Identity and Purpose of the Church in Christ
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound identity and purpose of the church as described in 1 Peter 2:9-10. Peter uses rich Old Testament language to define the church as a "chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession." These titles, once exclusive to Israel, now belong to the church, composed of both Jews and Gentiles, through the redemptive work of Christ. This transformation is part of the "second exodus," where God's mercy extends beyond Israel to all nations, creating a new people united in Christ.
We delved into each title to understand our collective identity. As a chosen race, we are born again by the Spirit, making us a new people with a common spiritual ancestry in Christ. As a royal priesthood, we serve God through Christ, offering spiritual sacrifices of praise and worship. As a holy nation, we are set apart, governed by the New Covenant, and looking forward to our inheritance in the new creation. As God's possession, we are His treasured people, kept by His mercy and grace.
Peter's message is clear: our primary identity is in Christ, transcending all earthly distinctions of race and nationality. This identity calls us to live as a distinct people, proclaiming the excellencies of God who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Our mission is to worship God and to make His glory known, both within the church and to the world.
### Key Takeaways
1. Chosen Race: Our identity as a chosen race is rooted in our spiritual rebirth through Christ. This transcends physical traits and earthly ancestry, uniting us as one people in Christ. Our common spiritual ancestry in Christ should shape our primary identity, surpassing all other racial or ethnic distinctions. [50:23]
2. Royal Priesthood: As a royal priesthood, we are called to offer spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. This means our lives should be acts of worship, praising God in all we do. Our priestly duty is to bring ourselves to Christ and live in a way that glorifies Him. [55:30]
3. Holy Nation: The church is a holy nation, set apart by God with a future inheritance in the new creation. Our constitution is the New Covenant, and our citizenship is in Christ's kingdom. This identity calls us to live distinct lives, governed by the teachings of the New Testament. [57:12]
4. God's Possession: We are God's treasured possession, kept by His mercy and grace. This status is not based on our merit but on God's redemptive work through Christ. As His possession, we are called to honor Him and live in a way that reflects His ownership over our lives. [01:00:46]
5. Proclaiming His Excellencies: Our purpose as the church is to proclaim the excellencies of God who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. This involves both our worship within the church and our witness to the world. Our lives should be a testament to God's transformative power and mercy. [01:12:04]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:34] - Evening Worship and Membership Class
[02:55] - Preparing for Worship
[28:57] - Prayer for the Congregation
[36:38] - Introduction to 1 Peter 2:9-10
[37:28] - The Church's Identity and Purpose
[39:41] - Proclaiming the Gospel
[41:21] - The Church as a Holy Priesthood
[42:24] - Relevance to Our Lives
[45:06] - The Church as a Chosen Race
[50:23] - Spiritual Ancestry in Christ
[55:30] - Offering Spiritual Sacrifices
[57:12] - The Church as a Holy Nation
[01:00:46] - God's Treasured Possession
[01:12:04] - Proclaiming God's Excellencies
[01:18:09] - Mission of the Church
[01:25:43] - Living as Elect Exiles
[01:27:21] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1 Peter 2:9-10 (ESV)
> "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 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."
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the four titles Peter uses to describe the church in 1 Peter 2:9? How do these titles relate to the Old Testament descriptions of Israel? [37:28]
2. According to the sermon, what does it mean for the church to be a "chosen race"? How does this concept transcend physical traits and earthly ancestry? [50:23]
3. How does Peter describe the church's mission in 1 Peter 2:9-10? What is the purpose of the church according to these verses? [39:41]
4. What does it mean to be a "royal priesthood" and how does this role differ from the Old Testament priesthood? [55:30]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of a "chosen race" challenge or reinforce your understanding of identity in Christ? How does this identity surpass racial or ethnic distinctions? [50:23]
2. In what ways does the idea of being a "royal priesthood" influence how we live our daily lives? What are some practical examples of offering spiritual sacrifices? [55:30]
3. How does the church being a "holy nation" with a future inheritance in the new creation affect our perspective on earthly citizenship and national identity? [57:12]
4. What does it mean to be God's "treasured possession"? How should this status impact our behavior and attitudes as believers? [01:00:46]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your primary identity. Do you see yourself first and foremost as part of the chosen race in Christ? How can you remind yourself of this identity daily? [50:23]
2. As a member of the royal priesthood, how can you incorporate acts of worship and spiritual sacrifices into your everyday routine? What specific actions can you take this week to glorify God in your life? [55:30]
3. Considering the church as a holy nation, how can you live a life that is distinct and set apart from the world? What changes might you need to make to align more closely with the teachings of the New Testament? [57:12]
4. How does knowing you are God's treasured possession affect your self-worth and how you treat others? What steps can you take to honor God and reflect His ownership over your life? [01:00:46]
5. Our mission is to proclaim the excellencies of God. How can you actively share God's transformative power and mercy with those around you? Identify one person you can witness to this week. [01:12:04]
6. Think about the last time you felt divided by earthly distinctions such as race or nationality. How can you shift your focus to your spiritual ancestry in Christ to foster unity within the church? [50:23]
7. How can you support and encourage fellow believers in living out their identity as a chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, and God's possession? What practical steps can you take to build up the church community? [39:41]
Devotional
Day 1: Our Spiritual Ancestry in Christ
As a chosen race, our identity is rooted in our spiritual rebirth through Christ. This transcends physical traits and earthly ancestry, uniting us as one people in Christ. Our common spiritual ancestry in Christ should shape our primary identity, surpassing all other racial or ethnic distinctions. This means that our primary sense of belonging and identity comes from being part of God's family, not from our earthly backgrounds. This spiritual rebirth is a profound transformation that redefines who we are at the core, making us a new creation in Christ. [50:23]
1 Peter 1:23-25 (ESV): "Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for 'All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.' And this word is the good news that was preached to you."
