Reading: 1 Peter 2:7

1 Peter 2 carries texts and phrases that should be committed to memory. One such phrase is found in verse 7: “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious.” Those words carry two major thoughts.

First, Christ is precious to the Christian. No one is going to question that statement. Christians see something and understand something of the preciousness of Jesus Christ. This is often used to test whether there is spiritual life or not. Is Christ really precious to us? Octavius Winslow said in his book The Precious Things of God, “A felt conviction of the preciousness of the Saviour has ever been regarded by enlightened ministers of the gospel as constituting a scriptural and unmistakeable evidence of the existence of divine life in the soul; and in moments when neither time nor circumstance would admit of close scrutiny of a theological creed or a nice analysis of spiritual feelings and emotions, the one and simple inquiry upon which the whole matter is made to hinge has been—“What is your experience of the worth of the Saviour? Is Christ precious to your heart?” Those are searching questions. A person who claims to know Christ but who feels that there is nothing precious about Christ is living as a hypocrite. Christians view Christ as a precious Saviour.

Second, there is a glorious honour in being in union with Jesus Christ. The word precious could be translated “honour” (it’s a different Greek word than is used in verses 4 and 6) and therefore the force of this statement really is “to you who believe there is honour.” In other words, union with Christ brings great honour to the Christian. It is a position of tremendous privilege. These twin truths could be summarised by saying it is a precious or honourable thing to be in union with the precious and glorious Saviour! Believer, think on this truth for it is full of encouragement and the greatest cause for praise and thanksgiving.

“Scripture describes the Christian state as an actual attainment. Desire alone, however vehement and sincere, is no proof of a gracious state. We cannot judge ourselves and others but by actual attainments.” Rev. W. Fry, The Eclectic Society, Dec. 14th 1807)