IDENTITY

ROYAL, roi′al: Either belonging to a king (kingdom) or having kingly power, dignity, authority, etc. In Heb, the word is expressed by using different nouns in the gen. case (the “construct state”). They are: (1) melekh, “king”: “Asher … shall yield royal dainties,” lit. choice morsels of the king, meaning fit for a king (Gen 49:20); “besides that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty,” lit. which he gave her according to the hand (the wealth) of King Solomon (1 K 10:13; cf RVm); “a royal statute,” lit. statute of a malkā’, which is the emphatic Aram, term for melekh, “king” (Dnl 6:7); (2) mamlākhāh, “the power and dignity of a king,” “Gibeon … one of the royal cities,” i. e. a capital city with a king of her own (Josh 10:2; cf 1 S 27:5); “all the seed royal,” lit. the seed of the kingdom (2 K 11:1; cf 2 Ch 22:10); (3) malkhūth, “kinghood,” “kingdom”: “royal majesty,” lit. majesty of kinghood (1 Ch 29:25); quite frequently in the Book of Est; royal wine (1:7); crown (1:11; cf 2:17; 6:8); commandment (1:19); “her royal estate,” lit. her kinghood (1:19); house royal (2:16; cf 5:1); royal apparel (5:1; cf 6:8, 15); throne (5:1); (4) melūkhāh, “kingdom,” “kingly power and dignity”: “royal city,” lit. the city of the kingdom, meaning here that part of the city (Rabbah) in which the royal palace was situated (2 S 12:26); “royal diadem,” lit. turban of kinghood (Isa 62:3); (5) in Jer 43:10 we find the word shaphrīr; its meaning is uncertain: “royal pavilion” (RV and AV), “glittering” (RVm), “scepter,” “a carpet covering a throne.”

The NT uses the word for basilikós, “belonging to a king”: “royal apparel” (Acts 12:21); “the royal law,” something like “the golden rule,” being foremost because including all others (Jas 2:8), and for basíleios (being vested with kingly power and honor), “royal priesthood,” the Heb rendering would be mamlekheth kōhǎnīm, “a kingdom of priests,” i.e. a kingdom whose citizens are priests, emphasizing the two facts that the true Christians have free access to the grace of God and that they enjoy the liberties and privileges of His kingdom (1 Pet 2:9).

WILLIAM BAUR

Scriptures:

But I have spared you for a purpose—to show you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth.

And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.

5 Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. 6 And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”

But if you are careful to obey him, following all my instructions, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will oppose those who oppose you.

And he said, “O Lord, if it is true that I have found favor with you, then please travel with us. Yes, this is a stubborn and rebellious people, but please forgive our iniquity and our sins. Claim us as your own special possession.”

“The land must never be sold on a permanent basis, for the land belongs to me. You are only foreigners and tenant farmers working for me.

Remember that the Lord rescued you from the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt in order to make you his very own people and his special possession, which is what you are today.

For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.

Yet the Lord chose your ancestors as the objects of his love. And he chose you, their descendants, above all other nations, as is evident today.

You have been set apart as holy to the Lord your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure.

And if you do, he will set you high above all the other nations he has made. Then you will receive praise, honor, and renown. You will be a nation that is holy to the Lord your God, just as he promised.”

The Lord will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the Lord to make you his very own people.

Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities— for his anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him!

Sing praises to the Lord who reigns in Jerusalem. Tell the world about his unforgettable deeds.

What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.

Hear my prayer, O Lord! Listen to my cries for help! Don’t ignore my tears. For I am your guest— a traveler passing through, as my ancestors were before me.

Your sons will become kings like their father. You will make them rulers over many lands.

The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.

Wisdom has built her house; she has carved its seven columns.

He will keep you safe. But to Israel and Judah he will be a stone that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare.

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.

What will you do when I punish you, when I send disaster upon you from a distant land? To whom will you turn for help? Where will your treasures be safe?

Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.

“Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations.

Let the whole world glorify the Lord; let it sing his praise.

I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way. I will brighten the darkness before them and smooth out the road ahead of them. Yes, I will indeed do these things; I will not forsake them.

