Witness to the world: 1 Peter 2v9-12

12. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,

that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful

light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. Once you had not

received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens

and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul.

Live such good lives among the pagans that though they accuse you of doing wrong, they

may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Thank you. Well, please keep your Bibles open and we're going to pray and ask for God's

help. Let's do that now.

Father, you have given to us your word, the revelation of who you are, written down, recorded

for us and in our own language today. So we thank you for your word, the Bible. And we

thank you for your Holy Spirit. For the work he has done in our lives, opening our eyes, opening

our hearts to see and understand, not just with our minds, but deeply with our hearts.

And so we ask, Father God, that you would speak to us through your word, by your spirit, helping

us to become the people you have called us to be. And that we would live our lives in this world

as you have called us to live. Father, may each one of us here today be deeply affected by this word,

that it would shape us, that it would challenge us, that it would remind us of our amazing salvation

and the hope that you have given to us. So Father, thank you for your word, for your spirit.

And we ask for your continued help to us now, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Amen.

I want to start by asking a couple of questions. No need to shout the answers out, but just think

what the answers might be. Here's the first one. Did you come to church today?

Are you in church right now?

Where will the church be when you go home?

In other words, what do you think church is?

Well, for many, church is a building you go to, this structure that we're in right now.

To other, it's a meeting that you attend on a Sunday morning, such as where we are right now.

But as far as the Bible is concerned, that's not church.

Have a look back at chapter 2, verse 4.

This is what we saw last week.

Chapter 2, verse 4.

As you come to him, that is, as you come to Jesus, the living stone, that is, the foundation

of our lives, rejected by men, but chosen by God and precious to him, you also are like

living stones and are being built into a spiritual house.

So, people who trust in Jesus, people who build their lives on the foundation of Jesus, are the church.

As we come to Jesus in faith, we are being built together.

Each one of us is like a stone being built into a living house where God lives by his Spirit.

So, church is not a place to go to.

It's not a meeting that we attend.

Church is, if you see on the screen, church is God's chosen people, built together by Jesus,

empowered by the Holy Spirit, and called to declare and display Christ to the world.

That is amazing.

That is who we are.

God's chosen people, built together by Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit,

and called to declare and display Christ to the world.

Three things we are going to think about the church.

First, our double identity as the church.

Our double identity.

First, our identity, number one, we belong to God.

Look at verse 9.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God.

Now, we didn't always belong to God.

Once upon a time, we were not a people.

Look at verse 10.

Once we were not a people.

In the Old Testament, there's a prophet by the name of Hosea.

We read from it this morning.

And God spoke a very clear message to the people through Hosea, using his family.

And Hosea had a son.

And he called his son Lo-Ami.

And Lo-Ami means, you're not my people, and I am not your God.

So you could imagine Hosea, Lo-Ami is out running away outside, and Hosea calls him.

You're not my people.

I'm not your God.

The message was clear to the people.

Because of your rejection and your rebellion against God,

because you've turned away from me and not loved me,

you do not belong to me.

You're not my people.

And Peter, the author here, wants us to see our life like that.

Because we too have ignored God.

We are not God's people.

We do not belong to him.

But, let's read verse 10 again.

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God.

Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Mercy is God not treating us as we deserve.

In fact, God does the opposite towards us.

In love he pursues unfaithful, rebellious people like you and me.

And he makes us his people.

Listen to those words again from Hosea.

What God said to Hosea, to the people.

Having said you are not my people, and I am not your God.

Here's the promise.

Listen to these words again.

I will show my love to the one I called not my loved one.

I will say to those called not my people, you are my people.

And they will say, you are my God.

And that wonderful promise was fulfilled when Jesus came and loved us and showed mercy to us.

Jesus didn't treat us as we deserve.

In fact, Jesus went to the cross to die for us so that people like you and me could become God's very own people.

In fact, he goes on to tell us exactly who we are.

Look at verse 9.

We are God's chosen people.

