What We Are In Him
Introduction
1 Peter 2:9-10
In these two verses the Apostle Peter enlightens us concerning God's purpose with His people. God had something in mind when He saved us. As children of God, we are subjects or citizens of God's Kingdom. We became citizens by a new birth from above. The new birth is a miracle that takes place in a sinner's heart when he repents of sin and places faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Peter describes the citizens of God's country in this passage.
I. As To Our World 9
We are a heavenly people with a heavenly Father and a heavenly home. According to v.11 we are "so journers and pilgrims." This world is not my home, I am just passing through.
A. Chosen Generation 9a
An elect offspring; speaks of the grace of God. Israel was chosen, not because they were a great people, but because He loved them. Deuteronomy 7:7-8, "LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt." God has chosen us purely because of His love and grace. John 15:16, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." This is a strong contrast to disobedient who are appointed by God to wrath (v.8), Christians are chosen by God to salvation. (v.2) From this we learn that the Christian is chosen for three things:
1. Chosen For Privilege
In Jesus Christ there is offered to him a new and intimate fellowship with God. God has become his friend and he has become God's friend.
2. Chosen For Obedience
Privilege brings with it responsibility. The Christian is chosen in order that he may become the obedient child of God. He is chosen, not to do as he likes, but to do as he ought.
3. Chosen For Service
His honor is that he is the servant of God. His privilege is that he will be used for the purposes of God. But he can be so used only when he brings to God the obedience he desires.
B. Crowned Priesthood 9b
In the Old Testament period, God's people had a priesthood; but today, God's people are a priesthood. Each individual believer has the privilege of coming into the presence of God.Hebrews 10:19-25, "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." We do not come to God through any person on earth, but only through the one Mediator, Jesus Christ. Look at 1 Timothy 1:5, "Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith." Our Lord's Heavenly throne is a throne of grace from which we may obtain by faith all that we need to live for Him and serve Him. Hebrews 4:14-16, "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
C. Consecrated Nation 9c
We have been set apart to belong exclusively to God. Since our citizenship is in heaven, we are to obey heaven's laws and seek to please heaven's Lord. Speak of being devoted to a purpose with deep dedication. Holy people should by all means evidence holiness. A jewelry salesman, noticing his hands to be somewhat soiled, said to himself, "Of all persons, I should have clean hands. I cannot offer diamonds, pearls, or jewels to any sort to customers with hands that are not clean." Those of us who would present the treasure of Christ to others must have clean hands. We read in 1 Thessalonians 4:7, "For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness."
D. Captured People 9d
"His own special people" - peculiar people; does not mean oddity. Word translates "to form" or "to make" with the preposition meaning "around." The significance is that God's people are formed around Him. Christians are a people for God specifically to possess. The value of a thing lies in the fact that some one has possessed it. A very ordinary thing acquires a new value, if it has been possessed by some famous person. The Christian may be a very ordinary person but he acquires a new value because he belongs to God. Isaiah 43:21, "This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise." Malachi 3:17, "They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him." "jewels" - special treasures. Again, peculiar suggests to make something and then to surround it with a circle indicating ownership. Speaks of the unique, private, personal ownership of the saints by God.
II. As To Our Witness 9
The purpose of all the above is to publish the virtues of the one who called us out of the darkness and into His glorious light.
A. The Incarnation Of The Lord 9e
"proclaim the praises" - to tell out, to advertise; each citizen of heaven is a living advertisement for the virtues of God and the blessings of the Christian life. From the word proclaim we get our English term evangelism. We are to be announcing out the truth of this text. It literally means to tell something not otherwise known. Praise - speaks of God's gracious dealings, glorious attributes.
B. The Impersonation Of The Light 9f
"called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" - our lives are to radiate the "marvelous light" into which God has graciously called us.
III. As To Our Walk 10
A. We Were Separated From God 10a
"who once were not a people" - this state of redemptive purpose has not always been the case. Once God's people were not a people, not always a Christian. "who had not attained mercy" - the perfect participle here testifies to a continual state of being outside the mercies of God.
B. We Were Bought By God 10b
"but now have obtained mercy" - God intervenes and they obtain mercy (aorist tense) indicating a conclusive act on the part of God. Ephesians 2:1-5, "you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)." Ephesians 2:11-13, "Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh - who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands - that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."
C. We Have Been Saved By God 10c
"Are now the people of God."
1. Mercy Is Available
Heaven's delivery stands at every heart with mercy.
2. Mercy Is Abundant