| September 7, 2001 |
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| "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which in time past were" not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 1Peter 2:9-10 This is but one short passage of Scripture ~ that says a whole lot! There are many wonderful things said about us here: 1. We are a "chosen generation," that is, an elect race. Back in the Old Testament God chose Israel as His people, and in the Scriptures there are two elect groups of people: the nation Israel, called an elect nation, and the church, called an elect nation and an elect people. Now keep in mind that Peter is writing to his own people, the Diaspora, Jewish Christians who were scattered throughout the Roman Empire and beyond it. In effect he is saying, "Although right now you certainly do not look like a chosen generation, you are. Because you have come to Christ, you are a chosen generation, an elect nation, as the children of Israel were elect. 2. We are "a royal priesthood." Back in the Old Testament God first of all chose the entire nation of Israel to be His priests. However, they sinned, and so God chose one tribe out of that nation. The priests came from this one tribe. Today there is no priesthood on earth which God recognizes ~ except one. Today, every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is a priest. Israel had a priesthood and today the church is a priesthood. 3. We are "a holy nation." The nation Israel was never holy in conduct, and the same can be said of the church. Yet we are holy in our relationship with God because Christ is our righteousness. If you have any standing before God, it is not in yourself ~ it is in Christ. Isn't it wonderful to know that you stand complete in Him? 4. We are "a peculiar people" ~ a people of His own. God's people are not suppose to be oddballs or crackpots. Some people seem to think that is what "peculiar" means. We are a people for acquisition, a people for God's own possession. We belong to Him. Therefore, there is in the world not only a new nation but also a people that belong to Him. In a high priestly prayer of the Lord Jesus, He says, "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me. . ." (John 17:6). Also He said, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37). How wonderful it is that the Father has given us to Christ! Application: God calls His own. He calls on you today! It doesn't matter who you are or to which race you belong. Jesus Christ is calling people to be His own! He wants all people to join a chosen generation and royal priesthood. He wants everyone to have access to the Father! As we are united with Christ as members of His body, we join in His priestly work of reconciling God and people. We can come directly into God's presence without fear, and we are given the responsibility of bringing others to Him also. Have a blessed day in all you do, bringing glory to our Lord Jesus Christ! Love in Christ, Sandy |