Or if you like, God's chosen race.

Verse 9.

But you are a chosen people.

God has taken nobodies like you and me and made us into his chosen race.

Loved from before time began.

Gathered from all different kinds of backgrounds and nationalities.

And created to be God's very own people.

So if you are a Christian here today,

you are not European or African or Asian or American.

First and foremost, our identity is we are God's chosen race.

But we're more than just that.

Again, read verse 9.

We are God's chosen people.

A royal priesthood.

Priests, you remember, were primarily responsible for making God known to the people.

They spoke on behalf of God to the people.

They were like a mediator from God to people.

And now he's telling us, guess what?

We're a priesthood.

From once rejecting God to now people who represent God in the world.

We're his royal priesthood.

We have been chosen by the creator, the king of the universe,

who rules over everyone and everything.

And he has chosen us and he has sent us to represent God in the world.

His living representatives.

So that means we're not students, first and foremost.

We're not workers.

We're not unemployed.

We're not sports players.

We're not just mums at home looking after kids.

We are a royal priesthood.

God's representatives here on earth.

A chosen people, a royal priesthood.

And let's read verse 9 again.

A holy nation.

If you've done any kind of travelling,

or surely if you've watched the shows on television,

you know that every country you go to is different.

Different food.

Different culture.

Different languages.

Each nation is distinct from everyone else.

And look at what we are.

We are a holy nation.

Holy means to be distinct.

That is, we are different from everybody else.

Not by the food we eat.

Not by the clothes that we wear.

But by our words of truth.

By our loving behaviour.

Together, corporately, as his people,

we are to declare and display the beauty

and the goodness of God in the world in which we live.

So you see, it's not just about me

and my relationship with God

and my personal experience with God.

It's not about me and God all on our own.

We're much bigger and greater than that.

We are a holy nation.

So I don't know how you came thinking of yourself today.

Maybe feeling a little bit down and miserable.

Thinking that you're not worth very much.

And people don't pay you much attention.

Well, look again at your identity

if you are trusting Christ.

You belong to God.

You have been shown mercy.

You are a chosen race.

A royal priesthood.

And a holy nation.

But that's not how the world will see God's people.

So here's our second identity.

And this should be familiar to us

as we've gone through 1 Peter.

We are strangers in the world.

Verse 11.

Dear friends, I urge you as aliens

and strangers in the world.

In the eyes of God,

we are royal.

We are special.

We are holy.

We are treasured.

But in the eyes of the world,

we're nobodies.

Outsiders.

Shut out.

Pushed out.

We're strangers.

Have a look back at chapter 1, verse 1.

Remember how he set out this identity

at the very beginning of the letter?

To God's elect.

God's, yes, you're chosen people,

loved by God,

but you are strangers

in the world.

If we belong to God,

that means we do not belong to the world.

We cannot belong to two things at once.

We either belong to God

or we belong to the world.

One writer put it like this.

Christians,

if you're living in the world

as a Christian today,

he says Christians are like immigrants,

foreigners,

temporary residents,

like refugees.

We do not belong.

We do not have the rights of citizens.

We're outsiders.

We're living on the edge

of the culture.

Yes, we are a chosen race,

but in the world

we are an unwelcome race.

Yes, we're a royal priesthood,

but in the world

we're an unwanted priesthood.

Yes, we are a holy nation,

but in the world

we're an undesirable nation.

Don't believe me?

Well, if you are a Christian today,

if you speak up for the rights

of the unborn,

if you stand and say,

I am pro-life,

and if you stand up for Christian values

and for truth,

you will feel a sense of isolation.

You will be pushed out.

You will feel a stranger

in the world.

So you see,

we do live with this double identity.

We belong to God,

but we're strangers.

The second thing about church

is this,

our double calling.

And here's our first calling.

We have been called out of the world.

Let's read verse 9 again.

You are a chosen people,

a royal priesthood,

a holy nation,

a people belonging to God,

that you may declare

the praises of him

who did what?

