1 Peter 1:22–25 (ESV): Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for
“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
25  but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

1 Peter 2:1-3 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

3 things to notice about this text:

1) You need to grow up

• Peter is concerned that we will spend our entire life and never get past the baby stage in Jesus.

Think about babies for a moment…
a. Emotionally unstable
b. Insecure
c. Possessive
d. Gullible

Ephesians 4:14 (ESV): (grow up) so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine

(Paraphrase) 1 Corinthians 3:1 Paul says… You’re jealous; you’re stingy, you’re selfish and demanding; if anything goes wrong you’re screaming about where God is in your life; you demand miracles for proof of your faith; I can’t talk to you like mature people, because you guys are infants in Christ.”

2) What is growing up?

1 Peter 2:1 “… So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

5 Sins of Attitude and Speech:

• Malice - anger toward people who let you down
• Deceit - lying
• Hypocrisy - pretend love
• Envy- Resentful discontent
• Slander - back biting

1 Peter 2:4 As you come to Him, a living stone…

3 stages of growth:

1 John 2:12–14 (ESV): 12  I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. 13  I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. 14  I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

• Stage 1 - v12  I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.

“If you do not know that you have been forgiven, it is because you still rely upon yourself. Because you are not relying on the finished and complete work of the son for you on the cross… Do you right now know that your sins are forgiven? Are you absolutely sure that no matter what you’ve just done or what you’re about to do, or what you do, that your sins cannot condemn you? Do you know that your sins are forgiven? Do you know that nothing can snatch you out of his hand? You can’t get past this stage until you become clear.” —D. Martyn Lloyd Jones

• Stage 2 - v14 I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

• Stage 3 - v13 Spiritual Fathers - you know Him who is from the beginning!

3) How to grow up

Peter says the same thing 3 times:

1 Peter 1:22 - Obedience to the truth of the word of God
1 Peter 2:2 - Nourishment on the milk of the word of God
1 Peter 2:4 - Build your life on the cornerstone

a) Accept it

b) Nourish yourself on it

c) Build your life on it