The Birth Of A Nation
A Choosen, Royal, Holy Nation
9 But ye are ca CHOSEN generation, da royal priesthood, ean holy nation, ||fa peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the ||gpraises of hhim who hath called you iout of darkness into his marvellous light:
Chosen Generation
Whatever joy is derived in discovering our individual identity merges into an infinitely greater joy when we realize that we, as individuals, are parts of a glorious whole. In this case it is a “race,” a “generation” of people drawn together by one compelling word—chosen. This means we were chosen as individuals to be parts of a race of people for eternal fellowship with God and one another.
A Royal Priesthood
This is a double designation which enhances our sense of identity. We are “kingly priests” and “priestly kings.” Kings, by right of their essential identity, rule as a matter of living. Priests, by right of their essential identity, worship as a matter of living. What does this imply of us who are a royal priesthood? Simply that, by right of our essential identity, we rule and worship as a matter of living.
19 What? know ye not that nyour body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and boye are not your own? 20 For pye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, bwhich are God’s.