Who called you out

of darkness.

Darkness

is a description of life

that is under the influence

of the world.

It's a life

without Jesus,

where we are trapped

and enslaved,

without hope,

without purpose.

So the world

will tell us

things like this.

We've come from nowhere,

and guess what?

We're going nowhere.

We are born,

that's if we escape

abortion.

We die naturally,

if we escape

euthanasia.

It's a life

that gives

no hope

beyond the grave,

no purpose

to our present existence.

It's a life

that is utterly

dark and empty.

But the good news is,

Jesus,

verse 9,

has called us

out

from darkness

into

his wonderful light.

You see,

as we come

to Jesus,

we discover

we do have

a purpose.

We are loved

and we are chosen

before

we were ever born.

Through Jesus,

we discover

we do have a hope.

When we die,

we've got an inheritance

that can never perish,

spoil or fade.

Jesus has called us

out

from the darkness

of this world

into

his wonderful light.

Have a look back

at chapter 1,

verse 18.

Chapter 1,

verse 18.

For you know

that it was not

with perishable things

such as silver

or gold

that you were

redeemed

from the

empty

way

of life.

That's the darkness,

the empty way

of life.

We've been

redeemed from it.

We have been

redeemed,

verse 19,

with the precious

blood of Christ,

the Lamb,

without blemish

or defect.

Christ,

the perfect one,

has rescued us

from the empty

darkness

and has brought us

into his

beautiful light,

bringing meaning

and purpose

and filling

our lives

with hope.

But that's just

one side

of our calling.

We've been

called out

of the world

but we have

also been

sent back

into

the world.

Look at

verse 11.

Dear friends,

I urge you

as aliens

and strangers,

whereabouts

are they?

In

the world.

Living life

as a Christian

in this world

is tough.

It is hard.

To speak out

for Christian truth,

to stand up

for Christian values,

means we will

not always be

liked.

And in an effort

to try and

protect ourselves,

what we do

is we retreat

into our nice,

safe,

Christian ghetto.

We surround

ourselves with

people who

believe the

same things

and think

the same way.

We hide

behind the

comfort of

our own

Christian faith,

surrounding

ourselves with

Christian friends.

We live in

the world

of Christian

Facebook

where we

like Christian

friends but

unlike those

who do not

believe.

And we

just live

in our own

little bubble.

But that's

wrong.

That's wrong.

The point is

there is nothing

private about

our Christian

faith.

Look at

verse 12.

Live such

good lives

among

the pagans,

around about

with the

people who

do not

yet believe.

Live your

life amongst

them.

Work there.

Live there.

Play there.

Jesus has

rescued us

from the

world and

now he

sends us

back into

the world.

We are

the light

that goes

into the

darkness.

You see,

through Jesus

we have been

changed and

transformed and

we are to

bring that

hope with

us back

to the

world.

Have a look

with me,

please.

Keep your

finger in

1 Peter and

just go back

to Matthew's

Gospel.

Gospel.

Matthew

Matthew 5 · chapter mention

chapter 5.

It's on

page 968.

968.

Remember what

Jesus said to

his disciples?

Matthew

Matthew 5 · chapter mention

chapter 5.

Sorry,

it's 969.

We're going to

read from

verse 14.

Matthew 5

Matthew 5:14

verse 14.

What does

he say of

the church,

his people?

You are

the light

of the

world.

We're like

a city

on a hill

that cannot

be hidden.

Our light

is shining

for all

to see.

Neither

do people

light a

lamp and

put it

under a

bowl.

That's

kind of

to retreat

into our

own safe

Christian

ghetto.

Instead,

they put

it on

its stand

and it

gives light

to everyone

in the

house.

In other

words,

we are

to live

our lives

out in

the world.

In the

same way,

verse 16,

let your

light shine

before men

and women

that they

may see

your good

deeds

and praise

your Father

in heaven.

we have

been rescued

from the

world of

darkness.

