講題：神 揀選的子民

經文：1 Peter 2: 9-12 彼得前書第二章9-12節

講員： Rev. Eric Maxwell

These past several weeks we have been studying the book of Ephesians in the English congregation. Paul begins the book by telling the Ephesians what great blessings and spiritual gifts they have in Christ. And, then he goes on to continue this theme throughout much of the book. One thing that we have found is that Paul also is quick to contrast what the believers have in Christ now with where they used to be without Christ. He reminds them that at one time they “were dead in their transgressions” and at one time they were “the darkness.” When we begin to see how destitute and desperate we were without Christ, we sense a greater feeling of gratitude for the spiritual blessings we have in Christ. In our text today we see that Peter gives us this contrast in verse 10. He says, “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. We should stand firmly in who we are in Christ, but never forget where God brought us from. The price Jesus paid was costly. Today Peter is going to give us 4 descriptions of who we are, while also telling us why. Then Peter will give us 2 commands which will ultimately result in God receiving glory even from those who don’t know Him. Let’s read 1 Peter 2:9-12 Peter describes the community of believers in 4 ways: a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people belonging to God.

As a chosen people you are special. I remember being in elementary school when we played games we always had to choose teams. If you were chosen 1^st you felt very special. When the number of people was uneven, one person was always left out. They could not join the game. That is a really bad feeling. No one wants to be left out. The amazing thing is that the God of the universe has chosen you to be His sons and daughters, through faith in what Jesus has accomplished on the cross for you. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 says, “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.” We can rest in the fact that God has chosen us. We can rest in the fact that Jesus loved us so much that he suffered torture, ridicule, and death for us. We are totally undeserving.

Peter also labels believers as a royal priesthood. In the Old Testament the priesthood was confined to a special group of people, the descendants of Aaron and the tribe of Levi. They were given the responsibility to offer sacrifices on behalf of the people. This practice culminated in the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Animal sacrifices no longer have to be made by priests. The book of Hebrews talks to us about Jesus being the unique and final high priest. Hebrews 7:27 says, “Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.” The atonement for sins has been made. We can draw near to God because of what Jesus has accomplished on the cross.

Hebrews 10: 19-22 says, “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” We have become a royal priesthood, who can draw near to God. There is no dividing wall of sin. The blood of Jesus breaks down the barrier between you and God. We have access into the Most Holy Place. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Not only can we draw near but we also, as priests, have responsibilities to reflect the holiness of God and be a representative of God before mankind. We must offer the message of salvation to those who do not know Christ. We point people to the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross at Calvary. We help people understand the sufficiency of the sacrifice. We intercede on the behalf of those who don’t know Jesus. I believe that this title of royal priesthood has not been adequately assumed by many of us. We take on the part that we like. We understand the privilege that we have been given: access to God through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Therefore we can confess our sins directly to God, repent, and receive forgiveness. However, as we assume this title we must also understand the significant responsibility that we have been given to offer spiritual sacrifices, intercede on the behalf of others, and to proclaim Christ to the world. We are to share the light and love of Jesus in this dark world. We are God’s representatives here on earth. This fall we will be voting to elect our President and other government officials. If we vote and our candidate gets into office we expect certain things from him/her. We have chosen them to represent us in Washington, DC. Sometimes once a representative or senator has been in Washington for a while they may lose contact with the people they represent. How many of us go throughout our day not remembering who we represent? Also, how many of us forget about the people to whom we have been called to be Jesus’ representatives?

Thirdly we are a holy nation. We are to be set apart. Earlier in 1 Peter 1:15-16, Peter sets forth the call for the people to be holy. Many times with children we give them incentives to behave properly. “If you eat one more bite of your dinner, then you can have some dessert.” Peter here in chapter 1 gives two incentives for being holy. The first one is because God is holy. God’s character requires that of us. We are to imitate the character of God. Jesus showed us as he walked this earth how to live lives that were holy. Although he was tempted, he never sinned. The second incentive for being holy is because the Word of God calls us to this. Peter quoted the Old Testament book of Leviticus in support of his argument—“Be holy, because I am holy.” We must allow the Word of God to have a place of importance in our lives. We must view this book as authoritative in our lives. This book does not merely contain suggestions; we are given commands to live by. We show our love to God by walking in obedience to His commands. We as individuals need to be set apart, but moreover, we, as the church of Jesus Christ, also need to be set apart, to be holy. Does our identity as a body of believers reflect the characteristics and actions of our Lord Jesus Christ? We are not to be like the world. Peter even calls us aliens and strangers in verse 11. John 15:19 says, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

Fourthly, we are God’s possession, a people belonging to God. He bought us with a great price. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” We see in the Old Testament the wonderful story of God choosing the Israelites as His people and how time and time again he took care of them. The ultimate story of his care and protection is when he delivered his people out of Egypt and eventually gave them a home in the Promised Land. We see the fullness of his love for mankind in the New Testament as he calls all mankind to Himself through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Next Peter tells us why we have been given the right to be God’s chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. The second half of verse 9 says, “that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness in to his wonderful light.” We have become all 4 of the descriptions, so that we can bring praise to God. Our lives are not about our honor. It is about His honor. We have not been blessed with “every spiritual blessing in Christ” as Ephesians 1:3b tells us, so that we can be honored. We have been blessed to bring praise to God. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”(Ephesians 1:3) Can we live our lives so that they bring honor to God, so that Jesus is magnified? Or, are we too wrapped up on in our own legacy to care about God’s honor?

Now, in bearing these 4 titles, we are commanded to “abstain from sinful desires and live good lives.” It is not ok to assume these titles without living out lives that show that we are a chosen people, a people belonging to God. Saying the words does not make it the truth. We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to no longer give into those old temptations. We must live lives of goodness towards our neighbors. The end result of us “abstaining from sinful desires and living good lives” is that people who don’t know the Lord will ultimately give praise to God for how we live our lives. The Bible says that people will “see your good deeds.” This phrase has the idea that this happens over a long period of time. This is not a one time witness. After watching how you live day after day after day. The Bible contains a wealth of information about what we are to abstain from and how we are to live good lives. I encourage you to dig through the Scriptures and put those things into practice. Today I want you to see the great blessing you have in Christ. However, I don’t want you to stop there and be satisfied. This will only serve to increase your level of pride in life and make you assume a greater level of self sufficiency. You must take the next step to recognize that God has called us to live this way that all praises and glory be directed towards Him. And, this is the most amazing thing: in the midst of our Lord receiving all the praise and glory we have the honor to live as his chosen people, following His Word. This life is not about you. It is all about Him. Don’t forget who you are: a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. And, it is all about His glory.