1 Peter 2.9 is another great verse. Perhaps you’ve heard it used to try and back up some views on local church leadership (I know I have). Is that what Peter was talking about?
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
Being bent out of shape here is the phrase “…you are…a royal priesthood…”.
Does this mean that all believers now are to have the role of a priest?
Does this mean that all believers now need to fulfill the role of priests and pastors (Ephesians 4.10-13)?
I don’t think it does.
1 Peter 2.9 begins with the word but, doesn’t it, so we know he is drawing a contrast. Peter is saying that believers now, both his original readers and you and I, are called to live a life that is different to those who do not believe (look back to v.7). But you, he says, do believe and therefore you have some roles and responsibilities to fulfill.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
(emphasis added)
You are chosen by God to have access to Him by faith in Jesus
(Hebrews 10).
You are chosen by God to live a holy, separate from the world, kind of life (1 Peter 1.16).
You are chosen by God to bear His name
(1 Peter 4.16b).
Why are you chosen to do all of this?
“…so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
You are chosen by God to have the access of a priest and the roles and responsibilities of a believer so that you can proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. All that God has chosen you to do is for His glory, His name’s sake, and to fulfill His good and perfect will.
Yes, we’re called to be a royal priesthood, but you can put down the sacrificial shears and simply focus on living a life that proclaims His virtues!
James Travis 