1 Peter 2:9-12 - The Glory and Growth of Our Salvation

In this episode we turn to 1 Peter 2:9–12 and consider both the glory and the growth of our salvation. Peter reminds believers of the dramatic change the gospel brings into our lives. In Christ we are no longer what we once were—we have become a chosen people, a royal priesthood, and a people belonging to God.

These verses call us to pause and reflect on the mercy we have received. Once we stood condemned in our sins, but now we have received mercy through Christ. That reality changes everything about who we are and why we live.

Yet Peter does not only remind us of what we have received; he also calls us to grow. Because we belong to God, we are to abstain from the passions of the flesh and live honorable lives that reflect the work Christ has done in us.

Join me as we reflect on the glory of what God has done and the growth He calls us to pursue. Let’s dig into God’s Word and look to Jesus, our true hope.

Transcript

13 - 1 Peter 2:9-12 - The Glory and Growth of Our Salvation

Intro

• Please take your Bibles and open to 1 Peter 2 and find verse 9.
  • Today we will take a look at four verses as we are reminded about the glory and the growth of our salvation.  
  • As we prepare ourselves to hear the Word let me start off by sharing with you a brief reminder of something that I have said many times throughout 1 Peter.
• This letter was written to believers…
  • Peter was not writing to a group to evangelize, he was writing to the believer to encourage.
    • I remind you of this because we sometimes have a tendency to frame up Sunday morning to be an evangelistic time.
      • I can remember in the past even being frustrated with my pastor because it seemed as though his Sunday morning messages were solely prepared for the one who has not yet trusted in Christ.
    •  However, I soon learned that this is a pretty common thing across Baptist churches, but I must confess…
      • I have never really subscribed to that way of thinking.
  • When I prepare my sermons it is not the unbeliever, who may or may not attend, who is on my mind…
    • Who is on my mind is the one who confesses Christ…
      • The one who is faithfully attending because Christ has so commanded it.
    • I am under the conviction that even if an unbeliever is present in our gatherings…
      • That the Spirit of God is able to draw them to salvation through any sermon that is proclaimed.
    • Therefore the sermon on Sunday morning is not one that is prepared for the unbeliever…
      • It is prepared for the one who has already been pardoned…
  • Likewise, Peter pens this letter with the church on his heart…
    • With the redeemed on his mind, and that is a glorious thing.
• Today we will take a look at what may be the most encouraging verses across the New Testament.
  • I do not say that lightly, but these four verses are among the most encouraging and humbling verses that exist.
  • That is because Peter writes to the believer and expresses in just a few words the change that the Gospel has brought upon his life.
    • So today we will reflect upon the change that Chrsit has made, we will dwell upon the difference He has made in those who have trusted in Him.
      • We will first examine the glory of our salvation.
    • Yet we will not only consider that but we will once again turn our attention to what our Lord has called us to…
      • Second, we will examine the growth of our salvation.
      • As we consider what our Lord requires of those who He has saved.
  • I urge you to prepare your heart and your mind for the reading of God’s Holy Word.
• Let us look together…

1 Peter 2:9-12

• Can you see why I said that these verses may be the most encouraging and humbling verses across the New Testament.
  • The words that Peter uses in verse 9 and 10 are such rich words as he reminds us about the reality of believing the Gospel.
• Let us consider these first two verses as we dig into…

