Who Is "Chosen?"

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Now that we have had detailed discussion on what Jesus says about all the rules, developed in Old Testament times, let me talk a bit about the Apostle Paul’s take on Jesus’ teachings.

Before I begin let me clarify one important thing!  

“Chosen”  has nothing to do with being better — or picked out by God — or somehow extra-special.

The chosen are those who listened and believe in Jesus.  

That being said,  I invite you to carefully read verse nine, from 1 Peter, that began this blog. This is a concept that the church, and many pastors, have tried to squelch through the years.  The truth that all believers are priests!  Maybe they are not ordained, but they are call to witness a faith that sets people free-to-be in amazing grace.  

Somehow, through history, people have put only the pastor as the chief Christian.  

The one who knows!  

The one who is closest to God!  

The only one who can make decisions!  Who has to have his/her hand in everything decided and everything that is done in the church.  

I say:  what a waste of wonderful, gifted, people down through the ages.  

We are all called!  

We all have been given gifts  to serve in Jesus’ name!  

We all have the Holy Spirit to guide us into his truth!  

The only real difference between a pastor and the people has come through the calling to be ordained.  But I am here to tell you that there are many — many — lay persons who tell Jesus stories as well — or better — than any ordained pastor.  

Every one of us has been given special gifts — by God — to use to do ministry.  

Every single one of us!

To  be continued tomorrow.

1 Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and 5 like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in scripture: "See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." 7 To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner," 8 and "A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2)