The Chosen

v.1-3:

This is to be our attitude “if” we have tasted that the Lord is gracious, “if” we have been saved.

Because…if you are saved, you have tasted God’s grace.

Salvation should produce good works, and a desire to learn the Word, so that we may grow.

Therefore, those bad things should be put to rest.

v.4:

There is only one Saviour, Jesus Christ, and only one spiritual building, the church.

Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone of the church, binding the building together.

Jesus is the chief cornerstone of the church.

Ephesians 2:20-22

Ephesians 2:20–22 NKJV

having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Whether we agree with each other or not, all true Christians belong to each other as stones in God’s building.

Christ is a living stone because He was victoriously raised from the dead.

He is the chosen and precious stone of the Father.

v.5:

We are living stones, which are being built up as God’s house, the church.

We are a holy priesthood, meaning that we can approach God directly. We don’t need a middleman, nor are there any middlemen.

We offer our own sacrifices, spiritual sacrifices, the physical sacrifice has already been made.

God desires us to offer ourselves.

Romans 12:1

Romans 12:1 NKJV

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

1 Samuel 15:22

1 Samuel 15:22 NKJV

So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

Hosea 6:6

Hosea 6:6 NKJV

For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

All of our sacrifices, and acts of mercy, all that we do is to be done through Jesus Christ.

All that we do is to be done through Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:17

Colossians 3:17 NKJV

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

v.6:

Peter quoted Isaiah 28:16 and Psalm 118:22 in his description and pointed out that Jesus Christ, though chosen by God, was rejected by men.

He was not the kind of Messiah they were expecting, so they stumbled over Him.

Jesus referred to this same Scripture when He debated with the Jewish leaders in Matthew. 21:42.

It is also referenced in Psalm 118:22.

Though rejected by men, Jesus Christ was exalted by God!

v.7-8:

Though Christ is precious to those of us who believe, He becomes a stumbling block to those who reject Him.

The real cause of this Jewish stumbling was their refusal to submit to the Word.

Had they believed and obeyed the Word, they would have received their Messiah and been saved.

People today still stumble over Christ and the message of the cross.

1 Corinthians 1:18

1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

In Jesus’ very first mention of the church, He compared it to a building: “I will build My church”.

In Jesus’ very first mention of the church, He compared it to a building.

Matthew 16:18

Matthew 16:18 NKJV

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Believers are living stones in His building. 

Each time someone trusts Christ, another stone is quarried out of the pit of sin and cemented by grace into the building.

Peter wrote this letter to believers living in five different provinces, yet he said that they all belonged to one “spiritual house.”

There is a unity of God’s people that transcends all local and individual assemblies and fellowships. 

We belong to each other because we belong to Christ.

"A contractor in Michigan was building a house and the construction of the first floor went smoothly. But when they started on the second floor, they had nothing but trouble. None of the materials from the lumberyard would fit properly. Then they discovered the reason: they were working with two different sets of blueprints! Once they got rid of the old set, everything went well and they built a lovely house."

Too often, Christians hinder the building of the church because they are following the wrong plans.

If all of us would follow God’s blueprints given in His Word, we would be able to work together without discord and build His church for His glory.

v.9:

In the Old Testament period, God’s people had a priesthood; but today, God’s people are a priesthood.

Each individual believer has the privilege of coming into the presence of God.

Hebrews 10:19-25

Hebrews 10:19–25 NKJV

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

We do not come to God through any person on earth, but only through the one Mediator, Jesus Christ

We come to God only through Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 2:5

1 Timothy 2:5 NKJV

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

Because we are our own priests, our lives should be lived as though we were priests in a temple.

It is a privilege to serve as a priest.

No man in Israel could serve at the altar, or enter the tabernacle or temple holy places, except those born into the tribe of Levi and consecrated to God for service.

Each priest and Levite had different ministries to perform, yet they were together under the high priest, serving to glorify God.

As God’s priests today, we must work together at the direction of our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ.

Each ministry that we perform for His glory is a service to God.

We must not permit the world to infect us or change us.

We must be separated but not isolated.

Separation is not isolation; separation is contact without contamination.

Jesus took us from the darkness of sin, into His light, we are to proclaim praises to Him

v.10:

We were once nobody, but through God’s mercy, we are His Children.

We should extend His mercy and love to others.