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1 Peter 2:9
9 But [de] ye [humeis] are a chosen [eklektos] generation [genos], a royal [basileios] priesthood [hierateuma], an holy [hagios] nation [ethnos], a peculiar [eis] [peripoiesis] people [laos]; that [hopos] ye should shew forth [exaggello] the praises [arete] of him who hath called [kaleo] you [humas] out of [ek] darkness [skotos] into [eis] his [autos] marvellous [thaumastos] light [phos]: KJV-Interlinear
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; NASB
First we begin by contrasting the darkness into the light, concept, at the end of the verse.
The darkness is the darkest part of the night, where there is no light, and nothing with which to see. A person in total darkness, is totally blind, totally disoriented, as a person dropped into the middle of a totally foreign place. And as such totally lost.
That is the description of the person who lacks salvation and doctrine.
The person who is in the light, is one who is placed into a familiar place at midday. You can look around and you know exactly where you are. You can see everything.
In the former verse, the person who is running along in their own defined life, is one running along in total darkness. They may think that they know all there is to life, but they are living a delusional life. This applies to the unbeliever for certain, and it also applies to the believer who has neglected his spiritual life. The spiritually deficient believer imitates the unbeliever with respect to their lack of orientation to life, in this world.
But there is another comparison. Peter describes the believer, the one who has pursued his spiritual life, as a priest, or one who has the right to enter into a relationship, a direct relationship, with God.
But more than that, we are a nation. What is a nation? It is a group of people who have something in common, a group of people who have a relationship with something or, in this case, with someone, namely God.
Typically we think of a nation as a geographical region located somewhere on the planet, and the folks who live there, are its citizens.
And, within a nation there is typically a hierarchy of sorts. There are the rulers, the upper classes of folks, the middle classes and the lower classes. Sometimes they are separated or identified by their wealth, or lack of it, their education, their position, their achievements and so forth.
In the case of the spiritual life, there are but two broad classes – the unbeliever and the believer.
The unbeliever is chosen or selected, by virtue of their rejection of Christ. They live in darkness and they are the lowest of the lower classes of peoples, regardless of their worldly status. They are the rejects of society, and they are denied citizenship.
The believers are not only the citizens of heaven, but they are the chosen peoples of God, fulfilling the illustration of Israel being the chosen nation, or separated out from the foreigners of the other nations on earth, in the Old Testament.
Israel was the example, we are the reality. All believers in Christ, form the chosen nation of God.
And there is more. In the Old Testament, there was the example of the Levitical Priesthood, wherein one tribe was selected to be the go betweens, between man and God. But now, all believers are priests, possessing the right to interact directly with God, and no longer having to go through any other designated priest.
And there is more. As believers in Christ, we are in union with Christ and as such we are royalty, or the highest of the high classes of living folks. And since our life is eternal, we will be royalty forever.
So, the unbelievers are doggie doo-doo, living in total darkness, not even able to see the noses on their own faces.
Believers are royalty, living with and belonging to, the highest power and authority in existence. That comparison, is a phenomenal contrast, and an infinite difference between the two.
But we can go one step further. The believer who imitates the unbeliever, possesses similar status (doggie doo-doo), but within the spiritual realm.
It is the mature believer who will achieve and receive the highest of awards, rewards, honors, etc., in heaven, in eternity. That too, is a comparison, which is infinite.
Peter uses several quotes for this concept.
Ex 19:5-6
5 'Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' NASB
Deut. 7:6
6 ‘For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. NASB
Isa. 43:21
21 ‘The people whom I formed for Myself, Will declare My praise. NASB
The folks in the Old Testament knew these principles, but they in effect rejected the blessings that God intended for them.
Do not imitate their mistake by rejecting your spiritual life.
