1 Peter: Chosen People
Notes
Transcript
Chosen People
Chosen People
1 Peter 2:4–10 “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 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. 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.” 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,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 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”
Intro
Point 1: We are God’s Chosen People
Chosen Race
We are chosen by God. He comes after us! You might think that you chose him, Which you did, but he chose you first. He came after you! He wanted you! The God of the Universe came after you.
Royal Priesthood
As God’s children, you are royalty. Royalty. We think of all these famous people and celebrities and we think “Oh that would be so cool.” You are royalty. Children of the King of the Universe!
Holy Nation
We talked about being Holy last week. Set apart. Pure. You might have left last week discourage thinking “I have so much to change, I don’t know if I can ever live up to that.” You can’t! But God makes you Holy. He is the one who does it! Yes, you need to put effort into it, but you need to do it relying on His strength.
People for His own possession
This is a big thing that might rub you the wrong way. Your life is not your own. You belong to God, and listen, to be used by God. And some of you are like “I don’t like that.” Guess what, that rubs me the wrong way sometimes. Until I realize in what amazing, supernatural ways God uses his people. How do I know? Reading God’s word. Talking to other Christians.
Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people
Before Christ, you didn’t have true family, true community. But now you have something in common with people in different countries, who don’t speak English, that you haven’t met! More than just a random connection, you are family! The core of who you are is the same with people all over the world, and people in this room, at school, in the grocery stores.
That leads to the second point.
Point 2: Christ is the Cornerstone
How do we become part of God’s family? How does all of this happen? It’s because Jesus is the cornerstone.
Cornerstone: A stone forming a part of a corner or angle in a wall; specifically, such a stone laid at a formal ceremony. A basic element. Foundation. In the Bible, a cornerstone is a stone that is set first in the construction of a foundation. The cornerstone is a key stone that determines the alignment of the entire structure.
It starts with Jesus. Jesus is the only way to be made right with God. He is the first step and the key element to all of this.
Sometimes the cornerstone is called the Key Stone. A key stone is the stone in the middle of an arch the keeps the arch in place. If you remove the key stone, it all falls apart.
People often are like “I like Christianity, just don’t give me Jesus.” That’s like asking for and Apple pie without apples. Okay, here is the crust?
Point 3: Why they reject the Cornerstone
So I listed all of these amazing things that we are in Christ. You think if you told anybody about this, they would jump at the opportunity to join, right? Well, people don’t. And this passage says why.
They are offended. Why are they offended? Because they disobey the Word. They don’t want to submit to God. They don’t want to surrender, make him lord of their life. They think they will miss out. But having Christ at the center of your life, living for him, is so much better than anything else.
Conclusion
Verse 4 starts with “As you come to him…” Jesus is full of grace. He loves you and wants you.
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