CHOSEN TO COMMUNICATE

I PETER 2:9-10

September 2008

INTRODUCTION

There is a pattern in the New Testament epistles that should be recognized by believers.  This pattern is the writer presents doctrine then duty, belief then behavior, and content then conduct.  It is very evident in First Peter.  Peter like other New Testament authors is interested in how believers live but he knows they must have correct theological belief.  What a believer believes determines how he behaves.  In the previous section of First Peter, Peter stressed that every believer is a living stone in a living structure, the church.  In 1:11-2:8 Peter has discussed the believer’s position and standing with the Lord.  He now reminds them of their privileges being saved and the corresponding responsibility.  An important question every Christian must ask is, “Why did God save me?”  Certainly it is more than deliverance from Hell, it is to demonstrate Heaven.  Again, Peter weaves the believer’s standing with his present state.  The focus of 2:9-10 is the Christian is Chosen to Communicate Christ to his generation.  Peter’s new emphasis is a fourfold description of every believer in Christ.

BELIEVERS ARE SELECTED AS SONS

I PETER 2:9

SONS

            This term is translated, race, generation, or birth in a family indicating one’s personal spiritual bloodline in Christ.  There is no verb in the verse and the adjective chosen provide the emphasis.  One must resist at this point the views of secular psychology and science in general.  Man is not the result of accidental evolution.  He is created by God in God’s image.  The same is true of God’s spiritual family.  One has to be born again into this eternal family and each member reflects God’s image in Christ.  Eternal salvation in Christ transcends all genetic makeup.

SELECTED

            The term chosen is elected and was used first in 1:2 in this epistle.  Election is a feared topic because there is so much error communicated regarding it.  It is a great rich doctrine that is all comforting.  Ephesians 1:4 states every believer has been elected by God.  Note the connection between 2:8 and 2:9.   Destined to destruction for those rejecting the stone, Christ, BUT elected in Christ!  Remember, there was nothing in anyone that merited salvation.  God initiated the electing process and chose us.  He then prescribed everything necessary to implement this election in Christ.  There are no accidents in a believer’s life, he is following exactly what God designed for him. The question remains, “Why you”?  The doctrine contains mystery but no error!  Election is the work of the perfect God revealed in Holy Scripture.  Rather than fear or be troubled about election, it is much healthier to believe it and rejoice in it.  God has elected us, we did not elect him!  It is all about his grace.  Someone may say that sounds like what’s going to be will be.  No, it means what God wants to be will be for the believer.  Election is a comfort, not confusion.  The issue here is simple for anyone.  If you desire to be a son in Christ trust him as Savior now.  A sinner does not go to heaven because he has been elected, he goes because he believes and is regenerated, saved.

BELIEVERS ARE SOVEREIGN SERVANTS

I PETER 2:9

This text simply overwhelms the reader.  It designates what is true of every believer in Christ.

The description is dramatic, as well as, significant.

SERVANTS

            The term priest or priesthood is rich with meaning and application.  In the Old Testament the priesthood was confined to the family of Aaron, the tribe of Levi.  No one served as a priest without having been born into the tribe of Levi.  The New Testament confirms this in Hebrews 5:1-4 in the discussion concerning the superiority of Christ’s priesthood over that in the Law of Moses.  The function of a priest was to bring people to God as opposed to the role of the prophet which was to bring God to the people.  A priest had two means for accomplishing his task, offer sacrifices and supplication, prayer.  This doctrinal truth stresses a unique truth about those in the body of Christ.  Every believer is a believer priest challenged to offer spiritual sacrifices and supplication in Christ.  Hebrews 4:16 stresses the privilege and responsibility of doing what only a high priest could do under the law, come boldly into the presence of God before his throne in prayer.  Although once excluded from the priesthood when unsaved, all saved are urged to come to the King of King and Lord of Lord, and the Great High Priest of all priests!

SOVEREIGNS

            Royal is the word used to refer to a king.  In the Old Testament the offices of King and priest were always separated requiring two different individuals.  Christ was different and he was of the order of Melchizadek, an eternal priesthood, superior to the Aaronic priesthood.  The following passages stress this truth about Christ, Hebrews 6:20, 7:1, Genesis 14, Revelation 1:6, 5:10 and 20:6.  The point is Christ, one eternal person is king-priest forever.  This dignity is transferred to all of Christ’s sons in his spiritual and eternal family.  Gods’ sons are not only sons in God’s family, joint heirs of Christ, they are royal priests in Christ, related to The King and THE Priest.  This dignity gives believers special significance.  Each believer is enriched with the King’s power, riches, robe of righteousness, kings spiritual nourishment, his Word, and even his servants, angels, Hebrews1:14.  Consult Ephesians 3:8, James 4, and Ephesians 6 for further illustrations of the advantages of being a royal servant.  All stress, problems, and trials should be viewed from the position of a royal servant, not some ordinary slave!

