indeed the whole building, is measured from that first corner block. That block has to be perfectly level, both vertically and horizontally. Otherwise, the building will be out of alignment and out of square.

When it comes to perfection - there is only one Christ - Jesus the Son of God!

Now let's return to our lead verse. We have established from the Scriptures that Christ is the Living Stone and the 'chief corner stone'. In 1 Peter 2:5 we learned that born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are 'living stones'. We are being built up 'a spiritual house' - not a bricks and mortar house; but a 'spiritual house' where God dwells.

This verse also informs us that we are a 'holy priesthood'. Every born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is a priest before God 'to offer up sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ'. These are not the animal sacrifices made under the law given via Moses. These are the sacrifices of praise and worship to our God 'through Jesus Christ'. They are the outpourings of the heart expressed via praise and worship.

Hebrews 13:15, "Therefore by Him [Christ] let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." This is what a 'holy priesthood' does. This is the purpose of 'the spiritual house' to bring praise and worship; and to glorify God.

Although the apostle Peter wrote to Jewish Christians, the truths of 'the spiritual house' apply to every born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ are you exercising your rights as part of the 'holy priesthood' in God's 'spiritual house'?

Jon Peasey

Biblical Perspectives blog www.jon-peasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point

You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

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