1 Pet 2:1-9 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all guile, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,
2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."
7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,"
8 and "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (NKJ)
Introduction: When I read, “We are a chosen generation,” I am reminded of another verse where Jesus says; “Many are called, but few are chosen.” This gives us a picture of divine selection. While it is God’s will for all to be saved, not everyone submits to God’s will. But once we have submitted to God, we become His chosen.
I. What are we chosen for?
A. We are chosen to be part of God’s family.
1. I Peter 1:23 born again.
2. Rom 8:15 “you received the Spirit of
adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
3. Rom 8:16-17 The Spirit Himself bears
witness with our spirit that we are children
of God,
17 and if children, then heirs-- heirs of
God and joint heirs with Christ,
B. We are chosen to be part of His body.
1. 1 Cor 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ,
and members individually.
2. Eph 5:30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.
3. Eph 4:16 from whom the whole body, joined
and knit together by what every joint
supplies, according to the effective working
by which every part does its share, causes
growth of the body for the edifying of
itself in love.
C. We are chosen to be His ministers.
1. 2 Cor 4:1 Therefore, since we have this
ministry, as we have received mercy, we do
not lose heart.
2. 2 Cor 5:18-20 Now all things are of God,
who has reconciled us to Himself through
Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry
of reconciliation,
19 that is, that God was in Christ
reconciling the world to Himself, not
imputing their trespasses to them, and has
committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God were pleading through us: we
implore you on Christ’s behalf, be
reconciled to God.
3. Eph 4:11-12 And He Himself gave some to be
apostles, some prophets, some evangelists,
and some pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the
work of ministry, for the edifying of the
body of Christ,
II. We have become His special people.
A. A royal priesthood.
1. We are to offer up Spiritual sacrifices to
God.
2. We have access to the holy of holies by His
blood.
3. We have the privilege of interceding for
others.
B. A holy nation.
1. We have been set apart for God.
2. Our sins have been purged.
3. We can live in God’s presence daily.
C. A proclamation of praise to God.
1. We’re not perfect but we live in forgiveness.
2. Matt 5:16 "Let your light so shine before
men, that they may see your good works and
glorify your Father in heaven.
3. People are looking to the church to find
God. It is up to us Christian how much of
the Lord they see.