Now we

are sent

back into

the world

as his

lights to

shatter the

darkness,

to bring

hope and

to bring

life.

So,

our double

identity,

we belong

to God,

but yet we're

strangers in

this world.

Our double

calling,

we've been

rescued out

of the

world and

now we

have been

sent back

into the

world.

And third,

our double

mission.

First,

we are to

declare Jesus

through our

words to

the world.

Declare

Jesus through

our words to

the world.

Look at

verse 9.

You're a

chosen people,

a royal

priesthood,

a holy

nation,

a people

belonging to

God.

You've got a

purpose,

you've got a

mission,

you have been

chosen by

God to do

what?

Look at the

end of verse

9.

That you

may declare

the praises

of him who

called you

out of

darkness and

into his

wonderful

light.

The story

of our

new identity

and our

new calling

is an

amazing story

to tell.

We are,

verse 9,

to declare

the praises

of him.

We are to

point to

Jesus.

We are to

point to

God and

tell and

show people

the incredible

and amazing

life-changing

work that

God has

done in

our lives

and can be

done in

your life.

To tell

the story

of how

God has

loved us

and chosen

us and

made us

his royal

priesthood.

How he's

taken

nobodies

like you

and me,

rebels

living in

the emptiness

of this

dark world

and made

us his

holy nation.

How he

has given

us a

living hope

and inheritance

that can

never perish,

spoil or fade.

We are here

to tell the

story of

how God

rescues us

from darkness

and brings

us into

his wonderful

light.

I've heard

a phrase,

maybe you've

heard this

too.

People often

quote it.

Always

preach the

gospel and

if necessary

use words.

Always

preach the

gospel and

if necessary

use words.

Well,

whoever said

it,

is wrong

because the

good news

about Jesus

is a

word.

We need

to use

our words.

We are

to declare

the truth

about God

because it

is his

word,

the word

of God

that changes

lives.

Look back

at chapter

1 verse

23.

Chapter

1 verse

23.

He tells

us that we

have been

born again.

This is

this new

life,

this new

hope,

this new

beginning.

We have

been born

again,

not of

perishable

seed,

but of

imperishable.

How?

Through the

living and

enduring

word of

God.

You see,

when the

word of

God,

the good

news about

Jesus,

is told

and declared,

God by

his spirit

changes lives

and transforms

lives.

Ephesians

number 16.

Now,

I know

that's

hard because

I find

it hard.

It's hard

to talk

about

Jesus when

people don't

want to

listen.

That's

why on

Wednesdays,

as our

study together,

we're looking

at how to

talk about

Jesus even

when it's

tough.

Because it

is tough.

and together we're sharing with each other,

we're learning together,

we're encouraging each other to talk about Jesus.

And it's been exciting to hear the stories of people

as they've come on a Wednesday

and tell us how they've gotten on in work,

how they got on with this friend

and how people are declaring the story of Jesus.

So, declare Jesus through our words.

And display Jesus through our lives to the world.

That's the second part of our mission.

Look at verse 12, chapter 2, verse 12.

Live such good lives among those who are not yet believers

that though they accuse you of doing wrong,

they may see your good deeds

and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Words are necessary,

but our lives must match what we talk about.

Let me put it this way.

People need to see the gospel

as well as hear the gospel.

We say, God is love.

Well then let's love the refugee who is isolated and alone.

You say, Jesus forgives?

Well then don't hold any grudges

and forgive your brother and sister.

Again.

You say, God gave his life?

Then give your life sacrificially for the service of others.

You say, Jesus accepts us?

Then welcome others and don't condemn them.

If we're wanting people to hear the good news of Jesus,

then our very lives must reflect and display the beauty of Jesus

to those around us.

People are much more likely going to listen

and they're going to ask questions

if our life looks like the message that we're seeking to tell.

