2:9
The Christians were a people rejected by the world, as is increasingly true in our society, but though we may be rejected by the world we are chosen by God. We are a chosen people. We are a royal priesthood. In Israel kings and priests were separate. However, Exodus 19:6 speaks of God’s people being a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. THe nation of Israel failed to fulfil this role, but we now do fulfil that role, through Christ. We have been chosen by God to have a special role on the earth. We are God’s “special possession”. We need to realise who we are, not so that we become proud, but so that we realise the security we have, and the responsibility we have. We are to declare the praises of our God. While the world rejects God we are to proclaim Him. Why should we live in opposition to the world? Why not just go with the flow? Because the way of the world is darkness, and we have been called into God’s wonderful light. So we should proclaim the praises of God because of what He has done for us, and so that others may also take hold of this great salvation.
2:10
Once we were not a people. We were on our own, living for ourselves, fending for ourselves. But now we are a people, we have become the people of God. And this happened as a result of God’s mercy. Without Christ we are on our own, we have to justify ourselves, we have to seek to do the impossible. But now we have received mercy. If we believe in Christ we are in a blessed position.
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