20 The wild animals in the fields will thank me, the jackals and owls, too, for giving them water in the desert. Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland so my chosen people can be refreshed. 21 I have made Israel for myself, and they will someday honor me before the whole world.

I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.

You will be called priests of the Lord, ministers of our God. You will feed on the treasures of the nations and boast in their riches.

They will be called “The Holy People” and “The People Redeemed by the Lord.” And Jerusalem will be known as “The Desirable Place” and “The City No Longer Forsaken.”

“And I will appoint some of them to be my priests and Levites. I, the Lord, have spoken!

Are they ashamed of their disgusting actions? Not at all—they don’t even know how to blush! Therefore, they will lie among the slaughtered. They will be brought down when I punish them,” says the Lord.

Are they ashamed of these disgusting actions? Not at all—they don’t even know how to blush! Therefore, they will lie among the slaughtered. They will be brought down when I punish them, says the Lord.

Idols are worthless; they are ridiculous lies! On the day of reckoning they will all be destroyed.

Soon Gomer became pregnant again and gave birth to a daughter. And the Lord said to Hosea, “Name your daughter Lo-ruhamah—‘Not loved’—for I will no longer show love to the people of Israel or forgive them.

9 And the Lord said, “Name him Lo-ammi—‘Not my people’—for Israel is not my people, and I am not their God. 10 “Yet the time will come when Israel’s people will be like the sands of the seashore—too many to count! Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said, ‘You are children of the living God.’

At that time I will plant a crop of Israelites and raise them for myself. I will show love to those I called ‘Not loved.’ And to those I called ‘Not my people,’ I will say, ‘Now you are my people.’ And they will reply, ‘You are our God!’ ”

But my name is honored by people of other nations from morning till night. All around the world they offer sweet incense and pure offerings in honor of my name. For my name is great among the nations,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

“They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child.

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for sending a man with such great authority.

Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.

But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”

Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.’

But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.”

I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him.

“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.

Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him.

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

Great fear swept the crowd, and they praised God, saying, “A mighty prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited his people today.”

I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.”*

Jesus looked at them and said, “Then what does this Scripture mean? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’

As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him.

“We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal!” they retorted.

But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.

For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’

27 “In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. 28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will.

“So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders.

to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’

But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”

But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.

And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction.

25 Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea, “Those who were not my people, I will now call my people. And I will love those whom I did not love before.” 26 And, “Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’ ”

32 Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. 33 God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said, “I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said, “I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation. I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles.”

So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened.

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.

The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.

Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble.

I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit.

So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.

I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready,

For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.

What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk?

So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.

Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.

To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?

We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable.

As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.

For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.

You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it.

And they praised God because of me.

Dear brothers and sisters, if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised—as some say I do—why am I still being persecuted? If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended.

16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.

15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.

So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.

For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,

At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.

12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,

But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.

For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.

so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.

They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth.

If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching you have followed.

Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.

He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love,

And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest.

For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God.

But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.

12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right.

4 For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come—

Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don’t believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation.

All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.

It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering.

Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.

So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God.

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?

Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.

1 This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. 2 God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace.

And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.”

For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. 5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6 As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 7 Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” 8 And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. 9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. 15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

by observing your pure and reverent lives.

But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.

11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. 12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.

14 If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. 16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!

For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes

Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live,

Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.”

Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.

Holman Bible Handbook A Description of the People of God (2:4–10)

2:4–10 A Description of the People of God

Peter used three images to describe the church in this section. First, he portrayed the church as a living body that gave sacrificial service to God (2:4–5). Christ was a life-giving Stone who enabled His followers to produce such spiritual sacrifices as obedience (Rom 12:1), praise, and practical ministry (Heb 13:15–16). Second, he described the church as a building or structure founded on Christ as the cornerstone (2:6–8). He quoted Old Testament passages from Isaiah 8:14; 28:16 and Psalm 118:22 to show that Christ was a foundation stone for believers and a rock which caused tripping for unbelievers. Third, he used the language of Exodus 19:5–6 and Hosea 2:23 to portray believers as a select nation reflecting the glories of God (2:9–10). God had fashioned special recipients of His mercy from those who previously never belonged to anyone.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 2:9–10

