Sermon Central
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Use Of The Word Precious By Peter
Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 31, 2013 (message contributor)
Summary: What does the Bible teach about faith? What makes the Blood so special? The Church is built upon this Rock, and the Scriptures furnish us with many promises.
PETER’S USE OF THE WORD “PRECIOUS”.
The word "precious" conveys: something of great value; something greatly loved or treasured by someone.
PRECIOUS FAITH.
The Apostle Peter speaks of “precious faith” (1 Peter 1:7; 2 Peter 1:1).
What does the Bible teach about faith?
According to Hebrews 11:1 - ‘faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’
Faith is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Faith justifies us, and brings us peace (Romans 5:1).
‘Great faith’ focuses on Christ (Matthew 8:10).
‘Little faith’ takes its eyes off Jesus (Matthew 14:31).
‘Mustard seed’ faith moves mountains (Matthew 17:20).
Yet all along our ‘I believe’ is mixed with ‘unbelief’ (Mark 9:24).
Faith is precious!
THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST.
1 Peter 1:19 speaks of “the precious blood of Christ.”
What makes this blood so special?
Christ's blood ‘cleanseth us’ (1 John 1:7).
By the blood of Jesus the ‘afar off are brought nigh’ (Ephesians 2:13).
The blood of Christ ‘purges our consciences’ (Hebrews 9:14.)
And the ‘cup of blessing which we bless’ is our ‘communion in the blood of Christ’ (1 Corinthians 10:16.)
A PRECIOUS LIVING STONE.
Jesus is a ‘precious living stone’ (1 Peter 2:4; 1 Peter 2:7).
The church is built on ‘this’ rock (Matthew 16:18).
Yet it is ‘the stone which the builders rejected’ (Psalm 118:22; Matthew 21:42).
PRECIOUS PROMISES.
2 Peter 1:4 also speaks of ‘precious promises’ - of which there are many in the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments.