The Glory of our Salvation - Vs. 9-10

• As we start out in this first point the first thing that I want to draw your attention to is the context of these verses.
  • Look again at verse 9 and pay attention to how this verse begins.
    • Vs. 9a - “But you…”
  • Peter is taking what he has just written about and turning it on its head and reminding his readers that they are different from who he just mentioned.
  • So it is worth our time to consider who Peter is referencing.
    • Verses 7 and 8 answers this question plainly, look with me…
      • Vs. 7-8
    • Remember that Christ is the cornerstone that is referenced in these verses.
  • As Peter is pulling from the Old Testament and making the point that Jesus is the foundation of our salvation, the One in which our trust is found…
    • Yet He was not accepted but rejected by men, cast aside and crucified.
    • He did not stay in the grave but three days later, rose again in victory.
  • Therefore, this Jesus has now become a “rock of stumbling…[and]...offense”, and those who disobey the Word and deny the Gospel stumble over Him.
    • There is much that could be said about the end of verse 8 but what we need to grab onto right now is who Peter is talking about in verses 7 and 8.
    • That is because they stand in sharp contrast to those whom Christ has Redeemed.
  • So who is Peter writing about in these verses?
    • It is those who have rejected Christ…
    • Those who are outside of the faith…
    • Those who are condemned in their sins and lost apart from this glorious salvation.
  • They are offended by the death of Jesus, they stumble over the offer of salvation, they live lives that are contrary to the Word of God.
• “But you…”
  • You, Church, are to be different…
  • You, the Redeemed, are to be changed…
  • You, the Bride of Christ, are to be pure…
  • You, beloved by God, have been called to walk in the light…
• This not of yourselves, but because of the work that Jesus has done in you and through you.
  • That is what makes verses 9 and 10 so glorious, they describe the change that Jesus has brought upon the lost sinner.
    • I know we just read these verses a few moments ago, but let us read them once more and as we do consider this…
      • If you are in Christ today, if you have placed your faith in Him and repented of your sins and have been born again.
        • These verses represent a reality for who you are in Jesus.
          • Peter is not talking about a future hope but instead he is addressing a present truth.
        • A reminder that if we are in Christ it means that our world has been drastically altered.
      • These verses represent the amazing change that has taken place in lives.
    • Read again with me, verses 9 and 10.
      • Vs. 9-10
  • I want us to examine five glorious truths that are present in every follower of Christ.
• First, Peter tells us that we are a…
  • New People…
    • Peter comes from a world and a background where there were two types of people.
      • There existed the Jew, those of the people of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…
        • Then there was everyone else, the Gentiles.
      • The Jews were the chosen people of God, given the Law of God, were sent the Prophets of God, and were the recipients of the Son of God.
    • Yet Peter is not writing to just Jews, he is writing to the scattered church, we must assume that he is penning this letter to Jew and Gentile alike.
      • Who are now bound together by the blood of Christ…
        • I like how Paul puts it in…
          • Galatians 3:28 - “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
      • Peter addresses it by using three different phrases in verse 9 and 10.
    • He says that they are now a…
      • Chosen Race…
        • An elected family is another way of expressing this.
          • The word race in the Greek is genos which means family line.
            • It is the root of our word genealogy today. 
        • Grab on to this, Peter is writing to people scattered from their home, separated from their family, and he reminds them…
          • God has placed them there and they are surrounded by this new elected family.  
        • It in many ways should supersede bloodline family, because it is not about what family you are born into…
          • It is about the family you have been adopted by.
          • It matters not their tribe, nation, or heritage, if they are in Christ then they share in this family lineage. 
        • Not only does Peter call us a “chosen race” but also a…
      • Holy Nation…
        • A people that has been set apart and are now a part of a nation that supersedes any prior allegiance.
          • You were once a Jew, you were once a Gentile, divided in almost every way.
            • Now, you are a distinct nation, chosen and set apart by God for His Glory.
          • The word used here in the Greek translated as nation is ethnos, a word that points not only to a national people but a people group.
            • A people with a common heritage, religion, and language.  
            • It is the same word used in Matthew 28 as our Lord commanded to preach the Gospel in all ethnos, nations.
          • Here though Peter uses it for the church and reminds us…
        • We have been made holy and united together by the blood of Christ…
          • That bond is stronger than our national heritage.
        • We are a people who have been set apart because of the blood of Christ.
        • Made holy by His sacrifice as He stepped in to take our place.
        • Then Peter tells us that we are…
      • God’s People…
        • Down in verse 10, we see this…
          • We belong to Him.
            • He has elected us, chosen us, made us holy and now we are His people.
        • We could stop the sermon right here and dwell just upon this fact.
          • He has saved us, He has redeemed us, and we belong to Him.
    • Glory to God and God alone, we are a new people…
      • Though that is enough it is not all we see, we also have been given a…
  • New Position…
    • We see this back in verse 9 where we are told that we are a…
      • “...royal priesthood…”
    • This is a rather interesting choice of words that Peter uses, more than interesting it is also unique.
      • Both of these words are used only two times in the New Testament.