2:9–10. Peter closed this portion of his letter of encouragement with a moving exhortation for his readers to practice holiness. He reminded them that, in contrast with the disobedient who are destined for destruction, they were a chosen (eklekton; cf. “elect,” eklektois, 1:1) people. Peter again echoed the Old Testament, specifically Isaiah 43:20. “Chosen people,” which used to apply only to Israel, was now used of both Jewish and Gentile believers. The responsibility once solely trusted to the nation of Israel has now, during this Age of Grace, been given to the church. At Sinai, God told Moses to tell the people, “You will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Ex. 19:6). Now believers in the Church Age are called a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. Peter called Christians “a holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5) and “a royal priesthood” (2:9; cf. Rev. 1:6). The words “belonging to God” loosely render the words eis peripoiēsin, which are literally “unto obtaining or preserving” (also used in Heb. 10:39, where the NIV has “are saved”). Christians are a special people because God has preserved them for Himself. While these descriptions of the church are similar to those used of Israel in the Old Testament, this in no way indicates that the church supplants Israel and assumes the national blessings promised to Israel (and to be fulfilled in the Millennium). Peter just used similar terms to point up similar truths. As Israel was “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,” so too believers today are chosen, are priests, are holy, and belong to God. Similarity does not mean identity.

God’s purpose in choosing believers for Himself is so that they may declare the praises of Him before others. “Praises” could also be translated “eminent qualities,” “excellencies,” or “virtues” (aretos, used only four times in the NT: Phil. 4:8; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 1:3, 5). Believer-priests should live so that their heavenly Father’s qualities are evident in their lives. They are to serve as witnesses of the glory and grace of God, who called them out of darkness into His wonderful light. Peter (1 Peter 2:10) explained this figure with a quotation from Hosea 2:23. “Darkness” refers to the time when his readers were pagans, ignorant of God’s provision of salvation (cf. Col. 1:13), when they were not a people, when they had not received mercy. His “wonderful light” now illumines the people of God because they have received mercy. The practice of holiness, in which God’s people serve as a holy and royal priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices and extolling His excellencies, is the proper response to the mercy (cf. 1 Peter 1:3) they have received.

Christian Identity and Christian Destiny

Message by John Piper Modal Scripture: Topic: Identity in Christ

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Introduction: The Wonder of Being Human

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One day last week I when Noël and I were praying together, I found myself thanking God for the wonder of being a human. We have the astonishing capacity to see and hear and feel, and then to think about all this amazing reality, and then to form judgments about it all and know right and wrong and good and bad and beautiful and ugly, and then to feel profound emotions of love and hate and joy and discouragement and wonder and hope and gratitude, and then to reason and plan our lives in ways that accomplish things. And best of all is to find all these wonderful human capacities caught up in knowing and loving and serving the greatest Being in the universe—our Maker and our Savior and our God. It was one of those rare moments—like a brief brush with eternity.

One of the great benefits of having a dog is the increased awareness that I am not one. I look at our dog, Sable, and think for a moment that she is kind and forgiving and humble and patient and loving and warm and gentle and happy and peaceful. Then I realize she's a dog! She does not know or reason or feel or judge like I do. She does not prize anything because of its true worth—its relation to God. She doesn't know where she came from. She doesn't reflect on her identity and wonder who she is or what it means ultimately in God's scheme of things to be a dog. She doesn't think about why she's here and doesn't know where she's going.

She is a wonder, and can call forth amazing affection. But she is not a human created in the image of God. And as I think about her, I am amazed at my own humanity. And at the incredible wonders of the humans I live with.

Inexpressible Horror or Spectacular Glory

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To be alive as a human being with indescribable mysteries at every turn, and to have in front of us an eternal destiny of spectacular glory or inexpressible horror is a weight that can either press you down with fear and trembling or bear you up with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Whether it does the one or the other depends in large measure on whether you know the answer to the big basic human questions or not. Who are you? How did you get that identity? What are you here for? No dog or turtle or fish or squirrel or bird or dolphin or chimpanzee ever lost one night's sleep pondering those questions. Only humans ask these questions. Only humans kill themselves and kill others when they don't get true and satisfying answers to these questions.

