Sermon Tone Analysis

1 Peter 2:

Peter begins these verses with a contrast and continues with a description.

Peter begins by explaining the difference between those he had just described in verse 8, and those he is about to define in verse 9.

He describes in verse 8 the people to whom Christ has become a stumbling stone.

Those who stumble because they disobey the word as they were destined to do.

This is probably one of the most shocking verses in all of Scriptures when we consider those that who are destined to reject Christ,

Those who are in darkness that will never see the Light.

Those who are bound in sin and will never be set free.

Those who are given over to their reprobate minds and will not receive the grace of God.

Those who are slaves to sin and will never be saved.

Those who are children of wrath and will never become a child of God.

As hard as this is for us to understand for the believer the but in verse 9 brings us the amazing truth of God’s assurance for His church, for His people, for those whom he has predestined, those whom he has called, those whom he has justified, and those who He glorified!

Notice the shift from the condemned to the called out,

Verse 9, But

This is not where we will end this isn’t where the story ends.

Peter doesn’t stop with the destiny of the disobedient.

He now turns to the person, purpose, and conversion of God’s people.

These honorary titles come from Exodus 19, when God constituted Israel as a nation, and Isaiah 43, when God promised to reestablish Israel after the exile.

These are foundational statements about Israel.

By applying them to his church, Peter tells Gentiles that the privileges of Israel are now theirs.

They may be aliens and exiles, cast out and rejected by their former people, but God has taken them in.

The first truth Peter teaches us here about God’s people the church is,

I. Who you are as the Church.

But you are a

Peter uses the word you 7 times in verse 9 and 10.

He is speaking directly to a specific people when he writes this letter.

He is speaking to God’s people those who God has chosen, converted, comforts, and called for a purpose.

Let’s consider the you he is writing to.

Verse 1 To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion

Verse 3 To those who he has caused to be born again

Verse 4 To those who have an inheritance kept in heaven for you.

Verse 6 To those who rejoice through various trials.

Verse 8 To you who have not seen him, yet you love him.

You who believe in him and rejoice with a joy inexpressible.

Verse 9 To you who the prophets prophesied about the grace that was to be yours.

Verse 13 To you who have your hope fully set on Jesus Christ.

Verse 15 To you who he called you also to be holy in all your conduct.

Verse 17 To you who call on Him as Father

Verse 18 To you who know you were ransomed from the futile ways of your forefathers.

Verse 20 To you who Christ was manifest for the sake of you.

Verse 21 To you who have your faith and hope in God.

Verse 22 To you who have had your souls purified by your obedience to the truth.

Verse 23 To you who have been born again

Verse 2:2 To you who long for the pure spiritual milk who are growing up into salvation.

To you who have tasted that the Lord is good!

Verse 2:4 To you who have come to Him.

To you being built up into a spiritual house and holy priesthood!

Verse 2:7 To you who believe!

Do you see who Peter is about to describe?

God’s chosen people His church!

He is about to define who the church is, who the individual you’s are that make up his people.

Notice the first

He writes but, you are a,

a. Chosen race

From the beginning God’s people has been a chosen race.

There were never tryouts to become God’s people.

God just graciously chose and elected His people.

But we know the story, God’s people rejected the cornerstone, God’s people refused to believe that Jesus was the Messiah.

Therefore God opened the door to the gentiles.

God grafted in a new people.

11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall?

By no means!

Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.

12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles.

Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.

15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches.

If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.

19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true.

They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith.

So do not become proud, but fear.

21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness.

Paul tells us that the Israel is not cut off, forever, but the gentiles have been grafted in to make Israel jealous.

In other words we were chosen, and grafted in by the grace of God.

This is not so that we would boast in being grafted in but that we were brought in because of God’s mercy and kindness.

Because we are a chosen people we understand the love and wrath of God.

Therefore we still have a holy fear or a trembling trust which drives us humbly to the Father and passionately to the world.

This leads us to the next truth of who the people of God are.

You are a chosen race, a

b.

Royal priesthood

You and I were of no reputation, now we are royalty

You and I were not noble, now we are called to nobility.

You and I were in the kingdom of darkness, now we are adopted by the King of Glory!

We have not been brought into royalty though just for our own enjoyment!

We have not been given access to the King and his kingdom just so we can live the good life and wallow in the wealth of God, but instead so that we can glorify Him and enjoy him forever.

Therefore, we are a royal priesthood.

priesthood n. — the body of religious practitioners invested with ministerial or priestly authority.

We have been given the authority and responsibility to serve the King.

To serve among God’s people, to minister the gospel.

Before Christ came, the priests had responsibility to go into the Holy Place and offer sacrifices, sprinkle the blood on the altar, and then make atonement for the people.

But then Christ came, offered the once for all sacrifice so that we might all become a kingdom of priests.

This doesn’t mean we all become pastors and preachers, but it does mean we all can serve the King!

We can all invest in the ministry of the gospel of making Christ known of supporting His great commission!

So far we have seen the church is a chosen race, a royal priesthood, next Peter writes, you are a....

c.

Holy nation