Proclaiming God's Excellencies

Proclaiming God’s Excellencies 1 Peter 2:9-10 Context • In verse 4, Peter began to explore the believer’s relationships with the world outside Christianity. • Peter presents a contrast of two groups: (1) those who are being built into a spiritual house where Christ is the cornerstone; (2) those who disbelieve stumble over the cornerstone. • Furthering the contrast between believers and unbelievers(2:9), Peter springboards into the most important verses of the entire letter. • We’ll cover these verse today with three watchwords: Identity, Mission, and Fulfillment. Identity: Peter’s Fuel for Proclamation • In verses 9-10, Peter weaves a tapestry of Old Testament heights: Exodus 19, Deuteronomy 7, Isaiah 43, Hosea 1, and Zechariah 6 (just to name the most important). • Peter highlights four separate identities that uniquely commission every New Testament believer: 1. Chosen People 2. Royal Priesthood 3. Holy Nation 4. People Possessed Identity: Peter’s Fuel for Proclamation • Chosen People: 1. Chosen for mercy; not for size or righteousness (Deut. 7:7-8) 2. Chosen for international blessing (Genesis 12:1-3) 3. Chosen unto provision (Isaiah 43:3) • Royal Priesthood: 1. Evokes Israel’s Mission (Exodus 19:6; 34:10) 2. Assures Future Fulfillment (Revelation 5:10; 20:6) 3. Mirrors Christ’s Person (Isaiah 6:1-8); Zechariah 6:9-13) Identity: Peter’s Fuel for Proclamation • People Possessed: 1. God comforts elect exiles with the tender assurance (Isaiah 43:4; “You are precious in my eyes”; “I love you”) 2. God holds elect exiles as a father treasures the safety of his son (see Malachi 3:17) • Holy Nation 1. “Holy” includes the concept of the cleansing the Lord provides (see Ezekiel 36:25-27) 2. But holiness also includes consecration for specific ministry (see Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 62:12) Mission: Peter’s Call to Elect Exiles • Peter insists on our divine commission – “that you may …” is an extremely strong statement of purpose. • Proclaimers are heralds; loud announcers to any who’ll listen. • To proclaim God’s excellencies is to announce all that is good about God, both personal and impersonal. • Peter specifically frames God’s excellencies with regard to salvation. Fulfillment: God’s Continuous Commission • Peter goes back to the Old Testament to show us the continuity of God’s commission for all His people – he chooses Hosea 1. • The Israelites were called “No mercy” and “Not my people,” in Hosea 2, God announces a divorce from his covenant bride. • But Peter says that we are contrasted with Israel – we have received mercy, we are God’s people, and our proclamation brings the fulfillment of making innumerable children for God. Reflections 1. Peter’s Christianity can never be a private faith. 2. Peter’s fuel for proclamation is the soul-conviction that God creates our identity by speaking it into existence. 3. For FBC, we need to confess that the personal proclamation of God’s excellencies to a lost world is a weakness at present. But God’s grace will overcome!