1. In 2:4-8 Peter encourages believers who are going through difficult times, rejections, and persecution with the truth that though Jesus Christ was precious to God the Father (2:4,6,7), He was rejected by the world. In the same way believers are precious to God even though rejected by the world.

2. “The apostle now brings to his…readers assurance that, though they may be ostracized by the world and by [unbelievers], they are gloriously identified with their Lord and His church in a personal and intimate way.” (Raymer)

3. God’s building today is not in brick and mortar but in flesh and blood:

-believers are living stones of a spiritual building which God is building (the church)

-strictly speaking the physical building is not the church and is not holy, its usefulness lies in its ability to further biblical purposes of teaching and fellowship.

-just as one brick does not make a building, so the idea of a lone Christian is an anomaly. “Solitary religion is ruled out as an impossibility.” (Barclay)

4. Believers are not only the building, but are a priesthood with the responsibility of offering spiritual sacrifices.

-all believers are priests in service to God

-we do not go through priests today, we are priests with direct access to God, as illustrated by the tearing of the Temple veil at the death of Jesus, thus showing that all have access to God directly (Luke 23:45; 1 Timothy 2:5)

-believers should not be divided as “sacred” and “secular;” that is, as clergy and laity, where clergy is elevated above the congregation

-we should appreciate and accept the ministry of all believers and not think that somehow the ministry of the pastoral staff is somehow above the ministry or more important that the ministry of other believers.