This morning as I was waking up the Lord put this passage of scripture in my heart and I believe this is what he wants us to focus on today. The Passage is founding 1 Peter Chapter 2:9
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
***When I see this very specific language about a individual or a group of people I want to know who Peter is writing to. Yes we as believers today can take this passage of scripture and 100% claim it is for us. Why can we do this?
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
**But getting back to my initial question about who Peter was writing to? Look back at the beginning of the letter and we will see who his audience is:
1 Peter 1
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
***This concept of “elect according to the foreknowledge of God” is a very powerful truth and this is not the first time we have seen this principle in scripture.
Digging deeper this morning in my study I discovered that it was Jesus himself that introduced us to the concept of the “Elect” or “Chosen”. The greek word here is: eklektos which I think you pronounce: Ek-le-tas
- picked out, chosen
- chosen by God,
- to obtain salvation through Christ
- Christians are called "chosen or elect" of God
- the Messiah is called "elect", as appointed by God to the most exalted office conceivable
- choice, select, i.e. the best of its kind or class, excellence preeminent: applied to certain individual Christians
***Hear the words of Jesus speak of the elect or chosen:
Jesus speaking in parable about the kingdom of heaven and working in the Harvest: Mat 20:16 - So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen
Jesus speaking in parable about the kingdom of God being like a king who made a wedding for his son and someone coming in without his wedding garment on:Mat 22:14 - For many are called, but few are chosen.
Jesus speaking of the great tribulation at the end of the age: Mat 24:22 - And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake G1588 those days shall be shortened.
Mat 24:24 - For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. G1588
Mat 24:31 - And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect G1588 from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
*****The 1st point of the message today: Your place in the family of God is not by accident or random chance, you have been chosen.
Jesus speaks clearly of the Elect or Chosen and this principle continues in the New Testament with the holy spirit inspired writings of Jesus disciples.
Paul speaking to the believers at Rome and expands on the concept of the elect or chosen:
Romans 8:28-34
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
*** I want to pause here and speak about two important words: Foreknow and Predestinate
Foreknow:
- to have knowledge before hand
- to foreknow
- of those whom God elected to salvation
- to predestinate
God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. G4267 Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
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Who verily was foreordained G4267 before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
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Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, G4267 beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
Predestinate:
- to predetermine, decide beforehand
- in the NT of God decreeing from eternity
- to foreordain, appoint beforehand
For whom he did foreknow, he G4309 ➔ also did predestinate G4309 to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
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Moreover whom he did predestinate, G4309 them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
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But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained G4309 before the world unto our glory:
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Having predestinated G4309 us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
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In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated G4309 according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
*****The 1st point of the message today: Your place in the family of God is not by accident or random chance, you have been chosen.
****The 2nd point of the message today: God knew you, God called you, God ordained you before you came to be.
****Continue reading in Romans 8
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
***Continuing in Paul’s letter to the Church at Colossae
Col 3:12 - Put on therefore, as the elect G1588 of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
2Timothy 2:10 - Therefore I endure all things for G1588 ➔ the elect's G1588 sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Titus 1:1 - Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, G1588 and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, G1588 and faithful.
*****The 1st point of the message today: Your place in the family of God is not by accident or random chance, you have been chosen.
****The 2nd point of the message today: God knew you, God called you, God ordained you before you came to be.
***So now that we have established who Peter is writing this letter to, let’s go back to our key scripture in 1 Peter Chapter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
Seeing this word “But” we recognize that Peter is comparing one group of individuals to a different group. So we have to back up more and get the full picture:
Backing up to 1 Peter 1:22
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
*** We just have to pause here and hear the words of Jesus on this topic of being “Born Again”
John 3:1-21
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
*****The 1st point of the message today: Your place in the family of God is not by accident or random chance, you have been chosen.
****The 2nd point of the message today: God knew you, God called you, God ordained you before you came to be.
***The 3rd point of the message today: Yes your place in the family of God is secured when you are born again.
24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
***Continue reading into Chapter 2:1-10
1 Peter 2:1-10
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
***The 4th point of the message today: God has a place for you to grow and serve in the Kingdom of God
It is interesting that Peter uses this metaphor for first babes, desiring milk to grow. Then he says we are like stones that are strong and can be used to support a building, or structure but not just any stone. We are to be living stones. This concept of a stone that by definition is not alive. It is dead minerals that are hardened by extreme heat and pressure. Peter by revelation of Jesus in verse 5 here says; you are like the strong supporting structure in the spiritual house of God but you are not dead you are alive. And Not just are you alive but you are lively……There are some Christians today that are by definition alive but they are so inactive in the body of Christ you could easily mistake them for being dead.
**God is calling us today to be lively in the kingdom of God. To build up the spiritual house, to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
***Point #5 of the Message: God is calling us to be lively and active in the Kingdom of God.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
*** In closing I want to talk with you about The Stone, The Rock, Jesus Christ. You see what Peter is sharing here is the very foundational spiritual principle of your relationship with the Father God. That simple but foundational principle is What is the Solid Rock Jesus to you?
I have been on many jobsites in my career. On a jobsite are many building materials. There is wood, metal, masonry, bricks, blocks, stone, ect. Sometimes you can trip over these materials, or you can be obstructed by them in the path you are trying to walk and have to go around them.
Here in 1 Peter Chapter 2:6-8 Peter is explaining that Jesus is the Solid Rock, He is the Chief Corner Stone. But to some he is a tripping hazard, a rock of offence, a stumbling block.
And whosoever shall fall on this stone G3037 shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
Matthew 16:13-19
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Back to 1 Peter Chapter 2:9-10
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
10 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.
*****The 1st point of the message today: Your place in the family of God is not by accident or random chance, you have been chosen.
****The 2nd point of the message today: God knew you, God called you, God ordained you before you came to be.
***The 3rd point of the message today: Yes your place in the family of God is secured when you are born again.
***The 4th point of the message today: God has a place for you to grow and serve in the Kingdom of God
***Point #5 of the Message: God is calling us to be lively and active in the Kingdom of God.
***The 6th and final point of the Message today: Jesus will either be the cornerstone of your life, or just a big rock that gets in your way.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;