GOD'S SPECIAL POSSESSION

Passage: 1 Peter 2:4-10

Key verse: 9

NIV

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

4 As you come to him, the living Stone(A)—rejected by humans but chosen by God(B) and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built(C) into a spiritual house[a](D) to be a holy priesthood,(E) offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.(F) 6 For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,(G)
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.”[b](H)

7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,(I)

“The stone the builders rejected(J)
    has become the cornerstone,”[c](K)

8 and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.”[d](L)

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.(M)

9 But you are a chosen people,(N) a royal priesthood,(O) a holy nation,(P) God’s special possession,(Q) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.(R) 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;(S) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Peter 2:5 Or into a temple of the Spirit
  2. 1 Peter 2:6 Isaiah 28:16
  3. 1 Peter 2:7 Psalm 118:22
  4. 1 Peter 2:8 Isaiah 8:14
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

4 As you come to him, a living stone (A)rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 (B)you yourselves like living stones are being built up as (C)a spiritual house, to be (D)a holy priesthood, (E)to offer spiritual sacrifices (F)acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:

(G)“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
    a cornerstone chosen and precious,
(H)and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

7 So the honor is for you who (I)believe, but for those who (J)do not believe,

(K)“The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,”[a]

8 and

(L)“A stone of stumbling,
    and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, (M)as they were destined to do.

9 But you are (N)a chosen race, (O)a royal (P)priesthood, (Q)a holy nation, (R)a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you (S)out of darkness into (T)his marvelous light. 10 (U)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.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Peter 2:7 Greek the head of the corner
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The living Stone (4-8)

Jesus is the living Stone. He is also the rejected stone, who was crucified for those who rejected him. He is able to give life to us, to make us living stones when we trust in him and believe in him. The rejected stone is the cornerstone of God's kingdom, and he makes those who obey him to be holy and acceptable to God, while those who refuse him stumble and fall.

2. A royal priesthood (9-1

)

God had a purpose in sending Jesus to us. He wanted to make a new creation. He makes all who trust in Jesus to be his own. He calls us out of the darkness of sin to serve him as his chosen people and a royal priesthood. In his eternal mercy, God raised up a people who would declare his praises in all they do. The people of God in our times are all those who declare the wonders of the gospel of Jesus to the world.

Prayer: Lord, I belong to you by the gospel of Jesus. Thank you for your mercy. Use me to declare the wonderful light of the gospel to all people.

One Word: A royal priesthood, a holy nation