1 Peter 2:7-8 To you therefore which believe he is precious: but to them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed… I. IN WHAT THIS PRECIOUSNESS CONSISTS. 1. I would mention, first, the difficulty of securing the possession of the Saviour. He is freely offered "without money and without price." Yet "all men have not faith." The reason is, that there are difficulties in the way of their believing, which is one cause why we may say that Christ is precious. 2. There are few who possess this invaluable gift; not, indeed, that there is not in Christ a sufficiency for all, but Christ can only be received in one way — by faith. You may try to discover the Saviour by your works, but you cannot find Him. 3. There is a great demand for the Saviour; not, indeed, amongst the worldly, the frivolous, the luxurious and selfish, the sensual and profane. But the demand is amongst those who are convinced of their sin. 4. There are advantages accruing to the possessor, which can leave no doubt of the preciousness of Christ. His blood is precious; His intercession is precious; His righteousness, His Word, His doctrine. II. WHO EXPERIENCE THIS PRECIOUSNESS? Gold is valueless to the infant. Pearls are as nothing to swine. And, alas! the precious blood of Jesus is to many as an unholy thing. 1. To the openly profane, Christ is as nothing. 2. The men of the world can see nothing in Christ in which they should rejoice; but they do see their lusts forbidden, and their lives condemned (Titus 2:11, 12). 3. The luxurious experience no comfort in Christ. He who had "not where to lay His head" is a continual reproof to them. 4. Nor is Christ more precious to the formalist (Romans 10:3, 4). 5. It is to the believer, and to the believer alone, that Christ is precious. It is the believer who has felt the burden of sin. He can say, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift."(1) Meditate on His name — Jesus, Saviour I How much does that word convey to a believer's heart! (2) Consider how precious to us is the sympathy of Jesus (Proverbs 18:24; John 13:1). (3) Call to mind the power and strength of our Redeemer. We know that we are surrounded by enemies, that we are subject to misrepresentations, to persecutions for righteousness' sake. But Jesus, the mighty God, is on our side, and we become "more than conquerors through Him who loved us."(4) Again, behold the righteousness of Jesus. (H. M. Villiers, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, |
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