A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD AND A HOLY NATION

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

Jesus is the living Stone who was rejected by humans but chosen by God. This stone that the builders rejected has become the precious cornerstone. We also, like living stones, are being built into one spiritual house. This is why unity and love for one another is so important. We are not being built for only this world; we are to be a holy, set-apart priesthood for the Lord. Those who put their trust in him will never be put to shame.

Because of this living Stone, we have a royal identity in Christ. We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation. We are not ordinary men and women, but God’s very special possession. Although we were once in darkness, because of the shed blood of Jesus and His great love, we now live in His marvelous light. What great mercy and grace He has given! We can now sing of His praises and live our lives to build His kingdom on the earth.

Prayer: Lord, we thank You for what You have done. You called us out of darkness to be Your own people. We love You, Lord. May we live each day as living stones to sing Your praises and establish Your kingdom on the earth.

One Word: A kingdom of priests and holy nation