Not often do we find such resoundingly clear answers to all three questions in such a small space as we do in this text this morning. Who am I? How did I get this identity? What's it for—Why am I here?

So let's take a deep breath this morning and go back to the beginning as it were—or go down to the rock bottom foundational questions of life, and listen to the Word of God, and wonder and stand in awe of what he has to say about these three things.

Who Are You?

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Keep in mind that Peter is identifying Christians. This is who you are if you are a Christian. This is how you got your identity as a Christian. This is what you are here for as a Christian.

First, he gives five ways of describing your identity, answering the question of who you are.

1. You Are a Chosen Race

Verse 9: "You are a chosen race."

I know that this is a corporate identity, he's talking about the church—the true Israel. But the implication is individual, because this race is not racial. The chosen race is not black or white or red or yellow or brown. The chosen race is a new people from all the peoples—all the colors and cultures—who are now aliens and strangers among in the world. See verse 11, "Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers . . . "

What gives us our identity is not color or culture. But chosenness. Christians are not the white race; they are the chosen race. Christians are not the black race; they are the chosen race. We are the black chosen and the white chosen and the yellow chosen and the red chosen. Out from all the races we have been chosen—one at a time, not on the basis of belonging to any group.

That's why this amazing phrase is individually crucial for you; you are part of the "chosen race" because the race is made up of individuals who were chosen—from all the races. So your first identity is that you are chosen. God chose you. Not because of your race—or for any other qualification—God chose you. Who am I? I am chosen. I do not know why. It was nothing in me of value above other humans. I did not earn it or merit it, or meet any conditions to get it. It happened before I was born. I stand in awe of it. I tremble with joy at it. I bow and accept it. I long to be faithful to its purpose. I am chosen.

2. You Are Pitied

Verse 10b: " . . . you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

I choose the word "pitied" because the word for mercy in Greek here is a verb and the closest word we have in English like "mercied" is "pitied." It's not a bad translation. When God chose us, he then saw us in our sin and guilt and condemnation and he pitied us. We are not just chosen. We are pitied. We are the not just the objects of his choice, but the objects of his mercy.

I am chosen and I am pitied—or you could say I am "graced." I am "loved." God did not just choose me and stand aloof. He chose me and then drew near in mercy to help me and save me. My identity is fundamentally this: I have been shown mercy. I am a "mercied" person. I get my identity not first from my actions, but from being acted upon—with pity. I am a pitied one.

3. You Are God's Possession

This is expressed twice. Verse 9: "You are . . . a people for God's own possession." Verse 10a: "You once were not a people, but now you are the people of God."

You are chosen by God; you are pitied by God; and the effect of that pity—that mercy—is that God takes you to be his own possession. Now God owns everything. So in one sense everyone is God's possession. So this must mean something special. And, of course, it does. You are God's inheritance. You are the ones he aims to spend eternity with. When God says (in ), "I will be their God and they will be my people [my possession]," what he means is that "I will dwell in them and walk among them."

You are chosen; you are pitied; you are God's possession—the ones he will walk among and reveal himself to in a personal relation forever.

4. You Are Holy

Verse 9: "You are a . . . holy nation."

You have been chosen and pitied and possessed by God; and therefore you are not merely part of the world anymore. You are set apart for God. You exist for God. And since God is holy, you are holy. You share his character, because he chose you, pitied you, possessed you. You are holy. If you do not act in a holy way, you act out of character. You contradict your essence as a Christian. For your identity is holiness to the Lord: you are holy.

And finally,

5. You Are a Royal Priest

Verse 9: "You are a . . . royal priesthood."

You are chosen by God and pitied by God and possessed by God and holy like God and royal priests to God. The point here is first that you have immediate access to God—you don't need another human priest as a mediator. God himself provided the one Mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ. You have direct access to God, through God. And, second, you have an exalted, active role in God's presence. You are not chosen, pitied, possessed, and holy just to fritter away your time doing nothing. You are called now to minister in the presence of God. All your life is priestly service. You are never out of God's presence. You are never in a neutral zone. You are always in the court of the temple. And your life is either a spiritual service of worship (), or it is out of character.

So you can see that your identity—the question, "Who are you?"—leads directly to the question, "What are you here for?" Your identity leads to your destiny. You are chosen, pitied, possessed, and holy—all for a purpose—to minister as priests. And the heart of that ministry Peter describes for us very clearly.

