Royal Priesthood

I. Believer's Position: Descendant, Priesthood, Nation, & Possession vv. 9-10

Chosen race

Chosen

Picked by God because we trust Him.

Race

Descendants

Unity in a spiritual family.

Royal priesthood

Royal

Kings family; royal position

Priesthood

Has access to God Ministers for God

Connects others to him

Holy Nation

Holy

Dedicated to God

Nation

Kingdom of God

His own possession

Collecting field stones. Everyday things gain new value.

Purpose

Proclaim the excellencies of him who called you

God expects us to tell of his goodness

Out of darkness

Into marvelous light

Testimony

II. Interactions with Unbelievers vv. 11-12

Sojourners and exiles

Exiles- Staying for a time in a foreign place

If we are going to promote kingdom values we cannot joining their values. We influence them as a sojourners because we represent God's kingdom.

A. Abstain: Abstain from the passions of the flesh

Pride, you want to stick up for yourself.

Might be paired with malice, “Well you . . .”

Your righteous walk is important not your justification or innocence

Wage war against your soul

Imagery of war signifies this is no easy task.

Soul speaks of the whole person.

Application: If war is waged against us, we should defend ourselves from the attack.

Passions like landmines

Warfare

2 Timothy 2:3–4 “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.”

James 4:1–2 “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.” Jam 4:7-9

Draw near to God

Resist the devil

Cleanse your hands and purify your hearts

Be wretched and mourn and weep.

B. Do: Keep your conduct among the gentiles honorable

People hear about Jesus but they get to see us and experience us physically. They will “read" us more than the Bible.

If our lives don’t match what we process there is reason to doubt it’s valuability and validity.

If our testimony was a Christmas tree, our behavior is like decorations adorning it.

APPLICATION: Whether we like it or not, every Christian is an advertisement for Christianity. By our lives we either commend Christ to others or we make people censure Him or think less of Him. Grant Richison

Speak against you as evildoers

Many times because we do not honor what they honor.

See your good deeds

The attractiveness of our way of life may influence them to reconsider.

Or, the good behavior of the Christians might come out after inspection, and that very behavior will be a source of judgment against the unbelieving world.

Many revilers are going off of hearsay. Witnessing the virtues for themselves could change their opinions and open them up to listening to the arguments.

Peter focuses on virtues rather than arguments.

Application: What you do demonstrates the reality of what you believes.

Your righteous behavior is vital

Glorify God on the day of visitation

(Submission to Authority 1 Pe 2:13ff)

(Suffering for Righteousness Sake 1 Pe 3:8ff)

Summary

State of being (what is the church?)

Chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, people for God’s own possession. Purified souls

APPLICATION: Every Christian is an advertisement for Christianity.

Interactions with Unbelievers (Why does it matter?)

Abstain from passions of the flesh

Application: we are at war, we must defend ourselves.

Keep your conduct honorable

Application: What you do demonstrates the reality of what you believes. Your Christian virtues are vital

Interactions with Believers

Love one another

Put Away

Grow into Salvation

A Possible Next Step

Your character matters more than theirs

Don't expect the reviler to act like a Christian

Proverbs 26:4 “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.”

How are you making the Christian life attractive?