You Are a Peculiar People

Text: 1 Peter 2:9-10

Peter wrote his letter to Christians, reminding them that they were to be different from the world. In our text, he described how we are to be different from the world.

A Chosen Race

  • People talk a lot about race – we must understand that all are equal before God (Galatians 3:28; Acts 10:34-35); so what is the “chosen race“?
  • There are two races – those who have been born and those who have been born again (Acts 17:26; John 3:3-5)
  • Those who have been born again are the chosen race (Ephesians 1:3-5) – baptism puts us in Christ (Galatians 3:27)

A Royal Priesthood

  • Under the Old Law, only the Levites could be priests (Numbers 3:6; Hebrews 7:11-14) – all were God’s chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6), but not all could serve as priests
  • Under the new covenant, all of God’s chosen people are priests – we offer sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1)
  • royal priesthood – we serve the King directly (Hebrews 12:28)

A Holy Nation

  • There are certainly blessings in being U.S. citizens – but our primary citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20)
  • Jesus is King over a spiritual kingdom (John 18:36)
  • We are a holy nation – to be holy means to be set apart; purpose for which we’ve been set apart is to do His work (Ephesians 2:10); be like Him (1 Peter 1:14-16)

A People for God’s Own Possession

  • We belong to God because we have been purchased/redeemed by the blood of Christ – collectively as the church (Acts 20:28) and individually as Christians (1 Peter 1:18-19)
  • Because we are His, we must glorify Him – collectively (Ephesians 3:21) and individually (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
  • We glorify Him by engaging in good deeds (John 17:4; Titus 2:14) – acting in harmony with the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Proclaiming the Excellencies of Him Who Called Us

  • We are to be teaching about Him – not all at the same capacity (James 3:1), but all are involved (1 Peter 3:15)
  • Excellencies” – praises (KJV), virtues; things for which God is worthy of praise (His nature, blessings, etc.)
  • Called us from darkness to light (cf. Colossians 1:13-14) – this is another one of His virtues; He was willing to save those who had rebelled against Him (Romans 5:8-10)

Once Were Not a People

  • Originally not of God’s people (Hosea 2:23) – salvation is open to all (Acts 10:35)
  • Though they would come from other nations, they would have a common bond in the Lord (Isaiah 2:2-4)
  • Not a people based upon a common location, language, class etc. – united based upon their following the word of God (John 17:20-21)

Received Mercy

  • God, through His mercy, has made forgiveness of sins possible for all – to those who would be part of His kingdom (Colossians 1:13-14)
  • To receive His mercy, we must be born again (1 Peter 1:3)
  • God’s grace is extended to all (Titus 2:11) – but not all will be saved (Matthew 7:13-14, 22-23); we must meet the conditions of salvation so that we might receive mercy

Conclusion

  • As Christians, we are God’s peculiar people
  • We should remember that and act like it