How Did You Get This Identity?

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But before we answer the question what we are here for, let's pause just a moment and answer the middle question: How did I get this identity?

The answer is almost too obvious. We got our identity from God. In fact our identity is our relation to God. We are chosen by GOD. We are pitied by GOD. We are possessed by GOD. We are set apart as holy by GOD. We are invested as royal priests by GOD.

Peter says this in a summary statement at the end of verse 9. He refers to God like this: "Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." The light we live in his the light of our being chosen and pitied and possessed and holy and priestly. And the way we got there is that God called us. He called us out of darkness into this marvelous light.

So the answer to the question: How did we get this identity is that God gave it to us. He gave it to us by virtue of his irresistible call. (I know that we were chosen by God before we were called by God. So it might look like I'm not saying it quite right. But what I mean is that the experience of walking in the light of being chosen—the experience of that identity—is the effect of God's sovereign call.)

God gave us the identity we have.

What Are You Here For?

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What we saw was that our identity led directly to our destiny: we are chosen, pitied, possessed, and holy all for the sake of being a royal priesthood. But Peter is more specific when he tells us the precise reason for our existence. He says in verse 9:b that we exist for this reason: "that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." This is the full-time destiny of a royal priest—to make the glories of the king known.

Our Identity and Its Purpose

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There is a lot of discussion in our day of self-concept or self-identity. How do we view ourselves? It is an important question. And what I hope you hear this morning is that the specifically biblical angle on this question is that Christian selfhood is not defined in terms of who we are in and of ourselves. It's defined in terms of what God does to us and the relationship he creates with us and the destiny he appoints for us. In other words as a Christian you cannot talk about your identity without talking about the action of God on you, the relationship of God with you, and the purpose of God for you. The biblical understanding of human self-identity is radically God-centered.

Who am I? Who are you? You are a God-chosen one, a God-pitied one, a God-possessed one, a God-sanctified one. The very language of our identity in this text necessitates that God be included as the one who acts. Our identity is not an end in itself, but for the sake of priestly service, which Peter defines as proclaiming the excellencies of the One who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.

God made us who we are so that we might proclaim the excellency of his freedom in choosing us. The excellency of his grace in pitying us. The excellencies of his authority and power in possessing us. The excellencies of his worth and purity in making us holy.

In other words he has given us our identity in order that his identity might be proclaimed through us. God made us who we are so we could make known who he is. Our identity is for the sake of making known his identity. The meaning of our identity is that the excellency of God be seen in us.

Therefore being a Christian and making the greatness of God known are almost identical. We can do it in church services with preaching and singing and praying and reading. We can do it in our small groups as we tell each other what God has been for us, or what we need him to be for us. We can do it at work as we tell people what we love about God and why we think he is great. And we can do it in a thousand different ways of love that suit our situation and personality.

The Story of Doug Nichols

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For example, I'll close with this wonderful story of how Doug Nichols, the International Director of Action International Ministries, made the excellencies of God known in a tuberculosis sanitarium in India in 1967—he was a missionary with Operation Mobilization and got TB. He was in the sanitarium for several months. He tried to give tracts and copies of the gospel of John away, but no one would take them. They didn't like him and assumed he was a rich American.

At one point for several nights he would wake up coughing at 2 AM. He noticed a little old emaciated man trying to get out of bed. The man couldn't stand up, and began to whimper. He lay back into bed. In the morning the stench in the ward was terrible and everyone was angry at the old man for not containing himself. The nurse who cleaned up even smacked the old man for making such a mess.

The next night the very same thing happened. Doug woke up coughing with his own terrible sickness and weakness. He saw the old man try again to get out of bed. Again he couldn't stand, and began to cry softly. Doug got out of bed went over to the old man. The man cowered with fear. But Doug picked him up with both arms and carried him to the bathroom which was just a hole in the floor, and then brought him back. The man kissed him on the cheek as he put him down in bed.

At 4 AM another patient woke Doug with a steaming cup of tea and made motions that said he wanted a copy of the booklet—the gospel of John. Through that whole day people kept coming to him and asking for his booklets even though he could not speak their language.

