1 Peter 2:9, 10
Please don’t skip today’s devotion if you think that title denotes that this is aimed at youth! If you are a young person, read on; it will help you. If you are not young in years, just praise God that you are wise in spirit and read on also! “The Chosen Generation” is not a new title for the latest, trendiest youth group in America, but rather the title for the church of Jesus Christ, as given by the Apostle Peter.
The word ‘chosen’ is the Greek word ‘elektos’ from which we derive the English word, “election”. It is used by Peter to show that the church of Jesus Christ is no accident, but rather we were a pre-determined act of God from the foundation of the world. Even before Adam sinned, God saw the necessity of the cross.
Along with being chosen, we are also a ‘generation’ or a “race, or nation”. This Greek word is first used in the New Testament when Jesus shares the parable of the kingdom as a “net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind” (Matthew 13:47). The word ‘kind’ is the same as ‘generation’, so we see that we come from all over the world with different races, cultures and creeds, but we are all “chosen” through Christ’s blood.
Prior to the Old Covenant, the head of each family was considered the family priest (Genesis 8:20). When God gave the Old Covenant at Mt. Sinai, He promised that if Israel would obey Him perfectly, they would be a “kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:6). They disobeyed severely, so the Lord took that priesthood and confined it to one family within Israel; the Aaronic priesthood in the tribe of Levi (Exodus 28:1). Now, with the giving of the New Covenant, all believers are referred to as “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), and this priesthood is by birthright. As Aaron’s priesthood passed through bloodline to his sons, so does Christian priesthood pass upon us through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
We are also a “holy nation” which has nothing to do with nationality or race. This nation is not recognized at the United Nations, and it has no flag or borders. The nation that we belong to is not of this world, though we belong to nations that are. It is called “holy”, not by works which we do but by the perfect work which He has done.
Don’t be offended by Peter’s usage of “peculiar people” in verse 9. It has nothing to do with ‘weird’, though I have met a few of those too! The Greek phrase that Peter uses is also used by the Apostle Paul when he says, “Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:14). The phrase “purchased possession” is the same as “peculiar” in Peter. The Apostle is telling us that we are not only chosen and priests and holy, but we have been purchased by God.
The purchase power of God is wrapped up in the blood of Jesus. Paul said, “And having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself” (Colossians 1:20). His blood is what purchased all of humanity. We are purchased, and thus, we are His “possession”. It should make it a bit easier to face the world today knowing that you are chosen as His very child. Walk like it!
Please don’t skip today’s devotion if you think that title denotes that this is aimed at youth! If you are a young person, read on; it will help you. If you are not young in years, just praise God that you are wise in spirit and read on also! “The Chosen Generation” is not a new title for the latest, trendiest youth group in America, but rather the title for the church of Jesus Christ, as given by the Apostle Peter.
The word ‘chosen’ is the Greek word ‘elektos’ from which we derive the English word, “election”. It is used by Peter to show that the church of Jesus Christ is no accident, but rather we were a pre-determined act of God from the foundation of the world. Even before Adam sinned, God saw the necessity of the cross.
Along with being chosen, we are also a ‘generation’ or a “race, or nation”. This Greek word is first used in the New Testament when Jesus shares the parable of the kingdom as a “net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind” (Matthew 13:47). The word ‘kind’ is the same as ‘generation’, so we see that we come from all over the world with different races, cultures and creeds, but we are all “chosen” through Christ’s blood.
Prior to the Old Covenant, the head of each family was considered the family priest (Genesis 8:20). When God gave the Old Covenant at Mt. Sinai, He promised that if Israel would obey Him perfectly, they would be a “kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:6). They disobeyed severely, so the Lord took that priesthood and confined it to one family within Israel; the Aaronic priesthood in the tribe of Levi (Exodus 28:1). Now, with the giving of the New Covenant, all believers are referred to as “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), and this priesthood is by birthright. As Aaron’s priesthood passed through bloodline to his sons, so does Christian priesthood pass upon us through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
We are also a “holy nation” which has nothing to do with nationality or race. This nation is not recognized at the United Nations, and it has no flag or borders. The nation that we belong to is not of this world, though we belong to nations that are. It is called “holy”, not by works which we do but by the perfect work which He has done.
Don’t be offended by Peter’s usage of “peculiar people” in verse 9. It has nothing to do with ‘weird’, though I have met a few of those too! The Greek phrase that Peter uses is also used by the Apostle Paul when he says, “Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:14). The phrase “purchased possession” is the same as “peculiar” in Peter. The Apostle is telling us that we are not only chosen and priests and holy, but we have been purchased by God.
The purchase power of God is wrapped up in the blood of Jesus. Paul said, “And having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself” (Colossians 1:20). His blood is what purchased all of humanity. We are purchased, and thus, we are His “possession”. It should make it a bit easier to face the world today knowing that you are chosen as His very child. Walk like it!
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