1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)
9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
Week 1: You are a chosen people.
- God chose the Jews who would eventually become the nation of Israel to be His chosen people, and through whom the Messiah would come.
1 Peter 1:1-3 (NLT) Deuteronomy 7:6-8 (NLT)
- God chose us…the church…believers in Jesus, just like He chose the Jews in the Old Testament.
- How does God choose us today?
1 Peter 1:2 (NIV)
Week 2: After God chooses you, He makes you into a priest.
Purpose of the priests:
- Teach others God’s word (Matthew 28:20)
- Present incense to God (Prayer) (Revelation 5:8) (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
- Offer sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1)
This week: A Holy Nation
What does it mean to be holy?
- Set apart, different, other than. It also means righteous conduct, pure, sinless, upright.
1 Peter 1:14-16 (NLT)
14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
This is the why behind the what:
- Why are we to be holy? Because God is, and we are to represent Him and allow the Holy Spirit to make us more like Him.
How do we live differently?
Respecting People in Authority
1 Peter 2:11-17 (NLT)
Slaves
1 Peter 2:18-21 (NLT)