Reading 1 Peter Together, Day 14 - 1 Peter 2:9-10

Today is day 14 of Reading 1 Peter Together.  We're almost halfway through our month long daily reading of the entire book.  Today we'll focus our attention on two verses, 2:9-10.

⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 

As Peter begins to wrap up the opening thoughts of his letter, he continues to distinguish between the believers to whom he is writing and the unbelieving world.  In the introduction he called his recipients elect exiles, and in verse 9 he calls them a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for his own possession.  

Peter is drawing heavily from the Old Testament books of the Law (Genesis-Deuteronomy) and applying to the church words that were previously spoken of the nation of Israel.  (See Deuteronomy 7:6-9 and Exodus 19:6.)  The promises and the status that once exclusively belonged to the people of Israel now belong to all believe in Christ.  

Although the church is comprised of many different nationalities and ethnicities, we are one race in Christ - a chosen race to be God’s holy people.  Formerly we were not a people, now we are God’s people.  Formerly we were in darkness, now we have been brought into the light.  Formerly we had not received mercy, now we have received mercy.

These are among the many privileges of being God’s chosen people.  But with these privileges come responsibilities.  Most of the rest of Peter’s letter will instruct believers on how we are to live as God’s chosen people in a world that hates us.

Here are today’s questions for meditation.

Peter unashamedly contrasts the privileges and status of God’s chosen people and those on the outside.  Are you comfortable thinking and speaking this way?  Why or why not?

What are the implications for believers of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds of being made one race in Christ?  Is it Christ-honoring for believers to segregate themselves in local congregations where everyone has the same skin color and cultural background?

How do we proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light?