But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy (1 Peter 2:9-10).

HOW DOES GOD TREAT HIS PEOPLE? How should believers think of themselves? We are certainly not a mere possession - a slave; that is not how he treats us! Nor does he treat us as a general treats his army. Nor as a strong man might exploit a weak or gullible one. No, he loves us! He bestows gifts on his church, and he calls her to be his glorious people! In Rom.11:29, we read 'God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.' Let's think about the above text as it describes the gifts of God and the calling of God.

Who We Are. Peter contrasts the attitude to Christ of Christians with that of unbelievers: Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,' and, 'A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.' They stumble because they disobey the message - which is also what they were destined for. (1 Peter 2:7-8).

He then goes on to describe Christians: the church of God is a Chosen People, a Holy Nation, a Royal Priesthood, the people of God. Why this fourfold description? The background is not hard to find:

Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey carefully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation'" (Exodus 19:3-6).

Israel was assembled at Sinai through God's great work of salvation. Peter is able to describe the church like this because she is the new covenant people of God; he gathers his church together, and in her gathering she expresses her identity as his precious people. (That's one reason why gathering together for worship is important: in so gathering, we affirm who we are by God's gracious calling.)

A Chosen People

Why is there a church? Why are there Christians? If you are a Christian, why are you? The theme of this part of Peter's letter is God's action in choosing to save people. First, Jesus is the precious stone that the builders rejected. But he has become the cornerstone of a whole new building. Into this building, God is cementing Christians as living stones. This building is the church, and it consists of those who trust in Jesus, together with their children.

Now, some do not believe in Jesus; why is that? The explanation is close at hand, in v. 8: ...They stumble because they disobey the message - which is also what they were destined for. In contrast to unbelievers, there is the true church of God: not rejected but chosen: 'But you are a chosen people...' (1 Peter 2:9). Here we meet the doctrine of election, which expresses the great truth that we are saved by grace alone: not by works (or by works assisted by grace as the Roman Catholic Church teaches). Election is according to grace: God's unmerited favour towards unworthy sinners.

So we learn first that the church of God is chosen: she may not look attractive; she may be full of problems; she may seem weak; but she is chosen for eternal life through faith in Christ! This is how we should think of ourselves in our congregation. As special - not because of anything in us or about us, not because 'you deserve it,' but because God has graciously called us to be his. He has chosen us. We are who we are, not by our efforts, not by an inheritance from earlier days, but by the sheer, unmixed grace of God in Christ.

A Royal Priesthood

A 'Royal Priesthood' is a priesthood belonging to a king. In the ancient world, kings could have their own order of priests. (In more recent days, a reading of his autobiography will show how successive American Presidents have associated themselves with Billy Graham, believing that this would enhance their credibility.) But who is the church's king? The church belongs to no earthly king, but to the kingdom of God that has broken into this world in Jesus Christ.

By the way, notice that Peter teaches the priesthood of all believers: male and female! But what does this mean? To what are we called? What is our role? Peter answers this question in ch.2:5, ...you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

What are these spiritual sacrifices? Several other texts help us here: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1). We are to offer our bodies: whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do.

I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. (Philippians 4:18). The gifts we give to others, especially those in need and involved in the ministry of the Word, are spiritual sacrifices (note: 'sacrifices,' not left-overs!).

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name. (Hebrews 13:15). The life of worship that we live is to be spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God.

A priest is also called to prayer on behalf of others: for kings and those in authority over us; for the work of evangelism and mission; for spiritual growth of ourselves and others; the list is endless. And the Bible tells us that God is pleased to bring about his purposes through the prayers of his priestly people. What a privilege to be a 'royal priesthood'!

A Holy Nation

The word 'holy' means 'set apart,' 'dedicated by God for his own use': God has set apart his New Testament church, as he did Israel in the Old Testament time. The word sometimes used for believers is 'saints,' and this word literally means 'holy ones.' Not just some, but all Christians are set apart by God for himself: we are a holy nation.

 As those who are set apart as God's, our lives ought to reflect our difference from unbelievers: But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy' (1 Peter 1:15-16). Be what God has made you! Not by choosing to be weird, but by obeying your calling in Christ.

God's Own People

You are God's special possession. You are his because he has bought you, and at what a price!: For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect (1 Peter 1:18-19).

We have asked: Who are we? The answer that the inspired Apostle Peter gives us is that we are what God has made us through Jesus Christ. We are his chosen ones; a priesthood belonging to the king; a nation set apart to be God's; his own special possession. What great privileges are ours! Such is the gift of God's grace through Jesus Christ. But great privileges bring great responsibilities. We have received great gifts, and ours is also a great calling...

A Divine Calling

... that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). What are we here for? Our calling is to glorify God! He is calling us to declare his praises: to tell of his mighty deeds, and exalt his great name! To glorify him, and to enjoy him in so doing.

The gospel is not first of all a psychological 'fix' for broken people: it is the declaration of the magnificent love of the Triune God by those who have experienced it first hand - Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:10). We are called to live lives that show God's power at work in them: Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. (1 Peter 2:11-12).

Brothers and sisters in Christ: God has given you great gifts; above all, he has given himself for you. How keen are you to tell of his wonderful works? Do you pray for opportunities to speak of him? Do you take the opportunity when it presents itself? Do you pursue that holiness of life that makes your witness credible, and compelling? (Or is it your lack of holiness that seals your lips?)

We began by asking 'How does Almighty God treat his people?' We see that what God gives us first is a new identity. A glorious identity as his own beloved children. And then he calls us to fulfil our calling, not out of guilt, but out of gratitude for his great grace! Let us respond to God's calling. Let us join in proclaiming the praises of our great Saviour who loved us and gave himself for us. That is why the church is here.