1 Peter 2:9
9 But [de] ye [humeis] are a chosen [eklektos]
generation [genos], a royal [basileios] priesthood [hierateuma], an
holy [hagios] nation [ethnos], a peculiar [eis] [peripoiesis] people [laos]; that [hopos] ye should shew forth [exaggello] the praises [arete] of him
who hath called [kaleo] you [humas] out of [ek] darkness [skotos] into [eis] his [autos] marvellous [thaumastos]
light [phos]: KJV-Interlinear
9 But you are a chosen race, a
royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you
may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into
His marvelous light; NASB
First we begin by contrasting
the darkness into the light, concept, at the end of the verse.
The darkness is the
darkest part of the night, where there is no light, and nothing with which to
see.A person in total darkness, is
totally blind, totally disoriented, as a person dropped into the middle of a
totally foreign place.And as such
totally lost.
That is the description
of the person who lacks salvation and doctrine.
The person who is in
the light, is one who is placed into a familiar place at midday. You can look around and you know exactly
where you are.You can see everything.
In the former verse,
the person who is running along in their own defined life, is one running along
in total darkness.They may think that
they know all there is to life, but they are living a delusional life. This applies to the unbeliever for certain,
and it also applies to the believer who has neglected his spiritual life. The spiritually deficient believer imitates
the unbeliever with respect to their lack of orientation to life, in this
world.
But there is another
comparison.Peter describes the
believer, the one who has pursued his spiritual life, as a priest, or one who
has the right to enter into a relationship, a direct relationship, with God.
But more than that, we
are a nation. What is a nation?It is a
group of people who have something in common, a group of people who have a
relationship with something or, in this case, with someone, namely God.
Typically we think of a
nation as a geographical region located somewhere on the planet, and the folks
who live there, are its citizens.
And, within a nation
there is typically a hierarchy of sorts.
There are the rulers, the upper classes of folks, the middle classes and
the lower classes.Sometimes they are
separated or identified by their wealth, or lack of it, their education, their
position, their achievements and so forth.
In the case of the
spiritual life, there are but two broad classes the unbeliever and the
believer.
The unbeliever is
chosen or selected, by virtue of their rejection of Christ. They live in darkness and they are the lowest
of the lower classes of peoples, regardless of their worldly status. They are the rejects of society, and they are
denied citizenship.
The believers are not
only the citizens of heaven, but they are the chosen peoples of God, fulfilling
the illustration of Israel being the chosen nation, or separated out from the
foreigners of the other nations on earth, in the Old Testament.
Israel was the example,
we are the reality.All believers in
Christ, form the chosen nation of God.
And there is more. In the Old Testament, there was the example
of the Levitical Priesthood, wherein one tribe was selected to be the go betweens,
between man and God.But now, all
believers are priests, possessing the right to interact directly with God, and
no longer having to go through any other designated priest.
And there is more. As believers in Christ, we are in union with
Christ and as such we are royalty, or the highest of the high classes of living
folks.And since our life is eternal, we
will be royalty forever.
So, the unbelievers are
doggie doo-doo, living in total darkness, not even able to see the noses on
their own faces.
Believers are royalty,
living with and belonging to, the highest power and authority in
existence.That comparison, is a
phenomenal contrast, and an infinite difference between the two.
But we can go one step
further. The believer who imitates the unbeliever, possesses similar status
(doggie doo-doo), but within the spiritual realm.
It is the mature
believer who will achieve and receive the highest of awards, rewards, honors,
etc., in heaven, in eternity.That too,
is a comparison, which is infinite.
Peter uses several
quotes for this concept.
Ex 19:5-6
5 'Now then, if you
will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own
possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests
and a holy nation.' NASB
Deut. 7:6
6 For you are a holy
people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people
for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
NASB
Isa. 43:21
21 The people whom I
formed for Myself, Will declare My praise.
NASB
The folks in the Old
Testament knew these principles, but they in effect rejected the blessings that
God intended for them.
Do not imitate their
mistake by rejecting your spiritual life.
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