        • Royal is used here and in Luke 7…
          • There it is used by Jesus to describe a “kings’ court”.
          • Simply used to point to royalty.
        • This word translated as priesthood is only used twice in the New Testament both times it is used here in this chapter.
          • It is used first back up in verse 5.
          • However, if we were to consider the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint…
          • We would find it used in Exodus 19.
            • That is the chapter that immediately proceeds the giving of the 10 commandments.
            • One of the things the Lord says to Moses is this…
          • Exodus 19:6b - “...you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
        • More than likely Peter is pulling from here to describe this nation of believers and what the Lord has accomplished.  
      • What this ultimately points us to is this new position we have in Christ.
    • We are in this new priesthood, a people set apart, holy, and intended to act, in a way, as priests.
      • Think about this, the job of a priest was to represent the people before God.
        • They did so by offering sacrifices as well as instruction in the Law of God.
      • Today, we act as priests, not by offering sacrifices but by telling of the sacrifice that has been made.
        • We act as priests by sharing and proclaiming the Word of God.
      • So let’s keep these in mind…
    • We are a new people, we have a new position, and we have a…
  • New Possessor…
    • We see this in verse 9 where we are told that we are…
      • “...a people for his own possession…”
        • We are owned by God, purchased by the blood of His Son.
      • Christian, you are not your own but you are to be subject to our Lord and God.
        • He has the authority to direct us in how we are to live, how we are to act, what our standards should be…
      • He possesses us, we belong to Him.
    • As such we must ensure that we are bowing in submission to Him in all things.
      • We have a new possessor and also have a…
  • New Purpose…
    • It is clear in verse nine what is expected of us…
      • We are to…
        • “...proclaim the excellencies of him…”
      • This falls in line with what we have already seen…
        • As these new people, with this new position, then it only stands to reason that we have a new purpose.
      • We proclaim what is excellent about Him.
    • I must point something out about this purpose and this task…
      • It is not only the job of the pastor to proclaim…
      • It is not only the job of the deacon to proclaim…
      • It is not only the job of the Sunday School teacher, VBS leader, Camp Director, and any other title you can find…
        • It is not only the job of the titled follower of Christ to proclaim.
      • This is a universal task that has been handed to the Church and it is a glorious privilege to speak of the hope we have in Christ. 
    • If you are in Christ today you have been handed this purpose…
      • To proclaim about the hope you have in Him.
        • How could you not proclaim it?
          • Just think about what we have seen so far and how we are a new people, with a new position, possessed by God…
        • How could you keep quiet and remain silent about that?
    • You have been born again, your eternal destination has been shifted, the Son of God bled and died for you…
      • It is now our shared purpose to proclaim this message of hope with those God placed in our lives.
      • In part this is our shared task because it is something that has happened to each of us individually…
        • You have been transferred from darkness into the light.
        • You have been moved from death to life.
      • There is not a more drastic change that could have been cast upon you...
    • Do you realize this?
      • So often we make light of this Glorious Salvation that we have received.
        • Do not do it.
      • Jesus took on your filth, your stench, your weakness and rebellion, He took upon Himself the worst of you.
        • He paid the price in full, how could we keep from shouting from the rooftops the hope of our Redemption?
      • We have been saved, not because of ourselves, our works, but because of the work of Jesus.
    • We are…
      • A new people, a people of God’s possession, with a new position, and a new purpose.
    • All of this centers upon the final “P” in this passage…
      • That we have been…
  • Pardoned
    • Look again with me at the last phrase in verse 10.
      • Vs. 10b - “...once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
      • Think about this…
        • Once, we bore the weight of our own sins…
        • Once, we stood condemned before the Holy one…
        • Once, we were a people without hope…
        • Once, we were dead in our tresspasses and sins…
        • Once, we walked in rebellion and groped about in the darkness…
        • Once, we were headed for destruction…
      • What I want to remind you of in light of these verses is that God would have been completely justified in our condemnation.
        • He would have been just and righteous to hand us over to eternal death.
        • You know I do not think that we sit on that reality nearly enough.
      • There was nothing in any of us that was worthy of what we have received.
        • Oh how easily we can forget this truth.
          • How easily we can act as though our salvation is because of us.
        • Oh dear believer, please do not think so much of yourself and so little of God.
      • The reason your heart is beating today, the reason you have salvation in Christ today…
        • Is not because God was delighted with you but because God is glorified in redeeming the unredeemable.
        • Being in Christ reminds us that we are unable to save ourselves…
          • That we are unable to have a right standing before Him without the blood of Jesus.
      • Do not take these verses lightly but dwell upon the Glory of this Salvation.  
    • You have been pardoned, praise God for His amazing grace and undeserved mercy. 
• I hope in this first point that you see the mighty work of God in your life, that you have dwelt upon the amazing gift of your salvation.
  • Let us now turn our attention to the last two verses that we read earlier as we examine…

