1 Peter 2:1–10 — Chosen: A People Belonging to God

- September 19, 2013

Introduction

First Peter 2:1–10 teaches believers about spiritual growth, identity, calling, and belonging to God. Peter begins by telling believers what must be laid aside—malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and evil speaking—and then directs them toward the Word of God so they may continue to grow.

The passage then moves from growth to identity. Christ is presented as the living stone, rejected by men but chosen by God and precious. Those who come to Christ are also described as living stones, being built together into a spiritual house.
Peter's emphasis reaches its height in verses 9–10: God's people are described as chosen, royal, priestly, holy, and possessed by God for His purpose. Their identity has a mission attached to it—they have been called out of darkness so that they may declare the excellencies of the One who called them into His marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
1 Peter 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
1 Peter 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be confounded.
1 Peter 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
1 Peter 2:8
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1 Peter 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

“Chosen”

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people...” — 1 Peter 2:9, KJV
The word chosen must first be understood in relation to Christ Himself. Peter has already said in verse 4 that Christ was rejected by men but “chosen of God, and precious.” Verse 6 again describes Him as “a chief corner stone, elect, precious.”
Therefore, before Peter tells believers “ye are a chosen generation,” he establishes that Christ is the Chosen One.
Our chosen identity is centered in our relationship with Him.
Peter is not describing people who became important because of their natural ancestry, social position, wealth, education, or human accomplishments. He is describing a people whose identity has been established by God's calling and their relationship to Christ.

“A Chosen Generation”

The word generation here carries the sense of a race, kindred, or people. Peter is describing a people God has called to Himself.
This language reaches back into the Old Testament. Israel was called to be God's treasured and holy people. Peter now applies covenant language to the community of believers gathered around Christ.
Being chosen therefore speaks about belonging.
We belong to God.
But being chosen is not merely about receiving a privileged title. Chosen people have a chosen purpose.
Peter immediately tells us what that purpose is:
“…that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” — 1 Peter 2:9, KJV
God's choosing leads to God's calling, and God's calling leads to God's purpose.
Chosen → Called → Transformed → Sent to Declare

“A Royal Priesthood”

Peter joins two powerful ideas: royalty and priesthood.
A priest represents worship, service, holiness, sacrifice, and approach to God. Royalty speaks of belonging to the reign and Kingdom of God.
Earlier Peter says believers are being built into a spiritual house and are “an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”
The believer's life therefore becomes an offering to God.
This priesthood does not replace Christ's unique position. Jesus remains the chief cornerstone and the One through whom our spiritual sacrifices become acceptable to God.

“An Holy Nation”

Holy means set apart for God's purpose.
God does not call His people out of darkness merely so that they can carry a different religious title. He calls them into a different manner of life.
That explains why Peter begins the chapter by commanding believers to lay aside:
malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, and evil speakings.
Chosen identity must eventually produce changed conduct.
We cannot celebrate being chosen while refusing the transformation associated with God's calling.

“A Peculiar People”

In modern English, peculiar often means strange or unusual. That is not the primary meaning of the KJV expression here.
The thought is a people belonging especially to God—His own possession.
Peter's point is therefore not:
“God's people should behave strangely.”
Rather:
“God has acquired a people who belong to Him.”
Our identity is no longer ultimately determined by the world's labels. We belong to God.

Supporting Scriptures

Exodus 19:5–6 — Israel is described as God's peculiar treasure, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. This forms important background for Peter's language.
Deuteronomy 7:6 — God describes Israel as a holy and chosen people.
Isaiah 43:20–21 — God speaks of a people He formed for Himself who would show forth His praise.
Psalm 118:22 — The rejected stone becomes the head stone of the corner, a passage Peter applies to Christ.
Isaiah 28:16 — God lays the precious cornerstone, another foundation for Peter's description of Christ.
Matthew 21:42 — Jesus applies the rejected-stone passage to Himself.
John 15:16 — Jesus tells His disciples that He chose and appointed them to bear fruit.
Ephesians 1:4 — Believers are described as chosen in Christ, with holiness connected to that calling.
Ephesians 2:19–22 — Believers are described as God's household, built together with Christ as the chief cornerstone.
Revelation 1:5–6 — Christ's redeemed people are described in priestly and kingdom language.

What 1 Peter 2:1–10 Teaches

This passage teaches that identity and transformation belong together.
Peter does not begin with titles and leave behavior untouched. He begins by telling believers to remove sinful attitudes and speech, desire the nourishment of God's Word, come continually to Christ, and understand themselves as living stones being built together.
It also teaches that Christianity is not merely individual. A stone by itself is not a house. Peter pictures believers being “built up” together. God is forming a people.
Christ is central to everything. He is the living stone, chosen One, precious cornerstone, and foundation. Our identity cannot be separated from Him.
The passage also contains both privilege and responsibility. We are chosen, but chosen to proclaim. We are priests, but priests who offer spiritual sacrifices. We are holy, and therefore called to holy living. We belong to God, and therefore our lives should reflect the One to whom we belong.
Finally, verse 10 reminds us that this identity rests upon mercy:
“Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”
Chosen identity should therefore produce gratitude rather than arrogance.

Personal Application

First Peter 2:1–10 challenges me to ask whether my conduct agrees with the identity God has given me.
If I am God's possession, I cannot allow bitterness, envy, hypocrisy, deceit, or destructive speech to govern my life. These are precisely the things Peter tells believers to put away.
If I am a living stone, I must recognize that God did not call me merely to exist independently. I have a place within the spiritual house He is building.
If I am part of a royal priesthood, my worship cannot be limited to what happens during a church service. My life, obedience, praise, service, and devotion become spiritual sacrifices offered to God through Christ.
And if God has called me out of darkness into His marvelous light, I should not continually return to the attitudes and practices associated with the darkness from which He called me.
Being chosen should never make me feel superior to another person. It should make me grateful, responsible, humble, and purposeful.
I have obtained mercy.
I belong to God.
Therefore, my life should declare His praise.

Concluding Bible-Study Thoughts

First Peter 2:1–10 gives us a powerful progression:
Put away the old → Desire the Word → Come to Christ → Be built together → Understand who you are → Live out why you were called.
Peter's message of chosen is much deeper than simply saying, “God chose me.”
We are chosen in relationship to the Chosen Christ.
We are living stones because we have come to the Living Stone.
We are God's people because we have obtained mercy.
We are called out of darkness because God intends us to walk in His marvelous light.
And we are given a new identity so that our lives can show forth His praises.

Key Truth

Being chosen is not merely a position to celebrate; it is a calling to fulfill. God has called His people out of darkness, brought them into His marvelous light, and given them an identity that should reveal His character and declare His praise.

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