That's why, verse 11,

he says,

I urge you, dear friends,

I urge you as aliens and strangers in the world

to abstain from sinful desires

which war against your soul.

Sinful natures.

It makes us selfish.

It puts barriers between us and people.

And if it's not dealt with,

it will turn people away from Jesus.

Our behaviour in public,

our ways in private,

have an effect on people.

Rather than display the beauty of Jesus,

we'll just display the ugliness of our hearts.

That is why there is a battle going on.

A war in our souls

to fight against our sinful nature

so that we display the beauty of Jesus

to the world.

In the first century,

just after this letter was written,

it was really tough to be a Christian.

It was illegal to be a Christian.

Ordinary believers,

just like you and me,

put yourself back into the first century,

didn't have a Bible,

didn't have one of these that you have in your lap.

Most people couldn't read.

There were a few letters that Paul had

and bits of scripture that others had

that were passed around.

They didn't have church buildings to go to,

not even a grand sports hall like this.

No worship groups.

No projectors.

No Christianity Explored courses.

No tracts or booklets to give to people.

They just had people like you and me

meeting together,

gathering together,

living their lives together.

And amazingly,

the church grew

and people became followers of Jesus.

How did that happen with such few resources?

People,

the Word of God

and the Spirit of God

working together?

How did it all happen?

Well, they got their new identity,

that they were God's loved and chosen people.

They understood their new calling,

that they were sent into the world

as God's royal priesthood.

They were a holy nation.

God's representatives.

And they understood their new mission

as they went about.

They talked about Jesus

and their lives reflected Jesus

as they loved people

and cared for people.

It seems so simple,

doesn't it?

And the reality is,

we can all do that too.

And what encourages me,

and I guess it encourages you too,

is that many people here

are doing this already together.

to hear your stories

of how you go about

your day-to-day lives

when you go into college,

when you're going into work,

to hear of mums

who are telling the story

of Christ to their children,

of making the effort

to put yourself into

a tough place

where you talk about Jesus.

And as you go about your lives

loving your neighbours,

loving your friends,

even when they don't even recognise it,

even when they slag you off,

even when things go wrong,

you're doing it.

And so our encouragement together is,

rather than run away

and hide into our safe Christian ghetto

and into that nice little cosy bubble

where we surround our friends

with our nice worship songs

and our nice readings

and our nice Christian friends,

we just go out into the darkness.

We are the light of God,

shattering the darkness,

bringing the hope,

bringing the life.

And when we live like this,

look at the end of verse 12,

they will see your good deeds

and glorify God

on the day he visits us.

You know what?

You mightn't see huge changes now,

but there's a promise

and take it away with you

that on the day Christ returns

because of your mission,

because of your declaring of Christ,

because of your displaying of Christ,

there will be people

that you would have impacted

and they will be glorifying Christ with you

and they will share

in that eternal inheritance

forever and forever.

We're not ordinary people.

We're a royal priesthood

filled with the power of God's Holy Spirit

sent to declare and display Christ

to the world.

May God give us grace

to be his chosen people.

Let's pray.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Father, would you please help us

to, as it were,

block out the voices of the world

that tell us

that we're nobodies,

that we have nothing,

that we are nothing.

Help us to listen to the clear,

crystal voice of God

to be reminded again

of our identity,

that we are God's chosen people,

his holy nation,

rescued from the emptiness

and darkness,

called into his beautiful light,

given hope,

given meaning,

given purpose.

Help us.

Fill us with your Spirit

that we, this week,

may declare your truth.

And that we would so fight

the sin in our lives

that we would display

the beauty of Christ

from our lives.

And we pray this,

that people,

our friends,

our family,

our loved ones,

will glorify Christ,

will love him

and worship him

the day Christ returns.

Father, do your work,

we pray.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

We're going to sing together.

Father,

you're the word of God the Father,

which tells the story

of God's amazing love

who reached down

into our world.

He didn't stay away

from the world.

He came into the world,

into the darkness,

to be light.

Nope