Reflection: How does your identity in Christ influence the way you view yourself and others? Can you think of ways to prioritize this spiritual identity over any earthly distinctions in your daily interactions?
Day 2: Living as a Royal Priesthood
As a royal priesthood, we are called to offer spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. This means our lives should be acts of worship, praising God in all we do. Our priestly duty is to bring ourselves to Christ and live in a way that glorifies Him. This involves a daily commitment to live out our faith in practical ways, offering our time, talents, and resources as sacrifices of praise. It is a call to live intentionally, recognizing that every action can be an act of worship when done for God's glory. [55:30]
Romans 12:1 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
Reflection: In what specific ways can you offer your daily activities as spiritual sacrifices to God? How can you transform ordinary tasks into acts of worship?
Day 3: Set Apart as a Holy Nation
The church is a holy nation, set apart by God with a future inheritance in the new creation. Our constitution is the New Covenant, and our citizenship is in Christ's kingdom. This identity calls us to live distinct lives, governed by the teachings of the New Testament. Being set apart means that our values, behaviors, and goals should reflect our heavenly citizenship rather than worldly standards. It is a call to live counter-culturally, embodying the principles of God's kingdom in a world that often opposes them. [57:12]
Philippians 3:20-21 (ESV): "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."
Reflection: What are some areas in your life where you feel the tension between worldly values and your heavenly citizenship? How can you align these areas more closely with the teachings of the New Testament?
Day 4: Treasured by God
We are God's treasured possession, kept by His mercy and grace. This status is not based on our merit but on God's redemptive work through Christ. As His possession, we are called to honor Him and live in a way that reflects His ownership over our lives. This means recognizing our worth and value in God's eyes and living in a way that honors Him. It involves a deep sense of gratitude and responsibility, knowing that we are cherished by God and called to reflect His character in our daily lives. [01:00:46]
Deuteronomy 7:6 (ESV): "For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth."
Reflection: How does knowing that you are God's treasured possession affect your self-worth and daily decisions? What changes can you make to live in a way that honors this special status?
Day 5: Proclaiming God's Excellencies
Our purpose as the church is to proclaim the excellencies of God who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. This involves both our worship within the church and our witness to the world. Our lives should be a testament to God's transformative power and mercy. This means actively sharing the gospel through our words and actions, demonstrating the love and grace of God in tangible ways. It is a call to be a light in the darkness, pointing others to the hope and salvation found in Christ. [01:12:04]
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
Reflection: In what ways can you proclaim God's excellencies in your daily life? Think of one specific person or situation where you can share the hope and light of Christ this week.
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "May the hope of Christ's return burn brighter in their hearts. Than the frustrations of finances or health or relationships or family issues. May the inheritance you have prepared for them be more beautiful than the dimness of this life." [28:57] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Church, we don't come to Mount Sinai. We come to the heavenly Jerusalem. We come to Mount Zion and we are received before the Lord in festal gathering." [02:55] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The church is royal. We're a royal priesthood because we are priests of the king. The sacrifices we bring to him aren't dead animals, though. Jesus is the once-for-all final blood offering. He has presented his own blood to God. He has presented his own blood to God in the heavenly places to atone for our sins." [55:30] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You have been brought into this chosen people, this royal priesthood, the holy nation, so that, for the purpose of praising God. So praise God." [01:23:41] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The church is the chosen people that Isaiah was talking about in Isaiah chapter 43. And we don't have time to preach all of Isaiah 43 today. But if you're a note taker, write it down, read it and meditate on Isaiah 43 this week. I think you would be greatly encouraged." [50:23] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "We need to be reminded of that. Because in our selfishness, in our individualism, we can begin to think that the purpose of the church is to provide community or friendships or that it is a place of learning or a place of entertainment, a place for activities. But Peter grounds us in the reality that we have been brought from the darkness into the light for one bright, shining purpose. To proclaim the gospel. To proclaim the work of Christ in salvation." [39:41] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The Holy Spirit, through Peter, is opening up the hood of the church and showing you what makes the church the church. What makes us run? What makes us tick? Who are we? And the way that Peter tells us who we are is by using language directly from the Old Testament. All language meant to describe Israel." [43:11] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Peter is assigning the church all of these exalted titles meant for Israel. And that's like saying the LA Sparks is the dream team. You wouldn't say that. I wouldn't say that. ESPN might. Some of you don't even know who the Sparks are. It's WNBA. But Peter is saying something far more. Far more significant. Far more shocking than that. The chosen people, the holy nation, the royal priesthood, the people of God's own possession, his people. This is somehow now the church." [44:11] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The church is more a people than Israel was under the old covenant. Scattered in the world, indeed, as Israel was in the dispersion, but a people nonetheless bound together in the community of those who are united to one another as surely as they are united to the Lord." [01:14:10] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So let's get to the implications of this. First of all, if you're a Christian, your primary identity is one who belongs to the race, the people group of Jesus Christ. Not by flesh, but by the spirit. So, when you're filling out that form that for whatever reason they always ask you to, what your race is, your first thought should not be white, black, or brown. It should be, I'm of Christ." [01:15:33] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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