In other words one way to declare the excellencies of God is to act them out. When we act out the excellencies of God, people will hear them with even greater eagerness. Which is just another way of saying that our identity—who we are—is for the sake of God. God made us who we are to show the world who he is.

Thoughts/Ideas/Questions:

Self-image and who we are in Christ.

Students are bombarded with so many messages every day, telling them what they should be, who they should be like, what they need to have to have value. In the midst of all these messages, God’s voice seems to get drowned out. But what does God think about me? How can I hear His voice? How can that affect my every day life?

Key verse:

Biblical basis: , , ,

You are part of a chosen people.

You are part of a royal priesthood.

You are part of a holy nation.

You are a people belonging to God.

What should I be?

What should I be like?

Who should I be like?

What do I need to have to have value?

Who do you listen to when it comes to knowing your value?

Identity in light of Christ.

You don’t know WHO you are until you know WHOSE you are.

You are child of God.

God is not some distant far off guy, he is your DAD.

You are new, clean, and free.

You can’t clean up for God, you’re perfect in Jesus. And this isn’t an excuse to go sin, it’s freedom from shame.

You are sent.

If you have been SAVED by Jesus, you are now SENT by Jesus to spread the news.

Monday

Camp Kick off - A message about expecting God to do bing things. Get ready for God to move in your life and speak to you. Intro to the week.

Tuesday

Original design? Why are we lost? How do we lose our identity/significance?

Who are we meant to be? How do we define our value/worth?

Wednesday

Because of Jesus - we can discover who we were meant to be.

Who you can be in Christ.

What choice will you make?

You are more than mortal! You are Royal!

Will you declare I AM!

Will you follow Jesus?

Thursday

Identity leads to destiny

Saved and sent.

Share the good news.

Bring more people into the KINGDOM.

Questions for Mark:

If you were preaching on Identity - where would you start?

What would you want a student audience to walk away with in a series about identity?

What practical steps/ideas/bottom lines can you think of to give “identity in Christ” handles for students?

What key verses would you focus on?

Where would you land at the end of the series?

What’s the overall arch for a camp series on identity?

Youth pastors dream of youth groups filled with on-fire students. Some time ago in our ministry, it seemed we had one of those dream students. He attended every event and would call to see if he could help set up. He loved our large group service and never missed it. He showed up early and left late and would even come to the office to hang out. He went to camps, summer events and had a hand in every service project.

This student was on engagement steroids, and I thought it was awesome. Because he was so involved, I assumed he was healthy and motivated in the right way. I believed God was moving mightily in his life, and it was the work of the Holy Spirit pushing him to be so active. I encouraged him with phrases like "If I only had a million of you," "You should be in youth ministry," "You're awesome" and "Keep it up."

But I didn't see what was coming around the corner for this core student. When he made a huge mistake, it rocked his personal world. As a result, there was a significant change in behavior, and his attendance at church services and youth events dropped significantly.

At first, I thought he just needed a break and would bounce back soon enough, but eventually he stopped coming altogether. He didn't want to communicate with me or anyone from the church.

After pestering him a while because I couldn't believe he would just fall off like that, I got to meet with him after a few weeks—and he seemed like a different person. His whole life had been about performance, and because of it, his identity was defined by success.

The mistake he made didn't just impact his circumstances, but it affected him to the core. His failure defined his identity. As it turns out, we discovered he had lived his whole life this way. When life was great, he felt good about himself, but when circumstances weren't so good, he saw himself in a negative light.

His identity was defined by success and applause. The young person who ties his performance to identity begins to question who he is—and if he ever truly gave his life to Christ. The young person in this state may believe that he is the worst person in the world. In this case, it was like he was never part of our ministry.

Other students find their identity in the person they are dating. And when there's a break-up or someone gets dumped, the student feels like his world has exploded. They don't feel "good enough" without a boyfriend or girlfriend by their side.

Get Rooted

As pastors and leaders, we need to help students understand that their identity is directly connected to their purpose. When they understand who they are, then they can understand what they were created to do. Many times young people allow their experiences, mistakes, hang-ups and struggles to define them. Their identity becomes defined by their weakness.

