2.9-12

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:9-12

Title: 1 Peter 2:9-12 – “A people of God’s own possession.”

Introduction: The story is told of Gordon Maxwell, missionary to India, that when he asked a Hindu scholar to teach him the language, the Hindu replied:
“No, Sahib, I will not teach you my language. You would make me a Christian.” Gordon Maxwell replied, “You misunderstand me. I am simply asking you to teach me your language.”
Again the Hindu responded, “No, Sahib, I will not teach you. No man can live with you and not become a Christian.” 

Central Idea:  The life of every believer must shine godliness against the dark background of a sin stained world.

Main Transition: Last week we spent more time on the condition of unbelievers than at any point thus far in the book.  Today, Peter returns to the life of the believer and establishes once again some firm footing for you and I to stand on as we strive toward holiness.  We were called with a purpose, called as a people of God, and finally called to be pure.  We are stand out in this world as we are equipped to do so already.

I.  Called with a purpose (9)

            A.  Urging your response to your calling (9)

1.  Peter uses three terms, parts of which are borrowed from the Old Testament to describe your calling.  Each one begs for the appropriate response.

a.  the first is that you are a chosen race – the word for race emphasizes the idea of decent, a common life with more than one generation.

b.  the second is a royal priest hood – the priesthood of the Old Testament was just a priesthood, but in the life of a believer in this dispensation you are king –priest associated with and in fact an heir with Jesus Christ the only High Priest.  Look back at verse 5 of chapter 2.  We belong to a holy and royal priesthood.

c.  The third term is a holy nation – this literally means a “multitude of people of the same nature, set apart for the service of God.” 

2.  What Peter is saying is that you are chosen by God to belong to a long and prominent line of those that follow God, not only are you a part of that line but you are a special part as you are a king-priest because you know Christ as Savior.  Then you must also understand that you belong in the family of God, this is the holy nation.  This really sinks in as we discover a fourth truth.

            B.  Understanding your relationship with God (9)

1.  I specially highlighted this portion because of its importance to understanding the first three. 

2.      You are a people for His own possession, some translations say you are a peculiar people,

Illustration: Now I realize that there are likely some pretty peculiar people who belong to the family of God, but our understanding of this word is not what the text is saying.

a.  Peter is communicating God’s unique, private, personal ownership of each saint.

b.  Look at it from our perspective, that means that each saint is God’s unique possession just as if that saint were the only human being in existence.

Application:  Satan tries to lie to us that God doesn’t hear our prayers, or God is too busy to care about little ol’ me.  But Peter reveals that God has invested heavily into each one of us, to the point that each of us is as important as the next.  Think about the ramifications of this.   

C.     Upholding your responsibility (9)

1.      All of those four things were done in order that you might fulfill your calling

2.      You are to proclaim the excellencies of God who has caused you to be creature of the light rather than a creature of the dark.

Application:  You and I alike are called to stand out to reveal the truth of God to a world that is godless.  I have heard people say that there is no God, that if there were you could see Him.  The world should see God in us.  There should never be a truthful atheist around any believer, because they see God in them.  You might say that you cannot share your faith, then are you denying the four actions of preparation we just looked at?  If you are a believer you are specially equipped to stand out!!

Transition:  After having considered all of this, I stand in awe of our God.  The entire book has been building, Peter is communicating that we are a special people called for a special purpose, to communicate the excellencies of God to a dark world.  The very thing that trips up the world renews us and strengthens us, the Lord has them on their knees, as they are stumbling over the corner stone of verse 8, while they are down there lets share our faith.

II.  Called as a people of God (10)

A.    Once you were not….

1.      Peter once again reminds the people for where they came from. 

2.      Just like those spoken of earlier so were you and I before we trusted in Christ as Savior, we were enemies of the cross, we dwelt in darkness.

3.      Peter is quoting partially from Hosea to describe our past as well as our present.

4.      We were unregenerate with no designation not group to which to belong.

Illustration:  When there is no identity but your own you will fail.  It would be like our military men and women deciding that they would be better off on their own to fight their own way and for their own purposes.  It would be disgraceful and worse yet destructive.

            B.  But now you are…

1.  In contrast to the truth that we were in the dark literally, Peter now says to those who believe that now you are a people, and not just any people, but the people of God

2.  You know have an identity, and designation, you now God’s own possession and that grants you all the right ands privileges of being a child of God.

Illustration:  Returning to our previous illustration, an army can fight and win when they are unified.  They fight for each other, not for themselves, they fight for their country and their identity.  In return they are granted rights, privileges, and honor. 

3.  Now consider that picture within the body of Christ.  Your identity in the body grants you rights and privileges that would not otherwise be yours.  This is why the body of Christ is so very important to these that have been scattered by a dark and evil world.

