Like Israel, the Church is a Chosen People
by John MacFarlane (1798â1875)
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, Godâs special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light
- 1 Peter 2:9
It is useful often to remind believers of what they are. A remembrance upon their part of this, can scarcely fail to renew their sense of infinite obligation and thus to humble them and animate them to âwalk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to himâ [Colossians 1:10 ESV].
The Israelites were a chosen generation. Likewise, believers in Christ are the objects of Godâs everlasting love, irrespective of any foreseen qualities in themselves. They have not chosen him, but he has chosen them and called them with a holy calling. And, although they belong to different people and languages, they are of the spiritual seed of Abraham. Born from above, united in one head, and partakers of one life, they have one hope on earth, one home in heaven.
To represent the higher honor of the saints in the gospel age, Peter combines two offices never united in the Jewish church. Jewish kings were not priests; neither were all the tribes of ancient Israel admissible to the priesthood. But in regard to Christians it is true of them all that they are kings, inasmuch as they are made conquerors in Christ over their spiritual enemies. They are priestsâthe way into the holiest of all has been open to each of them. No exclusion but that of their own unbelieving and suspicious hearts exists to their entering in. The altar has been prepared and consecrated upon which they are enjoined to lay the bloodless sacrifice of their whole persons âholy and acceptable unto God, which is their reasonable serviceâ [Romans 12:2].
Like Israel of old, believers in Christ are a holy nation. The true church of Christ, separated from the world, washed in the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness, sanctified by the word applied by his efficacious working, in whose hand it becomes the incorruptible seed that lives and abides forever, the church stands forth with the inscription upon it of HOLY TO THE LORD [Exodus 28:36, Jeremiah 2:3, etc.].
The family of Christ are, like the Jews, a peculiar people: peculiar in their principals, because constrained by the love of Christ; peculiar in their aims because their good is no earthly thing but the desire to glorify God; peculiar in their hopes for they desire to be satisfied with the likeness of God.
He who has transferred them from the darkness, oppression, and misery of sin, into the light and privileges of the gospel, has expressly told them that he has done so with the intent that they should show forth his praise. Insofar as they fail to do so, they frustrate the very intention of their heavenly calling.
Let us seek grace to prove that we are a chosen generation by choosing God as the portion of our souls; that we are kings by maintaining the dignity of Christian character and ascendency over the lusts of the flesh; that we are priests by devoting ourselves anew as living sacrifices to God; that we are citizens of the holy nation by being holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners; and that we are called out of darkness by living as children of light.
