Fourth in our 5-part series on ‘God’s Purpose for Mankind’ is that we are “Chosen to Represent Jesus.” Our key passage is found in 1 Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

Earlier in the chapter (1 Peter 2:5), Peter states that we are like living stones, being built into a house to be a holy priesthood that offers spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. This helps to build (no pun intended) on the Truth that we, because we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, are the living temples of God (1 Corinthians 6:19–20) so that we may serve as His holy priesthood that offers sacrifices acceptable to God (also see Romans 12:1).

Just four verses further, Peter clearly states we are chosen by God. Whether you believe in the election of the believer or not, this verse declares that we are chosen for the specific purpose — as Jesus’ representatives to carry out the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18–20) — of bringing others to Jesus. He states that as chosen by God for this purpose, we are to be His royal priesthood and consecrated (set apart, holy) people.

The word, “royal” does not mean we are kings or royalty, but that we belong to the royal kingdom of God. As the verse further states that we are “God’s special possession”, we belong to the King and are valued by the King. We are not mere possessions of God, but special, purchased by His own blood (Acts 20:28) and valued, adopted into God’s family as children and joint heirs, boldly with Jesus, of all that belongs to God.

Our purpose of being chosen, serving as the King’s priests and set apart as His people, is to declare God’s praises as His witnesses (Acts 1:8) of God providing us with eternal life so we can proclaim His salvation to others.

The priestly role

From here, we must take a closer look at the phrases, “royal priesthood” (holy priesthood in 1 Peter 2:5) and “holy nation”. What was the role of the priesthood when God established it in the Old Testament?

• A priest worked for and at the will of the King (God).
• A priest was to represent God with the authority to be His spokesperson (2 Corinthians 5:20).
• A priest was to teach the people about God and His ways while proclaiming God’s word to them.
• A priest led the assembly of people into the worship of God.
• A priest was to offer prayers and petitions before God on behalf of the people.
• A priest was to be the people’s intercessor, offering sacrifices for them in the ‘Holy Place’ within the Tabernacle, at the veiled entry to the ‘Holy of Holies’ which only the high priest could enter.

Scripture tells us that Jesus now serves as our High Priest (Hebrews 6:20) and every believer is His priest, to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the priesthood. We are given the full authority of Jesus to boldly approach God’s throne (Hebrews 4:16) as His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Looking again at the duties of the Old Testament priesthood, we see the parallels of the believer’s responsibilities and role today:

• Serve for and at the will of God.
• Represent Jesus to the world and be His chosen spokesperson, proclaiming His message.
• While going to make disciples, teach people to observe all things that Jesus taught us (Matthew 28:19).
• Specifically, be His witnesses to those outside the House of Faith (Acts 1:8).
• Encourage, exhort, and lead others into worship and fellowship (Ephesians 4:11–16).
• With Jesus as Mediator (Hebrews 8:6, 9:15, 10:19–23), as God recognizes us through the righteousness of Jesus, we intercede with prayer on behalf of others, before God’s throne (Altar of Incense, Revelation 8:3–4).
• Direct access to God no longer requires an Old Testament priest to petition God on our behalf (Hebrews 4:16).

Consecrated to holy living

Yet, God requires that we be clean, spotless before Him, with no sin. No, believers are not sinless or perfect. We can directly approach God’s throne because He sees us through the blood of Jesus. His sacrifice did not simply cover our sin as the ongoing, repeated blood sacrifices offered in the Old Testament, but through the final, perfect blood sacrifice of Jesus (Hebrews 9:22). As a result, we are declared ‘righteous’ (Romans 5:1), no longer under God’s judgment (Romans 8:1).

Since we still have a sin nature and free will, God does command believers to be set apart (holy, as He is holy — 1 Peter 1:15–16), consecrated (devoted, cleansed), maintaining a Godly way of life (Romans 6:6; Galatians 5:16). So, what does ‘consecration’ look like today?

• Cleansed from all uncleanness (2 Samuel 12:20
• Separated (2 Corinthians 6:16–17)
• Consciously putting off/removing the sinful lifestyle, like removing a coat (Ephesians 4:22–24; Romans 13:14) and putting on Jesus’ righteousness (Job 29:14; Psalm 132:9)
• Lifestyle choices
  • Renew the mind (Romans 12:2).
  • Think on good, pure things that come from God (Philippians 4:8).
  • Always rejoice in God’s goodness (Romans 5:3–5, 8:28; Romans 12:15: Philippians 4:4).
  • Meditate on God and His word (Psalm 1:2; 2 Timothy 3:16).
  • Pray without ceasing and always giving thanks– always in the presence of God (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)
  • Connect through worship and communion with other believers (Hebrews 10:25).

You can continue through your own study of scripture, all the tools, the provisions, and the ongoing presence of God, Himself, with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit on how we are to encourage and build each other up, prefer others over ourselves, bear each other’s burdens, and so on. All these provisions help us to be consecrated, separated unto holy living, to live as priests of God!

Summary

As a believer, you are valued and chosen by God to be His ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20). To fulfill God’s purpose of reconciling all mankind back to Him, we are to live a holy, separated, consecrated life unto God and not be taken in by the sin of the world. It’s not about living our lives for God, but understanding we are God’s — His possession, bought with the blood of Jesus — and we are to do His will. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to bear the Fruit of the Spirit and outwardly demonstrate Jesus’ love through using the gifts of the Spirit so that we can fearlessly and boldly proclaim Jesus to the world (2 Timothy 1:7–9; 1 John 1:1–4; Ephesians 6:19–20; Romans 8:31).

Feel the love. Feel the value that God has placed on us so that He entrusts us to fulfill His purpose. Our final piece to this series will be “Challenged to Reflect Jesus” as we are tested to become more like the image of Jesus, as God prepares us for an eternal home with Him.