The Growth of our Salvation - Vs. 11-12

• Look again with me at our text and read with me verse 11 and 12…
  • Vs. 11-12
    • There are two words I want to draw your attention to as we consider these verses and what Peter is pushing us toward.
  • Those words are…
    • “Abstain”, also in verse 11.
    • Then the word “Keep” or “Having”, the first word in verse 12. 
  • These two words will guide this point, as we consider what Peter is calling the church to.
    • Before we dig into that though please note the progression…
      • In verses 9 and 10 Peter reminds the believers all that they have received in Christ.
      • How they are a new people, with new purpose, and now he is expressing to these believers what is expected.  
    • Church, beloved, the Lord expects us to be different, to be distant, to be set apart, to be holy.  
  • As God’s people we are called to progress in this great salvation, we are to grow in Christ and as we do we are to grow in holiness.
    • These verses do not reveal how to be saved…
    • They reveal how we are to live in light of this salvation.
  • Please do not mix this up, Peter writes to the church to those who are already part of the family of God, and he even addresses these verses as such.
    • Look again at the start of verse 11, how does he address his readers?
      • Vs. 11a - “Beloved…” or “Dearly Beloved…”
    • The same word used by God to express the love for His One and Only Son at His Baptism…
      • Matthew 3:17b - “...This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
      • If you are in Christ today you are addressed as sons and daughters, loved and dear to God.
    • Grab on to that, and as we step into this growth that is expected, please know that it is because of who you belong to.
  • Therefore, since you belong to God, since you are beloved by God and dear to Him, you must…
• Break away…
  • “...from the passions of the flesh…”
    • There are two places in 1 Peter where we could look to understand what Peter means by “passions of the flesh”.
    • The first is one that we have already covered back in 1 Peter 1:14, he writes…
      • 1 Peter 1:14 - “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,”
      • He goes on to mention specifically what he had in mind at the beginning of 1 Peter 2…
        • He lists malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, slander…
        • These things that we once were, that we once pursued, and now we are to cast them aside.
    • This is not the only mention of these passions though, Peter completes this picture in 1 Peter 4, he writes…
      • 1 Peter 4:3 - “For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.”
      • This is quite the list, but like what he mentioned at the start of chapter 2…
        • These things that we once pursued, that we once lived for, that we were passionate for…
        • Are now to be put to death in our lives.
      • As Christians we are to be radically different than we once were, because we have been radically saved by the redeeming work of Jesus.
    • You know brothers and sisters there exists two ditches when it comes to this glorious salvation…
      • On the one side there is legalism and on the other side there is liberalism.
        • On the legalistic side there is a list of do’s and don’t for which a person tries to achieve salvation.
        • On the liberal side there is much focus on the freedom that we have, so much so that sin is justified.
        • We see people throughout the ages falling into one ditch or the other…
          • For example, in Jesus' day the Pharisees would have fallen on the legalistic side of the road.
            • They were relentlessly obsessed with the rules they had created and often imposed them on others around them.
          • Then, you had the Herodians, these were given to liberalism and the passions of the flesh…
            • They could not have cared less about the rules and Law…
