Chosen to fulfill God’s purpose

Introduction
The greatest failure of a Christian is, when he did not understand His purpose
and calling! - jce

- It is life’s greatest failure because you will miss the very reason of why you exist and
really experience the fullness of the life he gave us.
- It is like having the latest and most expensive phone in the world but cannot make a
phone call or at least a text message.
- A lot of people are like that they seems to be “successful” and yet missing the real
purpose and meaning why they exist!

- This problem is not only for unbelievers but it can also happen to a Christian.
- I realized that you may be a loyal Christian and active to all church activities and yet
fail to live according to what Jesus wanted you to be.
- It is like raising up a child, giving him a good education, finish college, really love your
family but never goes to work and become an active and responsible citizen and you
just remain in your house and loving your family.

- I realized then, that…

Christianity is not only about maintaining but also about fulfilling! - jce

- In 1 Peter chapter 1 he explained the great salvation that we received, then in

chapter 2 he detailed the purpose and function of becoming a child of God.
- Let us read 1 Peter 2:9-12…

1 Peter 2:9-12 NIV

[9] But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of
darkness into his wonderful light. [10] Once you were not a people, but now you are the
people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

[11] Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful
desires, which war against your soul. [12] Live such good lives among the pagans
that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify
God on the day he visits us.
- These description of Peter of who we are in Christ are also the description address to
His chosen nation Israel but now he is using it for all believers, jews and the gentile
believers
- These are actually 4 Identity of a christian!
- This is the reason we need to understand this verses. IF we can understand our
identities in Christ we can function accordingly.
- If you fail to live and function according to your identities, you fail to live your
life!
- Let us look each identity given by Peter of who we are in Christ…

1. A Chosen People - a Treasured Possession

Deuteronomy 7:6 KJV

For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen
thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of
the earth.

- He called us to be his “Special people”!

- It means you are a “special child”!
- In NIV we are his “Treasured possession” because that is the meaning of “Special"
in Hebrew word of Special.
- We are like a treasure that is so precious something that had a great value.
- This is also the reason that the price of saving us is “the only begotten son of God”
- We are bought a great price, the life of Jesus Christ!

- We need to understand that when God choose something, He did not choose out of
cuteness thought we are cute and handsome, and not because we are morally
upright.
- He chooses us out of his Grace because he will give us something to do according to
his purpose and plans!

You are chosen for a purpose!

- You are chosen to be part of his plan of salvation and restoration of God’s
kingdom!

2. A Royal Priesthood

Exodus 19: 6
"you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are
to speak to the Israelites."
- When God chooses Abraham and build a nation out of Him he wants to have a nation
of priests.
- Isaiah gave a brief description of what is the job of a Priest…

Isaiah 61:6 NIV

And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.

- As a Priest we are also a Minister of God.

God also detailed the job of a priest…

Numbers 18: 7
But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the
altar and inside the curtain. I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift.
Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death.”

Therefore we are Ministers of God and His Church.

- We represent God to the people we represent the people to God.

- This is the equivalent of an ambassador. That is why we are called Ambassadors of
Christ in 2 Corinthians 5
- We are not only called to sing, clap, and give to the Lord, we are also called to serve
God through His Church and bring people to God.
- We are called and chosen NOT only to become attendees of the church, we are
called to become Priest of Christ so that we can serve him through the church
and bring more people to God.

3. A Holy Nation

Leviticus 20: 26
You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from
the nations to be my own.

- Holy mean “set apart”, he set us apart to be His nation.

- Now you need to understand that we are a “nation"
- Nation in greek is “Ethnos" where we get the word “Etnic"
- “Nation" means people group having the same language, culture, beliefs and values.
- Then God brings out the Isrealites from Egypt his plans is to make them a Holy nation
with different culture, faith, values and beliefs.
- This is to distinguished them from other nation! That means he will set us above other
nation.
- A nation that will show the greatness and love of God.

- We are a holy nation, a people group that have one language the language of love,
one faith, faith in Christ, one culture, the culture of the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

We are the Church, a group of people “called out by God”

to become the light and salt of the earth”

- We are not here just to have fellowship with one another we are called and chosen to
represent a group of people that will proclaim the salvation of God and represent
Jesus to the people of this world!

4. A People belonging to God

1 Peter 2:9-12 NIV

[9] But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of
darkness into his wonderful light. [10] Once you were not a people, but now you are the
people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. \

- The first three identify we have in Christ describe by Peter is much more of a
purpose identity, but this 4th is about an assurance Identity!
- He said, A people belonging to God, meaning…

"We are not only chosen to fulfil a purpose, We are called to be his own and
whatever happen nothing and no one can separate us from Him”

- now the following phrase describe specifically what is our purpose…

“…that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his
wonderful light.

- The Amplified gave a great version of this verse…

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a
[special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies
[the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of
darkness into His marvelous light.

- To declare the praises of Him means…

We must show the “wonderful deeds, and virtues, and perfections” of Jesus.
- That is the very reason why he gave us His Holy Spirit and empowered us to become
his “Witness”, a testimony that Jesus is alive and true.
- Our lives must prove that Jesus is alive and true.
- Peter reiterate it in verse 11 & 12…

[11] Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful
desires, which war against your soul. [12] Live such good lives among the pagans
that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and
glorify God on the day he visits us.

Conclusion

- In summary you are chosen for a purpose, to become a minister and an

ambassador of Christ, we are gathered together to be a His Church so that we
can become a testimony of Jesus salvation, character and perfections.

You are not chosen to be a member but to be a disciple of Jesus

You are not called to just fill in the church but to fulfill a purpose
You are not chosen to join a religion, but to join a group of people who will show
Jesus and change the world!
You are not called just to attend church but to do good works so that people will
give glory to God!