Students become slaves to the things that hold them hostage. They need to understand that even though they may go through a trial or struggle, it doesn't have to define them.

Identity directly affects their value and worth. When students find their identity in their successes, they value themselves by how good or bad they perform. When identity is wrapped up in a relationship, students value themselves based on the success or failure of that relationship. A student can feel good about himself, but just as easily feel like no one loves him, or everyone hates him, or he was a mistake.

When a student's identity is not rooted in Christ, it becomes like leaves on a tree blowing in whichever direction the wind takes them. We need to help students understand the importance of placing their identity in the only One who never changes. As says, "For I am the LORD, I do not change."

Whether you have students who are Christians or not, they need to know their true identity is in Someone who never changes. And they need to know He doesn't waver like everything else. reminds us that the Father of heavenly lights does not change like shifting shadows.

Students need to know these four things concerning their identity and value:

God created them on purpose in His image. The creation account reminds us that God values each person so much that He created us in His image. Out of all the things He created in this world, He formed only human beings in His image. Students need to understand that their hardships and hang-ups change nothing about them being made in the image of God.

God's love does not fail, nor does it change towards them. declares that the Lord is good, and His love never fails. shows that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. God's love doesn't change and neither does it fail. The great love chapter of the Bible, , gives a great depiction of the way God loves us.

God genuinely cares about the details of their lives. instructs us to cast all of our cares on Him because He cares for us. In fact, He cares about every single detail of your students' lives. He cares about their relationships, their bad days, their good days, the things that make them mad, sad or happy. He cares about them completely. Students should be reminded of , to know that God cares even about the little things in their lives. They must know that God values them so much that His care goes beyond their ability to care even for themselves.

God created them with a purpose. declares that we are God's masterpiece. He created us anew in Christ, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. It's not because they have purpose that they should put their identity in Him; rather, it's because He has created them with purpose that should give them reason to place their identity in Him. A long time ago before the world was created He had each one of your students in mind with purpose.

God feels this way about them because of who He is. Our identity in God is not based on ourselves or our ability to trust Him. A person's identity in Christ is solely based on Him and His love. David's writings in beautifully reveal God's intent toward us.

Our identity sets the tone for the type of person we're going to be and how we will treat people, so it's important for a young person to work on identity issues as early in life as possible. The world says search and find out who you are, but God says discover who I've created you to be in Christ Jesus. For the most part, we don't really need a lot of persuading to find our identity in things and people. Human brokenness craves an identity that operates only in the temporal. We crave the quick fix to our problems. And when it comes to our identity it's no different.

Many times we give in to the quick fix because we just don't know any better. God is seen as an angry dictator who wants to take all the fun out of life. We buy into it because it's the loudest message being broadcast.

That is why it's so important that students understand how much they are valued by God. They need to know their identity is in Him based on how He sees and feels about us because that never changes.

Get Real

As a youth pastor, there are five key things you can do to help your students understand the importance of finding their identity in Christ. Consider these:

1. Pray for discernment. Pray that the Holy Spirit gives you discernment concerning students who struggle. Every student is different, so we need the help of the Holy Spirit to guide us as we lead, encourage, challenge, inspire and mentor students.

2. Teach on identity from the stage. Don't expect your students to just realize the truth about their identity. Speak to topics on which they are vulnerable, and offer an invitation.

3. Be transparent about your own identity crisis. Every Christian has struggled at times with finding their identity in Jesus, so be open to sharing yours. We serve and encourage others from our weaknesses more than from our strengths. There's something about sharing how normal you are that makes young people feel like you can relate to them, so be honest, open up and share.

4. Give students the opportunity to share their struggles in your youth group. It's one thing for students to hear your struggle, but hearing the testimony of their peers struggling changes the playing field. Students no longer feel like they are the only one. When you think you are the only one struggling in a certain area, it's a lonely and depressing place to be.

5. Educate your students' parents. Having a youth group that is strategic about helping students find their identity in Christ is great, but it's only half the battle. You must reach out to the ones who affect the identity of your students the most. That doesn't mean you need to single out a parent—unless you really have to, of course. For the most part, creating devotions and other resources for students to go through on their own or with their parents may help. Parents are still the No. 1 influencers in a child's life, so support them in grounding their children in the truth of who God created them to be.

