Introduction

Beloved, I am thrilled to stand before you today, to share God's word with you, and to uncover the treasures of His truth together. It is a beautiful day that the Lord has made, and we are here, gathered as one family under the banner of Christ's love. It is a privilege to be part of this family, a family that is not defined by blood, but by the blood of Christ that was shed on the cross.

As we open our hearts and minds to the Word of God today, we turn our attention to the first letter of Peter, specifically 1 Peter 2:9. The verse reads: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light."

This scripture, my friends, is a powerful reminder of our identity in Christ. It speaks of our promotion from poverty, our position as priests, and our privilege of being loved by our Heavenly Father. It is a testament to the transformative power of God's love, a love that lifts us from the depths of despair and seats us in heavenly places.

Promotion from Poverty

In the realm of the spiritual, we are often confronted with our own inadequacies. We are born into a world of sin, a world that is marred by the fall of man. This is our spiritual poverty. We are born into a state of spiritual bankruptcy, unable to pay the debt of our sin. But God, in His infinite mercy and love, has provided a way out of this spiritual poverty.

God's plan for our redemption is aimed at a complete transformation. It is not about making us better versions of ourselves, it is about making us new creations. This is the essence of our promotion of poverty. We are not just improved, we are transformed. We are not just made better, we are made new.

This transformation is not a result of our own efforts, but is a gift of God. His grace lifts us from the depths of our spiritual poverty and seats us in heavenly places. His love transforms us from sinners into saints, from slaves into sons and daughters.

The first aspect of this transformation is our justification. This is the legal act of God where He declares us righteous in His sight. It is not based on our own righteousness, but upon the righteousness of Christ, which is imputed to us through faith. This justification is the foundation of our promotion of poverty. It is the legal basis of our new status in Christ.

The second aspect of this transformation is our sanctification. This is the ongoing work of God in our lives where He makes us more like Christ. It is a process of spiritual growth and maturity. It is a journey from glory to glory, from one level of spiritual maturity to another.

The third aspect of this transformation is our glorification. This is the future hope of every believer, the ultimate goal of our salvation. It is the time when we will be completely free from the presence and power of sin.We will be like Christ, for we will see Him as He is. This is the culmination of our promotion from poverty. It is the final stage of our transformation in Christ.

The fourth aspect of this transformation is our mission. As believers, we are not just recipients of God's grace, we are also carriers of His grace. We are also ambassadors of His love called to declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light.

Transition. Our promotion from poverty is not just about our personal benefits. God gets the glory as he has planned to redeem the world through the gospel of Christ. It is about His desire to display His grace and love through our lives. It is about His purpose to make us a blessing to others. It is about His mission to make us a light in the world.

Positioned as Priests

We have been elevated from our former state and positioned as priests ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO