Setting them apart from the Christ-rejecting and reprobate religious world, Peter says of God's regenerated, believing people, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 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." (1 Pet.2:9,10) They are a "chosen generation," a
people chosen all at once in their covenant Head unto salvation before the world
began. They are "a royal priesthood," who like Christ their great High Priest
are "kings and priests" forever and who because of His perfect sacrifice of
blood need only to offer "the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving."
Furthermore, "a holy nation" in contrast to that earthly nation called by God's
name. Holy in Christ because He has taken their sin away and imputed to them His
perfect righteousness. A people who are the objects of His sovereign mercy who
now have "obtained mercy." He describes them as "a peculiar people" which means
"God's own people," "a people for his possession." Literally, "a people for an
acquisition," that is, whom God chose to be peculiarly His: Acts 20:28,
"purchased," literally, "acquired." God's "peculiar treasure" above others."
God's elect are redeemed, not to praise themselves but the Redeemer and to show
forth and publish abroad His honor and glory. He powerfully called them out of
the darkness of spiritual death, of false religion, of sin, of their own
darkened understandings and of the prince of darkness into the "marvelous" light
of Christ the Light. Brought into the light to shine as lights on a hill top the
light of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to those yet in darkness. Paul
said, "ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify
God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." Christ's redeemed people
are a "peculiar people," God's purchased and peculiar treasure to glorify Him in
everything and for everything. But the chief way we are to glorify Him is to
shine before this world the light and truth of that one gospel by which He is
glorified in all things in salvation. His glory as a "just God and a Savior." We
contend for that faith which ascribes all the glory to Christ alone!