A Chosen People

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

“Who me?” you might say. “Yes, you! I choose you!” Read the verse above again: yes, that’s you, that’s St John’s, that’s everyone who trusts God saves through Jesus! As people with high status (“a royal priesthood!”) before the God of the universe, we are free! How will we express our freedom?

Peter is writing to Christians scattered across the Roman provinces that now make up most of Turkey. Non-Christian neighbors said they were troublemakers for not going along with sacrifices to the Roman gods and to the emperor. Christians were slandered and abused—and tempted to slander and abuse back (2:1; see 2:12 and 3:16-17). Peter urges, “as servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil.” (2:16). Instead of either insulting the emperor or giving in to pressure to worship the emperor, Peter writes, “Honor the emperor” (2:17). Christians use their freedom in Christ to respect positions of authority for the potential good and order God may do through them, but that doesn’t mean we worship them! We use our freedom so others will know Christ:

Some Christians who were slaves were beaten by their masters because they confessed Christ and not the emperor, and some of them wanted to hit back (2:20). Peter reminds them that Jesus was beaten and innocent, but didn’t hit back (2:21-23) but instead bore our wounds for our healing (2:24). Christians use their freedom to be peace-makers even when provoked, and in this way imitate and proclaim Christ.

Some Christian women were married to non-Christian men (3:1-6) and were tempted to flaunt their freedom in Christ by elaborate clothes that attracted scandalous attention rather than reflect their status as married women. Christians use their freedom not to needlessly antagonize or get attention, but that their conduct may persuade others to trust in Christ and be saved (3:1-2).

Some Christian men felt pressure from other men to treat their Christian wives as second class (“weaker vessels”), but Peter points out that they are “joint heirs of the gracious gift of life” and worthy of honor (3:7). Christian use their freedom, not to give into social pressure, but to treat other Christians—men and women—as worthy of the same honor and status.

We also are under social pressures to conform to the values and attitudes of our time. We may not have emperor worship, but we certainly have money and power worship. I was listening to a town hall meeting where the measure of the politician was that “he put money in my pocket.” In another conversation about taxes, someone said they didn’t report all their income, justifying it, “everyone does it!” Is this how God’s chosen people use their freedom? Is this how we measure success?

How do God’s chosen people respond to others hurt and dying? As of this writing, there are still bombs being dropped by Israel on Lebanon and the cease fire with Iran is fragile and could break out into further violence. There are over 5,000 people dead and over 40,000 wounded throughout the Middle East. Can Christians be numb to their suffering? Peter shows that we can respect our government and its proper role of promoting good and order while at the same time refusing to give into idolatrous worship or uncritical acceptance.

Yes, you and I and every Christian have been given amazing freedom in Christ! We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation in order to use our freedom so others would know the life and peace in Christ! How will you use your freedom as God’s chosen people?

Guide us, O Great Redeemer!

Pastor Peter