Yesterday, we looked at how we, as believers, are a Holy Priesthood. Today we will see how those who believe in Jesus have replaced the Israelites as God’s chosen people. The rejection of God’s Son brought about a significant change. While it was no surprise to God that they would reject His Son, it was still a painful reality to Him. Those who accepted His Son are now His chosen people. It was always God’s plan for Jesus to come in the manner He came. Yet, because of pride and having religion instead of a relationship, they missed the Messiah.
In I Peter 2:6, we saw Jesus as the chief cornerstone yesterday. In 6-8, we see the contrast between believers and unbelievers. In verse 7, to those who believe He is precious. This word precious means held in honor, highly esteemed, and valuable. Jesus is undoubtedly all of those things and more. Verse 6 tells us that we, as believers, shall not be confounded. This word means dishonored, disgraced, humiliated, disappointed, or made ashamed. Our hope in Him will be fulfilled.
I Peter 2:6 “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
In contrast to those who believe, we find the unbeliever in verses 7-8. To the unbeliever, whether Jew or Gentile, God says Jesus is a “stone of stumbling.” Those who don’t place their faith in Jesus are disobedient. This word is a continuing action verb indicating their unbelief persisted. They have disallowed, meaning they rejected the stone God chose as the chief corner stone. Therefore, Jesus became a stone on which they stumbled and a rock of offense. This is a reference to Isaiah 8:14-15 “And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin [trap] and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.” No doubt they had heard this verse many times, but when it became a reality, they could not connect the dots. It is sad to think that He could be their “sanctuary” just like He is to anyone who submits to Him, but instead He became their stumbling block. God’s chosen people became like all others who rejected Him. As stated in I Corinthians 1:23, the gospel is foolishness to them.
I Corinthians 1:23 “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness.”
I Peter 2:7-8 “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, (rejected) the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.”
They heard the gospel. Peter and Paul preached, and Jesus preached to them, but because of their pride, they missed the truth. In I Peter 1:23, Peter is preaching salvation to them. They had a choice to choose Jesus or reject Him. Many Jews did believe. Paul is a chief example, but most did not believe. They stumbled, were disobedient by their own choice, and were passing down their religion but not the relationship God intended for all mankind. God always intended for Jesus to be the means of salvation, which He determined to be for the world. The Jews were chosen to take the good news, but they refused.
Peter continues to preach to them. In verses 9-10, Peter uses Old Testament language that describes Israel as a covenant people of God. He is quoting Exodus19:5-6 “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” He deliberately does this to describe the New Testament believers as the New Covenant people of God.
I Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew 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.”
We are a “chosen generation.” This is in contrast to those who rejected the Savior. God now chooses us to be a royal priesthood. Jesus gave us this title in Revelations 1:5-6 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Because of our union with Christ, we become kings and priests unto God. We are kings of our own souls. We alone are responsible for our personal relationship with God. As a priest offers sacrifices in the old covenant, we of the new covenant offer spiritual sacrifices to God in the form of worship, praise, and our Christians service. Our becoming God’s chosen people is not gained by a nation, a heritage, or the keeping of a law. It is all by Jesus, God’s only Son.
As the chosen of God, we are to be holy people, set apart belonging to Him and intended for His service. We are peculiar people, people who are God’s possession. Titus 2:14 says Jesus “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” We are different and set apart for Him.
In verse 10, Peter describes us as not being God’s chosen before, but now we have mercy and are God’s people. Hosea 2:23 again sees the redeemed as God’s chosen people. “And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.”
I Peter 2:10 “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.”
If you study the entire passage, you will see that Peter is teaching that God has replaced Israel with the New Covenant people who have accepted His Son. This applies to Jews or Gentiles who believe. We now have the covenant language applied to us. If you are not God’s child by a new birth in Jesus, you are not chosen. We have been chosen to fulfill the mission God first intended for Israel. We are to be a light to reveal God to the entire world.
