All things new: 1 Pet 2:9

1 Peter 2:9–10 ESV

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

All that glitters is not gold, all the wanders is not lost

Revelation 21:5 ESV

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

A New Family Identity

A New Nation

A New Temple

A New People

A New Role

God does the work of building (being built), but we do the job of offering sacrifices pleasing to Him,

Even a living stone cannot build something great for God as it sits all on its own. What God does in us together is important. He is building something out of us together.

God’s great house.

1 Pet. 2:11–12 The Christian Life as a Battle and a Witness.

1 Pet. 2:11–4:11 Living as Strangers to Bring Glory to God in a Hostile World. Believers should live as exiles in a world that rejects their message. They bear witness to the gospel when they live in a way that pleases God.

Believers are to live godly lives even though they will often be criticized by unbelievers.

Now that through the gospel the church is inaugurated and growing, Peter urges God’s people to exhibit their newness and freeness (1 Pet. 2:11–12) as a witness to their identity in Christ. In verses 9–12,

God’s people should exhibit their newness and freeness (1 Pet. 2:11–12) as a witness to their identity in Christ.

Peter reminds Christians that holiness means not just being set apart from something (sin and its worldly systems) but being set apart for something (God’s glory). God’s “mercy” (v. 10) leads to a certain kind of “conduct” (v. 12).

1 Pet. 2:13–17 Freedom in Christ to worship him as Lord does not preclude submission to earthly authorities. Rather, having been set free in Christ to trust him body and soul, we are now free to trust that earthly authorities are only in place by his permission (see also Rom. 13:1–7).

“The description of the Church is systematic and exhaustive. It is a race, and this suggests its life principle. It is a priesthood, and so has right of access to God. It is a nation, and so is under His government. It is a possession, and so is actually indwelt by Him.” (Morgan)

We once were without these privileges, and were not even a people before God. We had not seen the mercy of God, but now have obtained mercy.

In our culture, with its Christian foundations, we don’t easily understand the great sense of privilege and relief that came to Gentiles as they were shared in the New Covenant with the God of Israel. Peter’s message is wonderful: “You didn’t used to belong, but now you belong to God and among God’s people.”

Since it is true that believers have a new life principle (chosen generation), a new access to God (royal priesthood), a new government (holy nation), and a new owner (His own special people), it will affect the way the believer lives life. That effect is described in the following verses.