Choosen(Youth Lesson)

In this passage Peter is explaining to his readers just how special they are to God.

Up to this time, the Israelites were God's chosen people, but now those who put their trust in the Messiah are the chosen ones.

We're going to explore what this means by examining several analogies that Peter gives us:

God as the mighty Rock.

A spiritual temple made up of living stones

A holy priesthood

A chosen people

Living Stones in a Spiritual Temple (2:4-5)

Many Old Testament passages talk about God as a mighty Rock and Fortress. Peter (whose nickname means "Rock") calls his readers to this concept of God:

"As you come to him, the living Stone -- rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him -- you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (2:4-5)

"House of God" is often used in the Bible as the tabernacle, and later, the temple. Notice how the "Living Stone" here refers to Jesus the Messiah.

We also "like living stones" are built into a spiritual temple.

This theme of Christians being collectively the temple of God built upon Jesus, the chief cornerstone, is found elsewhere in the New Testament. "Built into"

Jesus spoke this same word to Peter when he said, "I will build my church!" (Matthew 16:18).

Notice how Peter describes the Living Stone:

Rejected by men. If we follow people's opinions we're likely to reject a lot of blessings God has for us.Chosen by God, that is "hand picked." Precious to him -- "of great value" to God.

A Holy Priesthood (2:5)

Now the analogy moves from a holy temple to a holy priesthood.

"You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (2:5)

Though it was God's initial desire that all his chosen people, the Jews, might be priests (Exodus 19:5-6), their fear of God was not met with faith, so they asked God not to speak to them directly (Exodus 20:19), but through Moses.

Apparently, as a result, an order of priesthood was set up, starting with Aaron, Moses' brother, his sons, and their descendents.

The priests acted as mediators between the people and the holy God, assisting with the sacrifices and presenting them before the Lord. It was a high and holy calling.

But in the New Testament, God chooses a new people, a people of faith, and once more calls us all to be priests.

To understand how we Christians are to function as priests, let's examine each of the keywords in the latter part of verse 5:

"... offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (2:5b)

Acceptable to God. "Acceptable" Our sacrifices are acceptable only when offered through Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest.

Spiritual. "Spiritual"

We worship God through the Spirit, as Jesus said we would (John 4:23-24).

"Offering" We deliberately and consciously offer up to God our worship.

"Sacrifices" In the Old Testament the priests offered cattle, sheep, goats, birds, grain, incense, etc. In the New Testament the offerings are spiritual, from the heart.

What Is Spiritual Worship?

Just what kinds of offerings do we offer to God?

Obedience. When we obey God in the way we live, we worship God. "Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1)

Jesus made it clear that he desires not just outward obedience, but obedience from the heart (Matthew 6:1-5).

The Psalmist captures this idea so well! "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." (Hebrews 13:16)

Rejecting the Messiah (2:6-8)

Now Peter returns to the theme of the Jews rejecting the Messiah. He quotes several scriptures from the Old Testament which point to this:

"For in Scripture it says:

'See, I lay a stone in Zion,    a chosen and precious cornerstone,    and the one who trusts in him    will never be put to shame' (quoting Isaiah 28:16).

The New People of God (2:9a)

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (2:9)

We've already looked at the idea of priesthood in 2:5 above. Here Peter adds to the idea of a "holy priesthood" the concept of a "royal priesthood," "a priesthood of royal rank or in royal service."[71] We serve the King!

I've heard people joke that the reason they are "peculiar" is because the Bible says they are. But the meaning here is "God's own special, set-apart people" -- not peculiar "weird."

"God's own people" contains two ideas:

(1) that we belong to God exclusively, and

(2) that we belong to others who are part of this people.

The Purpose of God's People (2:9b)

Peter uses a number of words to describe our specialness to God. But don't miss our purpose:

"... that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (2:9b)

Waging War for Your Own Soul (2:11)

Finally Peter warns us of our tenuous position here on earth.

"Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul." (2:11)

We've seen these words before in 1 Peter, reminding of our status on earth:

"Aliens" (NIV, NRSV), "strangers"

"pertaining to being a resident foreigner, stranger, alien, one who lives in a place that is not one's home.""Strangers"

We are constantly tempted to conform to the values of our culture. But this we cannot do. Our values need to come from God.

We have to learn to say, "No." "Abstain from"

What are we to say "No" to?

"Worldly Desires" and "lusts"

Why are we to say "No"? Because these desires and the sinful nature that inspires them is at war with our soul. This is a life and death struggle.

See Your Good Deeds and Glorify God (2:12)

The essence of Christianity, however, is not what we avoid doing, but what we deliberately do in self-giving love.

"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." (2:12)

Peter seems to be echoing his Master's words:

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

Our lives may help our friends, neighbors, and relatives to be convinced of the truth of the Gospel, so that they, too, will glorify God. In this passage, Peter has reminded us who we are --

a chosen people;

a holy, royal priesthood;

stones in a spiritual temple,

aliens and exiles on earth.

He reminds us how much grace it took for God to take us who were "no people" and turn us into his "special, chosen people."

Then he reminds us to act like who we are by abstaining from sin and living good lives before those around us.