## The Precious Savior

## I Peter 2:1-7

We are in the midst of a holiday time that isn’t holy. It is a time of X-mas, Santa Claus, and Season’s Greetings. Mention the true meaning of Christmas and folks look at you like you are strange.

Occasionally you read of someone who has the misfortune of a fire or robbery at Christmas time and all the presents are either destroyed or stolen. Someone will invariably say that they lost their Christmas. Is that true? Is Christmas just about the presents under the tree? If so, then all of us have lost Christmas.

On the news I have heard several disturbing stories of the outrageous prices paid for the toy of the season. This year it is "Tickle-me Elmo". In the past it has been a variety of other items that conveniently are in short supply around this time of year.

What is precious to us tonight?

Read 1 Pet. 2:1-7

I. Consider What Christ Is To His People.

A. What is precious? Three qualities:

1. It should be rare.

a. Jesus is not one of many, He is the only One.

b. "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;" (Heb 10:12)

c. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" (1 Tim 2:5)

2. It must have intrinsic value.

a. He is precious because of who He is.

b. "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." (Col 2:9)

c. He is God incarnate!

3. It must be useful.

a. Jesus Christ is the answer to the need of all mankind.

b. His life gives life to the believer...

c. His death gives redemption from hell to all who trust Him...

d. His resurrection justifies us...

e. His return delights our hearts...

B. We show that He is precious to us...

1. By trusting everything to Him.

a. Our hope rests solely on the work of Christ.

b. There is no alternate plan or hope of salvation.

c. Those who accept Christ have placed all of our hope and trust in Jesus.

d. We do it confidently as Paul reminds us in 2 Tim 1:12.

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (2 Tim 1:12)

2. By sacrificing all, if necessary, for Him.

a. God does not call upon all of us, or even many of us, to give our lives for Him.

b. But if He is precious to us, we would be willing to do so.

c. There have been those in the past who have given their lives for the cause of Christ.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. (Dan 3:16-18)

d. No one wants to suffer for the sake of Christ, but if He is precious to us, we will be willing to do so.

3. As believers, we show how precious Christ is to us by our unceasing service to Him.

a. We can never do enough for Him.

b. It is not in our talk, but in our walk.

c. We may, at times, grow weary in our work Him, but we never grow weary of working to exalt and glorify Christ.

C. He is precious because the Bible declares Him to be.

1. "To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious," 1Pe 2:4

2. He is the Rock of Ages...the firm foundation upon whom we can build our lives.

3. He is precious because He alone was chosen by God to be our Savior.

4. "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." (Acts 5:31)

II. What is in the believer that makes Christ precious to him?

A. Belief.

1. "Unto you therefore which believe He is precious..." v7a

2. The natural man cannot see the things of the Spirit of God. Cf 1 Co. 2:14

3. The Holy Spirit of God has removed the scales from our eyes so that we can see Him!

B. By Faith He is appropriated.

1. Faith the hand that grasps Christ.

2. Are the crown jewels of England precious to me? NO

3. I may see some wonderful treasure, but it does not become precious unless it becomes mine.

4. By faith, Jesus is appropriated and He becomes a part of our life.

5. As a result, He becomes precious.

6. The more we step out by faith and trust Him, the more precious He becomes to us.

Tonight, do we know Him as our Savior? Is He precious to us? He is precious to God, and He is precious to all who believe. Do we believe?

If you do not know Christ as your personal Savior, may I invite you to come and trust Him tonight? If you are struggling with what is truly valuable and precious in your life tonight, may I invite you to receive Christ.

Christians, are we expressing how precious Jesus is to the world around us? Are we trusting Him with our all, are we serving Him?