            • Instead they sought to justify their sinful behavior.
          • Both are present in our world today and we are always being pulled in one direction or the other…
        • However, neither is what has been commanded of us…
      • We are to walk the narrow road, understanding…
        • That we have been saved by grace alone in Christ alone and that we are to live for the Glory of God alone.  
          • That there is not any work that we could do that would accomplish what we have been given.
        • We also understand that we are free in Christ…
          • Yet not free to sin…
          • We are to strive toward holiness and use our freedom to grow in the work of Christ.
      • So even as we talk about abstaining from, turning from, and breaking away from these sins…
        • Please know that it is not for you to be saved but it is because you have been saved…
        • It is because Christ is in you and He is moving you in holiness.  
    • Therefore, beloved, let us be sure that we are…
  • Breaking away from the old and living for new, let us be sure that we are…
• Being faithful.
  • Peter urges us to put off the old, to abstain from these passions, but then he urges us to put on, or I would say that he urges us to…
    • Be faithful.
  • Look again at verse 12…
    • Vs. 12
      • Peter does something interesting in this verse, as he is urging us to grow in our salvation.
      • To walk in holiness, he pulls from the teaching of Christ and quotes Jesus nearly word for word.
    • I want us to see this together, please turn with me over to Matthew 5.
  • In Matthew 5 we have what is known as the Sermon on the Mount, it is the longest recorded teaching of Jesus found in the New Testament.
    • It is a sermon that goes on for three chapters and it is directed to Jesus’ disciples.
      • Our text that we are going to consider is in Matthew 5 verse 13.
    • Look with me if you would, Jesus speaks to His followers and says…
      • Matthew 5:13-15 
        • Before we read the verse that Peter quotes let us consider what our Lord is telling us.
      • He proclaims that we, His followers, are to be salt and light…
        • We are to affect change in our world, that is what salt does…
        • Second though we are to let our light shine before others.
          • That is to say we are to live holy before those around us.
        • We know that is what He means because of verse 16, look again with me.
      • Matthew 5:16
        • Here is where Peter pulls from, Peter would have heard this teaching first hand.
        • So he brings in the words of Christ when talking about this growth we are to have and he tells us…
      • That our lives are to display the work of Christ within us.
    • We are to live in such a way that those around us, who are not in Christ, would glorify God because of His work in us.
      • That they should look upon us and though perhaps disagree with us…
      • Yet even in that disagreement they would not be able to help praising God for our lives.
    • As you think about this, I would ask you to consider…
      • Would others around me, primarily unbelievers, glorify God because of my life?
        • That is what Peter is telling us, that is what Christ is proclaiming to us.
        • To live such honorable lives that those who do not know God would praise His name.

Closing

• It is here we will close today…
  • Beloved by God, chosen by Him, purchased by the blood of Jesus…
    • Behold the glory of your salvation…
      • Marvel at His work in you…
    • Continue growing in your salvation…
      • Move toward Him, be faithful and break away from the sins of your former passions.
  • Lastly, if you are not in Christ today, I want you to know that all we have discussed and examined can be yours.
    • Not because of you but because of Jesus.
      • Trust in Him, turn to Him, repent of your sins and be saved.
• Let us pray.