Free Bible Commentary
“First Peter 2:9-12”
Categories: First Peter“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
---End of Scripture verses---
The church of Jesus Christ is God’s “chosen race” and “holy nation” (verse 9). The nation of Israel held that position of honor and privilege in times past, but now Christ’s kingdom is comprised of people of all nations who call upon the name of the Lord (Romans 10:12), and are “baptized into Christ” and clothe themselves “with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians 3:27-29).
God calls His people “out of” the “darkness” of sin and religious error and fear and doubt, and into the “marvelous light” of His glorious Son. Jesus is “the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man” (John 1:9). “God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Jesus showed us the perfect light of the Father when He lived a life of sinless perfection among us (John 1:18), and He shines the light of salvation and truth to us through His perfect example and revelation. “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life’” (John 8:12).
Even as we walk in the Light of the Lord, there is a continual internal struggle between our willing spirits and our weak flesh. Peter says that our “fleshly lusts” are waging “war” against our immortal souls (verse 11). Friends, this is not a war that we can choose to go AWOL from. The battle is an ever present one and we must choose the side of light over darkness if we aspire to escape being a prisoner and casualty of war. If we willingly choose the Lord He promises to help us in our struggle (Psalm 46:1; Hebrews 4:15-16; 13:5-6), and we are guaranteed the ultimate, eternal victory through our faith in Him (Romans 8:37; 1 Corinthians 15:57; 1 John 5:4).
Please read 1 Peter 2:13-17 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed Lord’s Day!
-Louie Taylor