Get Results

When your students find their identity in Christ, it does four things for them:

1. Stability. They learn that no matter what happens in life, God does not change the way He sees or feels about them. When I meet with students who are unsure of who they are, it's always linked to the fact that their identity was placed in something with no certain future. It's not that way with God. Because He has no future or past, He is always present and close to us. Recall God's response to Moses about His name and character. In , he declares, "I AM WHO I AM." He's always present and has never been anything else. Jesus says the same thing in the New Testament. In , He also says, "before Abraham was born, I AM." There is great stability because God never changes.

2. Self-worth. When your students know that the God of the universe—who owns everything and called everything into existence—created them in His own image, it makes all the difference in the way their perceive themselves. Having a God who cares about the intricate details of their lives shows worth beyond measure. Learn from the birds: "Look at the birds of the air, for they do not sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?" ().

Having one's identity in Christ means accepting being God's favorite. There is self-worth beyond measure when a student finds his identity in Christ.

3. Purpose. Placing one's identity in Christ gives a future and a hope. Ten years ago I never would have guessed I would be where I am today. Just as He does for our young people, God had a purpose and a plan for my life. I only need to trust in Him as it comes to pass. As I put my identity in Christ, it gives me purpose because of who God has created me to be in Him. And as I strengthen my relationship with Him, my purpose becomes clearer.

4. Confidence. There is confidence in knowing that your students' identity is in the One who saves mankind. There is confidence in having your identity in the One who will put an end to the devil once and for all. There is confidence when our identity is in an unshakeable God whose love for us started it all.

is a favorite passage because Paul is telling the Ephesians that confidence and boldness is theirs because of the work of Christ on the cross. He didn't just do it for those who already had believed in Him. He died for those who had no idea how He feels about them or even who He is. Your students can be bold and confident, knowing that their identity is in Christ who knows them and died for them.

Our students need to understand that there are habits, struggles and hang-ups fighting for their identity. And their enemy would love for them to choose anything other than Jesus for their sense of self. Students need to know that their identity doesn't have to be unstable, but it can be completely grounded in the One who created them, loves them and gives them purpose.

Aaron Crumbey oversees pastoral care for the high school ministry at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California.

GOAL: EVERY KID - MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD - LOVE GOD WITH ALL THEIR HEART, SOUL, AND STRENGTH AND TRUST JESUS FOR A BETTER FUTURE.

What can I accomplish at camp that I can’t accomplish on the weekend.

Shame -

Not letting their identity be held hostage

Philippians 1:6 NLT

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:6

It’s going to be exciting to see what God’s going to do in your life.

Personal titles: Songs that help with the theme:

Never Alone / Abba Father / I surrender / All I need is you / Real Love /

What is broken that needs to be fixed?

What’s the problem that needs to be solved?

Harness your adversities - Follow your dreams.

Prodigal son - he came to himself.

Labels -

Who I am meant to be - Security

Apologetics - Creation and the bible being authoritative.

We don’t want students to just pick up the “verb age” of Jesus - but to truly experience Him for who He is.

The truth is...

God’s original

God is the beginning of our story.

Gods got my back.

What cultural concept would these truths counter?

What practical steps do we want kids to take in response to these.

God created me in his image and so we have characterics of God.

Created in God’s Image - What is counter? Accident, worthless, purpose is random, have to self sufficient,

You don’t know all the gifts you will get for Christmas 5 years from now - just like you don’t know all the gifts God will bestow in your life.

Love God with everything - Love yourself, love stuff, use God, God is distant.

Trust Jesus with my future: EVil - God is not trustworthy, uncertantity, no future, can’t see God he doesn’t exist, abandonment, it’s all about now.

ACTION STEPS:

Discover your purpose

Embrace past and failures.

Explore God / Find out who God is and what He is like.

Sometimes children don’t resemble their parents until they are fully grown.

We are always drawn to someone who has done something for us.

We loved Him because He first loved us.

Unfailing love

How can I find a way to show God love with what I’m good at.

Live in the present. / It’s not all about now.

The best is yet to come.

What do I want my audience to do?????

What do I want them to walk away with?

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