Do you know who you are in Christ?

Introduction

Do you know who you are in Christ? The authors of the Bible give various titles to describe believers. You have read we are called Christians, saints, the Church, the Bride, the Body of Christ, chosen, and children of God. Did you know we are also called priests? But, what does that mean? Today, I want to explore our spiritual identity as priests in this world of darkness through an exegesis of 1 Peter 2:1-10.

1 Peter 2:1–10 ESV

1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 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.

What does God say?

Verse 1: the putting away . . . is an action Christians must take but not a command. It is a call back to 1 Peter 1:22.

Verse 2-3: “long” or desire is the command. Peter commands believer to long for pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk like newborn infants. Newborn infants is not talking about spiritual immaturity, it is referring to a desire to be nourished by God. Desiring nourishment, one will grow up. In this regard, into salvation (deliverance). Peter add a conditional statement behind it . . . “if” you have tasted the LORD is good (kind).

Verses 4-8: language used to show we are like Christ who is the living stone. Peter wants the believers to know God’s plan is to build them up in the likeness of Christ as a spiritual house, holy priesthood. Peter uses quotations from Isaiah and the Psalms to convey the work of Christ in the believers and unbelievers life. Specifically, to the unbeliever Jesus is a stumbling block that remains in their way.

Verses 9-10: Again Peter reminds the believers who they are in Christ Jesus our LORD. They are chosen by God to be a royal priesthood and holy nation to be his very own. The purpose of their salvation is to make much of God’s excellent character, hence why they have be called out of darkness into His marvelous light. This is liken to the beginning of creation where God said, “Let there be light” in a world of darkness and chaos. Once they were not a people (not God’s people), now they are a people (God’s people). The mercy not received and received align with the previous statement. Essentially, the people of God has received His mercy which is the atonement of their sin and righteousness through Jesus Christ.

What do we do?

The LORD is good

He called us from out of darkness in to his marvelous light (liken to creation)

We are dependent upon God for our lives

The Living stone is Christ

4. We believe and are honored—they reject (disobeyed and the stone is an offense)

5. We are “like” the living stone

built up to be a spiritual house

holy priesthood who offer spiritual sacrifices.

chosen by God

royal priesthood

holy nation

God’s possession

6. We proclaim the excellent character of God

7. Therefore, we must long for God!