ByLast week, I was privileged to share the Study Scripture article on 1 Peter 2:4-6. And it spoke about Christians being built into a spiritual house in the Lord as they develop a deeper intimacy with Him. But today, I want to continue to discuss “You are God’s chosen one” from 1st Peter 2:7-10, which is essential to each believer’s identity in the Lord.
Verse 7
[7] Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
1 Peter 2:7 (NKJV)
“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”
From the previous article, we understand that as we grow spiritually, our inner man is being renewed to become and exercise all of God’s functionality destined for each of us.
So from verse 7 (the above verse), anyone who believes in Jesus will see how precious He is to him as he develops deeper intimacy with Him. Wonder why some believers love God so much that they don’t care about crying before others when they sense His love so strongly? This explains why. They’ve seen how precious Jesus is to them, and that can be your testimony too.
Nevertheless, to those having the spirit of disobedience, the unbelievers (see Ephesians 2:2), Jesus has been put aside in their lives. And because He’s the cornerstone, chosen and precious to God, it doesn’t matter whether or not people accept Him. He never changes. That is why it’s detrimental to forsake Jesus and think you’ll have a great life. It’s a lie.
A cornerstone means the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun, developed, calculated or explained. Therefore, for Jesus to be God’s cornerstone, then He must be the basis for whatever you build, or else it’ll end in disaster.
Verse 8
[8] and
1 Peter 2:8 (NKJV)
“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
While Jesus is precious to those who’ve believed in Him, He’s a stumbling stone and a rock of offense to those who’ve rejected Him. Look around your life and see the kind of lives people who didn’t follow God ended up with, so pathetic.
You sign up for perishing when you live without Jesus. Why? Because you’ll consistently live in the flesh and make fleshly investments. And as Galatians 6:8 (NKJV) puts it, “… he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption …”.
Friend, following God’s ways is your only surety to having a safe life.
Verse 9
[9] “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”
1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)
But we, the children of God, are a chosen generation, kingdom priests, an holy nation and God’s special people altogether. All for this one reason – to proclaim the praises of the Lord who called us out of darkness (took us from the filth of sin) into His marvellous light.
When Peter was writing this, he was addressing a group of Christian pilgrims. So in application to your life, you are God’s chosen one. You’re a royal priest and God’s special person. Don’t let any devil tell you that God doesn’t love you because it’s not true. Cast down that thought in the name of Jesus.
Verse 10
[10] “who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”
1 Peter 2:10 (NKJV)
We were once not counted amongst those who deserved to be near God. We deserved hell because of our evil actions. But now, we’re God’s people and have obtained mercy because of His salvation.
Beloved, God cares about you, despite your faults, failures and mistakes. Hold on to His love.
