Peter uses the imagery of the church being God’s chosen nation even as Israel was in the days of the Old Testament. Note the similarities between what Peter says about the church in our text and what God told Moses to tell the Israelites:
“‘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.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” - Exodus 19:5-6 (NIV)
Some teach God has a separate plan for Israel and the church. Others contend that the church has replaced the nation of Israel and that He will never do anything of significance in or through Israel again. Then there are those, like myself, who contend the church is the fulfillment of God’s plan and that the church will, one day, be used of God to bring the nation of Israel back to Him.
But the Bible makes it clear that believers today are the people of God in the same way as were believing Israelites in the Old Testament (Galatians 3:7-9; 6:15-16; Romans 11:25-26).
It is understandable, then, that in speaking of how God sees his church, Peter speaks of the church as being “God’s Chosen Nation.” There are two things he wants us to understand.
1. The church’s position before God - v. 9a
A. We are a chosen people.
“For many are invited, but few are chosen.” - Matthew 22:14 (NIV)
Jesus says that every person who has given their life to Christ is chosen of God. But He also says that many more have been invited to enter into a personal relationship with Him. How many? Well, everyone (2 Peter 3:9)! However, not everyone who has been invited has chosen to accept. Only those who have made the choice to accept God’s invitation through faith in Christ are the chosen of God. This was true, even among the Israelites of the Old Testament: “Not all Israelites of the flesh were Israelites of the spirit.” - Romans 9:6 (The Message)
Even among God’s “chosen” people, the Jews, not everyone was truly chosen, because not everyone had entered into a personal relationship with God. But those who do accept God’s invitation to enter into a personal relationship with Him through faith in Christ are referred to as the chosen of God to emphasize of the initiative God took in providing the forgiveness through the cross that enables us to be reconciled to Him when we repent and place our faith in Christ. The fact that God chose me to be part of His family is a wonderful thought!
But equally wonderful is the fact that God has chosen me to participate with Him in His work in this world. Speaking of Jesus, the Father said: “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” - Luke 9:35 (NIV). Even at a young age, Jesus lived His life with a sense that He had a work He was called to do by the Father. Jesus told his parents: “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” - Luke 2:49 (NKJV). Now listen to what Jesus says about choosing us: “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last.” - John 15:15-16 (NIV)
“It’s not about you. The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.” - Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life
We should be concerned about the work of God.
B. We are a royal priesthood.
Through faith in Christ, we have been brought into the royal family of God, which is a royal family of priests.
“You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.” - Revelation 5:9-10 (NKJV)
The fact that we are royalty speaks of our authority and the fact that we are priests speaks of our duty.
In other words, we are authorized to carry out priestly duties. Each of us is called and commissioned by God for ministry.
Here is an interesting thought: Old Testament priests were initiated into their ministry by going through a “mickva” (Leviticus 8:6), that is, a ceremonial immersion in water. Jesus went through a “mickva” at the hands of John the Baptist when He began His earthly ministry. Our Lord, then took the “mickva” and commanded that everyone who becomes His disciple testify of their commitment to Him through being immersed (baptized). The fact that we are baptized in testifying of our commitment to follow Jesus also speaks of our being called into full-time ministry.
Every Christian is called of God to minister in His name. As the old saying goes, “We were saved to serve.” Therefore, we should be committed to the will of God.
C. We are a holy nation.
To be holy means to be set apart, to be dedicated to God. To be a holy nation means that our conduct is to be directed, not by the kind of principles reflected in the ways of this world, but by the ways of the kingdom. After, all, as Paul reminds us, “Our citizenship is in heaven,” (Philippians 3:20).
When the King has dominion over us, it affects everything about us; our thinking, our health, our families and relationships. It gives us a new purpose in life and the power to carry it out. We can learn how to experience life, “on earth as it is in heaven.”
“Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” - Colossians 3:2 (NLT)
“As the thoughts that are within us are more like that which are above us, we will live differently than those about us.”
We should be conditioned by the ways of God.
D. We are a special people.
The King James Version translates this phrase, “a peculiar people.” In other words, there should be a noticeable difference about us.
(To be “peculiar” is to be noticeably different, like Steve Erkel)
We’re not to be obnoxious, like Erkel, but people should be able to see a positive difference about us.
“The first thing for which He sets us here is to create hunger in others. We cannot inject that into others; we cannot drive people to be hungry. That hunger is to be created, and that hunger can be
created only through those who carry the impressions of God.” - Watchman Nee
We should be consecrated in our walk with God.
2. The church’s purpose in the world – v. 9b-10
The purpose of the church is to give God glory for what He has done in our lives! How can we effectively live lives that bring glory to God and draw others to Him? Peter says we must never forget two things:
A. Who we are with Christ - “Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God.” This speaks of identity.
This sense of identity will serve to give us courage to share with others.
B. Who we are without Christ - “once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” This speaks of humility.
This sense of humility will serve to give us compassion as we share with others.
As we go about our lives, courageously and compassionately sharing with others the difference Christ has made in us and the difference he can make in them, God can use us to draw others into a personal relationship with Him, too. And we will end up living lives that bring praise and glory to God.
In this way, we can be like Jesus, who lived with a strong sense of identity, knowing who He was enabled Him to courageously and confidently declare the Father’s message. He also lived with a strong sense of humility, as He daily submitted to the Father’s will and eventually, to the cross.
Consequently, at the end of His life, Jesus could say to the Father: “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” - John 17:4 (NIV)
May we live each day as Jesus did so that we might be able to say what Jesus did when we come to the end of our lives.
