2. READ: 1 PETER 2:9
a. What are we, in Christ?
Answer: Christians--believers--those who are IN Christ are (1) a chosen people, (2) a royal priesthood, (3) a holy nation, and (4) a people belonging to God, (verse 9).
All of these descriptions of the children of God are summed up by saying that we are the people who answered God's call--His invitation to reconciliation with Him. When we answered that call through our faith in His Son and obedience to His commands, He brought us out of the darkness of sin and death, and He brought us into the wonderful light of His grace--salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ, Who IS the wonderful light.
Concerning God's wonderful, everlasting light, Isaiah 60:19-20 says, "The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end."
To be "chosen" is to willingly respond to the call of the Gospel--the Good News of reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 4:1-6: "For He [God] chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and Will--to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves [Jesus]."
Just as Israel was called God's chosen people in the Old Testament, so in the New Testament believers are named as "chosen," or "elect." (See Isaiah 43:10, 20; Isaiah 44:1-2.)
Believers are living stones that make up a spiritual temple in which, as a holy priesthood, they offer up spiritual sacrifices to God. The royal priesthood is the whole body of believers, with Christ as its head, or high priest.
Revelation 1:5: "To Him Who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father--to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen."
Comparing this to the priesthood in the Old Testament: as priests, believers are to reflect the holiness of God and that of their high priest--Jesus Christ. (See 1 Peter 1:15; Hebrews 7:26; Hebrews 10:10.)
Believers, as a royal priesthood, are to offer spiritual sacrifices (1 Peter 2:5) and are to be living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2).
We have the priestly duty of proclaiming the Gospel of God to those outside of Christ so that they might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:16).
We, as priests of God, also offer our money or material goods (Philippians 4:18; Hebrews 13:16), offer sacrifices of praise to God (Hebrews 13:15), and offer sacrifices of doing good (Hebrews 13:16).
As God's priests, we represent God before mankind--before the world. We reflect His glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).
We have the solemn priestly duty to spread the Good News of God's reconciliation through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ and become the aroma of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14-17).
Just as Israel was the holy nation of God, so now are His believers a holy nation in Christ.
Deuteronomy 28:9: "The Lord will establish you as His holy people, as He promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in His ways."
Exodus 19:5-6a: "Now if you obey Me fully 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."
Deuteronomy 7:6: "For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession."
As it was with Israel during Old Testament times, so it is today with Christians, who are now the spiritual Israel--God's holy nation.
Titus 2:11-14: "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very Own, eager to do what is good."
Once, we did not belong to God, but now we receive God's mercy. We are His people.