1 Peter 2:8–12 (CSB) “They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. 12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.”

1. WHO WE ARE … 1 Peter 2:5 (CSB) “You yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

A. A SPIRITUAL House John 15:5 (CSB) “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.”

B. A Holy Priesthood 1 Peter 2:5 (CSB) “You … are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

1) Priests offer spiritual sacrifices Our Bodies … Romans 12:1–2 (CSB) “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

1) Priests offer spiritual sacrifices The praise of our lips … Hebrews 13:15 (CSB) “Therefore, through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.”

1) Priests offer spiritual sacrifices The sharing of our money … Hebrews 13:16 (CSB) “Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.”

1) Priests offer spiritual sacrifices Those we win to Jesus … Romans 15:16 (CSB) “To be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the gospel of God. My purpose is that the Gentiles may be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”

2) Priests represent God to people Mark 16:15 (CSB) “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

3) Priests represent people to God James 5:16 (CSB) “The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.”

1 Peter 2:9 (CSB) “They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

C. A CHOSEN People Deuteronomy 7:6–7 (CSB) “For you are a holy people belonging to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be his own possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth. 7 “The Lord had his heart set on you and chose you, not because you were more numerous than all peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.”

1 Peter 2:9 (CSB) “You are a . . . royal priesthood …” D. A ROYAL Priesthood 1 Peter 2:9 (CSB) “You are a . . . royal priesthood …”

1 Peter 2:9 (CSB) “You are a … holy nation …”

C. T. Studd, 1860-1931. English missionary to China, India, and Africa “Some want to live within the sound of a church bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.” C. T. Studd, 1860-1931. English missionary to China, India, and Africa

F. A People for His OWN Possession 1 Peter 2:9 (CSB) “You are a … people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

2. WHERE WE COME FROM … 1 Peter 2:9–10 (CSB) “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

2. WHERE WE COME FROM … 1) Darkness 1 Peter 2:9 (CSB) “Called … out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

2. WHERE WE COME FROM … 2) Not a people 1 Peter 2:10 (CSB) “Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people ...”

2. WHERE WE COME FROM … 3) Without Mercy 1 Peter 2:10 (CSB) “You had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

3. WHAT WE DO … 1 Peter 2:11–12 (CSB) “Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. 12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.”

3. WHAT WE DO … Abstain from evil desires

Galatians 5:19–21 (NLT) “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

Genesis 4:7 (CSB) “If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted Genesis 4:7 (CSB) “If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

3. WHAT WE DO … Abstain from evil desires Conduct yourselves honorably 1 Peter 2:12 (CSB) “Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.”

Matthew 5:16 (CSB) “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

Romans 13:11 (CSB) “Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.”