September 8, 2014
CHILDREN OF THE KING DECLARING HIS PROMISES
1 Peter 2:1–12
Hannah Beckwith
Central Truth
Despite the effective lies the world exclaims about our identity, the truth is that we are the Lord's, and our identity is totally found in His merciful choice to accept us and draw us out of our dark and sinful natures, completely redeeming us. Therefore, we are now His spokesmen.
Key Verse | 1 Peter 2:9–10
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. (1 Peter 2:9-10)
1 Peter 2:1–12
A Living Stone and a Holy People
1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
1
2:7
Greek the head of the corner
8 and
“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
9 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. 10 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.
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Dive Deeper | 1 Peter 2:1–12
Can you think of some aspect of your faith that is so precious to God's heart and so important to your walk with Him that it is an area Satan commonly tries to attack? For me, it is my identity in Christ. It's a struggle I think many believers face at some point in their faith, but, thankfully, it doesn't have to be that way. Right here in verses 9-10, Peter lists the ways that God has made us His, displaying our righteous identity in Him. There is nothing random about our faith; we are chosen. He has called us to be a royal priesthood or, in other words, God's spokesmen, to proclaim the sweetness of the Lord that we have tasted by coming out of the valley of darkness. And now that we have trusted Him, we have the "right to become the children of God" (John 1:12), and "a people for his own possession" (1 Peter 2:9).
In Matthew 3:13-17, Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened, and God declared, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." This is so significant because Jesus had yet to start His ministry. God was simply delighted with who Jesus was as His Son. So the same security Jesus found in the approval of His Father can be ours, too. And thank the Lord that in His mercy, it has nothing to do with anything we have done or could do, but depends only on who we are in Him. Considering He is God, the author and perfecter of our faith, it is safe to say that He knows what's best for us. Despite Satan's attacks, each day we can rest confident in our security in the Lord.
When you feel the pressure of the world and Satan's lies, try making a list of all the ways you find your identity in Jesus alone. Here are a few of mine: daughter of the King, forgiven, beloved, and victorious.
Discussion Questions
1. In what ways has the Lord called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light? What has He saved you from? And how can you proclaim that today and every day?
2. Make a list of who you are in Christ because of His mercy, not your works.
3. What is one thing, area, or person other than the Lord that you find fleeting approval/identity in?
4. More important than knowing Jesus, is Jesus knowing you. Do you consider yourself a child of God, and does He really know your heart?
5. Take time to read through Matthew 4, where Satan tempts Jesus with stuff, status, and superiority, knowing that Jesus has also been tempted and understands what we are going through.