1 Peter 2:9-12
“9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
1. We are a people plural, not singular. We are called to be the church body and serve Jesus as a body or group.
2. Royal Priesthood – (a priest is a mediator who introduces people to God.) this did not exist in the Old Testament. Jesus is both a king and a priest. – Saul
3. God’s special possession. We are special not because of anything we have done. We are special because of who we belong to. We are God’s possession.
4. We are called to declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Jesus is the light of the World. Today we are going to read together about the birth of our King.
5. We are to live exceptional and godly lives before the pagans. Why? So that the pagans may see our good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits.
6. We have the opportunity to live these things out before family, friends, and the world this Christmas season.