1 Peter 2:9 – You Are Chosen

1 Peter 2:9
⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (AMP)

Peter calls us a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a peculiar people (1 Peter 2:9). We are chosen. This is a difficult idea to illustrate. Many are called but few are chosen (Matthew 24:14). The word “chosen” is also translated as “elect.” I like how Strong’s interprets it—“by implication favorite”.

We were God’s favorites, so He chose us. That’s what grace is all about. It’s God’s unmerited favor. Every believer was chosen. This verse is for every believer. We are a chosen breed.

So what about Uncle Murdock? He doesn’t appear to have been chosen. Well, at least not yet. God doesn’t decide who makes it and who doesn’t. God does not send some to hell and others to heaven. It’s all a choice—a choice by each whosoever will come.

In the Old Testament God made choices. In fact, much of verse 9 is a quote from Deuteronomy 7:6. “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God: the LORD your God has chosen you to be a special people to Himself, above all people who are upon the face of the earth.” God chose people to carry the lineage of Jesus. If you’re of Jacob’s descendants, you were chosen.

Now He has chosen a new generation. He has chosen a new people. He has chosen a people who have a choice. They aren’t born into this nation. They are born again into this nation. Jesus has purchased His people with the price of His blood on the Cross. All you have to do to be chosen is to believe in Jesus.

If you wonder how you were offered the choice to be chosen, God has that all worked out. I believe that everyone at some time has the choice to be chosen. Many reject the call and can’t say they were chosen. But you are chosen.