BELIEVERS ARE SANCTIFIED SONS

I PETER 2:9

The expression, holy nation, indicates the sanctification teaching.  Central to this idea are several key passages such as Exodus 19:5-8, Deuteronomy 7:6-10, and Matthew 21:44-45.  The context for the Old Testament references is God’s chosen people, the nation of Israel.  The relationship between Israel’s experience and that

of the believer today is God also elected the nation of Israel to demonstrate Jehovah to the pagan Gentiles to attract them to salvation.  So also is God’s plan for his church today.  God’s people are to go to Jew and Gentile and proclaim the God of scripture.  Believers are God’s personal possession!  This gives great meaning, self esteem, and self image to those in Christ.

CONCEPT OF HOLY

            This word means to separate or set apart.  Theologically it has two dimensions.  It refers to being separate from something and being separate unto something.  Salvation in Christ means God desires to separate believers form sin, Satan, and the system of the world.  At salvation the believer has been separated from all these positionally and after salvation he is to separate himself from them and unto Christ and his Word.  This teaching does not indicate the church and Israel are the same at all.  In fact, in Christ the church is totally separate from Israel in every sense.  The church is composed of Jew and Gentile and is Christian without distinction.  Ephesians chapter two and three clarify this point.  What Peter is saying is, the believer’s position with and before God is one of eternal sanctification.

CONDUCT OF HOLINESS

            The Christian life is a life of obeying God’s Word indicating one’s practical sanctification.  Every believer is to practice reflecting what he is in position.  In other words, the believer’s standing is eternal sanctification in Christ and his earthly state or conduct should be consistent.  Israel was a holy nation elected by Jehovah but their lifestyle reflected the opposite.  This is one reason God disciplined the nation.  It is possible for a believer to be disobedient, unholy, and even polluted in his lifestyle thus denying his profession of faith in Christ.  This also demands God’s discipline.  I Thessalonians states God has not called believers for the purpose of impurity but in sanctification.  Simply stated, if you testify you are saved and holy, live it before the unsaved, as well as. the saved.

BELIEVERS ARE SPECIAL SONS

I PETER 2:9

PECULIAR

            This term does not mean what the English language conveys today!  In fact, some Christians read this word and do all they can to be peculiar and most often succeed in doing so.  The term is a compound word, to do or make, plus the verb to draw a circle around, thus saying it is mine.  This is exactly what Peter intends to say.  When God elected Israel from all other nations, he drew a circle around the nation saying they are mine, they belong exclusively to me.  Exodus 19:6 says they were a people purchased by God.  Literally it means, a person God has drawn a circle of possession around.  This is his standing in Christ.

PEOPLE

            Paul, writing to Titus, says two specific things to believers relative to this point.  He says they are to be eager or zealous for good works and be careful to engage in good deeds.  Paul states in Ephesians 2:10 believers are to be aware they were saved to do good works.  Therefore, every believer is to demonstrate their salvation, dignity, purpose, calling, election, and sanctification within the circle they have been placed.

SPECIFIC SUMMONS

I PETER 2:9-10

COMMUNICATION

            Believers are to proclaim or show forth, to tell forth or out!  This is an awesome task isn’t it?  What are they to proclaim?  The text says the excellences or virtues of God.  What are the excellences to be proclaimed?  In the context they are, his holiness, election, royal priesthood, sanctification, and his unique eternal priesthood.  We are called to proclaim him not just a plan of salvation!  God desires to save and set apart his own as trophies of his saving sanctifying grace.  Today, as never before, the church must cease declaring their own denomination, worship style, and music, and focus on declaring Jesus Chris alone for eternal salvation and sanctification.

CAUSE

            Past experiences are indicated by the grammar of the word called.  They were once in spiritual darkness, not a people of God, and not shown mercy by God.  This means they were eternally lost without Christ and remained so until God intervened by saving them.

Present experience is declared by “ but you are the people of God, you have received mercy at salvation”.  They had been brought into the ligh, declared and made the people of God.  This text urges believers everywhere to envision what they were previously and what they have become in Christ.

CHALLENGE

Why has God saved you as a believer?  It is no mystery, it is purposeful.  Privilege brings serious responsibilities and Peter has declared clearly what these special blessings are in Christ.  Believers have been selected, made servants and sovereigns, sanctified, and are special sons in the Lord Jesus Christ.  They in turn are to communicate Christ to their unsaved world, by means of living sanctified lives and, and by lips, proclaiming the excellences of Jesus Christ.

Thought of the Month:  Do I demonstrate His excellences in my conduct?

Hear Dr. Raiford------

Aug 31:  Hibernia Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL - Adult Bible Study

Sept 7:  Hibernia Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL - Adult Bible Study

Sept 14:  Hibernia Baptist Church Jacksonville, FL - Adult Bible Study                             

Sept 19-24:  Church in the Wildwood, Macon, GA -  Pastor’s Seminar & Bible Conference

Oct 7, 14, 21, 28:  Hibernia Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL - Staff Training

Oct 1, 8, 15:  Hibernia Baptist Church - Young Adult Bible Study,  "Apologetics"

Oct 29-30:  Hibernia Baptist Church - Conference on "Suffering" 

©James Raiford Ministries, Inc. 2008