C.     The mercy of God

1.      before you knew Christ you were without mercy, this is one reason why it is impossible to work your way to heaven, you were not one the right side and you receive no mercy.

2.      However, when we have repented and have trusted in Christ as our Savior we receive mercy.  Which is unmerited favor.  You are blessed not because you deserved it, but because of your identification in Christ. 

3.  The practice of holiness, in which God’s people serve as a holy and royal priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices and proclaiming His Excellencies, is the proper response to the mercy they have received.

Transition:  In this transitionary verse the Lord reveals the past in a whole new light.  We are able to proclaim the Excellencies of God because of the mercy given to us because of Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection from the tomb.  To the believer this means we are identified with Christ and are revived not from the darkness of the world, but by the light of God Himself.  This means then of course that we are called to be pure.

III.  Called to be pure (11-12)

            A.  Abstain from the wars of the flesh (11)

1.  The Lord through his apostles begins this verse in a very passionate way.  One commentator says this about this passage…

Illustration:  The words “dearly beloved” are the translation of one word in Greek, plural in number, the distinctive word used of God’s divine love. This is not the “dearly beloved” of the pastor addressing his congregation on the Lord’s Day morning, but Peter reminding them that they are dearly loved-ones of God. While it is Peter writing, yet it is the great God of the universe saying to His blood-bought children, “I beg of you, please.” Think of the love and humility, the infinite condescension of God that stoops to address a creature of His handiwork who He could command.

2.  Peter again refers to their present circumstances, which are the same as ours, (if you have trusted in Christ as Savior) we are strangers here we belong to the family of God and our residence is in heaven.

3.      Just like we Christ is the stumbling block and we ourselves, especially those Peter has been writing to are rejected by the world, so to should our action be separate from the world. 

a.       The word “abstain” Peter uses in this verse reveals that we are to hold back from those evil cravings that are part of the world and were part of our former selves. 

Application:  If you believe that you are free from sin and so that means that you are free to sin then you must understand what Peter is saying.

b.      Our sin nature has been broken by the sacrifice of Jesus, you have a choice and Peter is saying believer, hold back from sin, don’t fight the gutter wars that have already been won.

B.     Be pure in a dark world (12)

1.      As believers our lives are mocked by the “Gentiles” this word is not referring here of the difference between Jews and non-Jews but rather the difference between Believers and non-believers.

2.      But our responsibility is to remain steadfast in our purity so that our testimony is reflective not on a mask of Christianity but on the genuine inward change that has taken place. 

3.      The world is watching it see if your heart is truly different and why it is, make sure that you are inwardly pure and outwardly revealing the true state of your salvation.

Illustration:  The old saying, “Actions speak louder than words,”  Is never more true than when it refers to a believer showing what has really happened in their lives.  We live in a world that is confused and wandering aimlessly in the dark, afraid of the things that go bump in the night.  But you have the light and it needs to shine bright.  Praise God for the trials the world sends us through, because it is during those times that the light of God is burned all the brighter.

C.     Praise God on the day of salvation (12)

1.      The word for visitation refers to the day that the grace and mercy of God cracks into a cold dark heart and the gift of salvation is accepted.

2.      What a glorious day it is when one who was perishing trusts in Christ as Savior!!

Illustration:  On Sunday Evening we use these sheets of paper called contact lists.  They are based on this same principle of this passage.  When you met a person you place them on the contact list under contacts, you then build a friendship and move them to the next column and finally after watching your life they begin to ask questions about your faith they are interested.  Then you share the gospel with them and glorify God that when God moves in their heart and they trust in Christ. 

Conclusion:  Peter’s call to you and I this morning should strike a cord in our hearts.  No matter the circumstances around you, you are called to be pure, you are a people of God and you are called for a purpose.  That purpose is to glorify God in our lives.  We must live lives that stand out in a dark world.  You have the chance to be the light of Christ to a world that is searching for something but adamant that Christ isn’t what they want.  There are millions of people just like the Hindu Scholar.  My they testify the same thing about you as this man did about Gordon Maxwell. By your life they are able to see that unlike religion, there truly is something genuine in you that give calm in the storm, peace in the insanity, and strengthen in conflict.  Once again Peter’s message is for you believer, All that was addressed in this passage this morning was in contrast to verse 8.

Believer you are called to high calling, called with a purpose, called as a people, and called to pure.  Will you be pure, will you grab hold of the purpose with the strength of you identity in the people of God.  We truly do belong to a family, the family of God.

GW would you come and lead us in one verse of  our final hymn, and after the hymn I am going to ask those that are being accepted into membership of this local family of God to come forward and the rest of you may be seated.