But *ye* [are] a chosen race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession, that ye might set forth the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness to his wonderful light;
Peter gives ordinary believers four titles at once. Each one stands as plain fact, not as an offer — and the verse goes on to say what such people are for.
Offered Under Law, Owned Under Grace
Under law, what Israel might become came with a condition attached. Peter names these titles with no condition at all. One writer sets the two arrangements side by side.
The contrast between law and grace is complete. Law says, in effect, "If you obey, you shall be." Grace says, "You are, and because you are, certain things should mark you." That is the drift of this verse in Peter's letter.
The Title Sinai Never Contained
Peter names "chosen race" first. The same writer asks how his readers came to hold that title.
How did it come about that those to whom Peter wrote were a chosen generation? The first chapter answers this question. They were "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father"; they were "ransomed... with the precious blood of Christ"; they were "born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God" — and that, as we learn elsewhere, by the Spirit of God. The Triune God had acted to produce a race of a new order — a generation not in Adam but in Christ.
What Each Title Carries
One writer takes the last three titles in turn. Each points a different way.
"A royal priesthood" is the counterpart of "a holy priesthood" (v. 5). Holy priesthood looks toward God; royal priesthood looks toward people. It is royal character to carry God's witness to the world... "A holy nation" is in contrast to Israel in the flesh, in her unholy disobedience. It speaks of a vital sanctification for the glory of God, a setting apart to Himself. "A peculiar people" means a people belonging to Him alone. They are bondslaves who belong to a master, not hired servants working for wages — which is how Jews under law thought of themselves.
("Peculiar people" is older wording. The ESV says "a people for His own possession.")
Two Priesthoods, Two Directions
Verse 5 has already called these believers a holy priesthood. Verse 9 adds a second word: royal. One writer shows what each side does.
As holy priests, we draw near to God and present the sacrifice of praise. As royal priests we go out among the people around us, in all the details of daily life, to show the virtues of Christ — His grace, His lovely moral features. Every movement of a royal priest should give off the fragrance of the grace of Christ.
The same writer finds both priesthoods at work in one night in a prison — a song, and then a word to the jailer.
They had what was better, even "the virtues of Him who had called them out of darkness into His marvellous light." And where do these virtues shine out? In those moving words to the jailer: "Do not harm yourself." That was the voice of a royal priest, just as the song of praise was the voice of a holy priest.
Doing Now What Christ Will Do Openly
Christ will show these virtues perfectly in a coming day. His people are called to show them now.
The second priesthood the apostle speaks of is to show the virtues of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light... God had formed the people for Himself: they were to show forth all His virtues, His praises. Christ will do this perfectly in the day of His glory. The Christian is called to do it now in this world. He is to reproduce Christ in this world.
The Darkness They Were Called Out Of
So what was the darkness they were called out of? One writer traces it back to the way God met Israel under the law.
Turn back to Exodus 19. The Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud" (verse 9). Later we read, "Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was" (Ex. 20:21). Under the law, thick darkness hid God. Under grace He is in light — light so different that it can be called "marvellous."
How marvellous that light is can be measured by what it does to the people standing in it.
On a clear night at full moon we enjoy the moon shining in the light of the sun. How marvellous the sunlight must be, if it can make a dark body shine like that! The world is still in the dark, for its back is turned towards God. We are in the light of His truth and grace — the light of the knowledge of Himself. You can see how marvellous that light is. It takes dark, unattractive people like us and makes them show His excellence and reflect Him.
Summary
- Chosen — Peter names this title first. God's foreknowledge, redemption by blood, and new birth make a race "not in Adam but in Christ."
- Called — The call is out of darkness. Under law, God stayed hidden in thick darkness. Grace now states as fact what law only offered, with no "if" attached.
- Consecrated — Holy nation and God's own possession mean a real setting apart to Him. Think of a bondslave who belongs to a master, not a hired servant earning wages.
- Commissioned — One priesthood works two ways. Holy priests carry praise up to God. Royal priests carry the character of Christ out to people — a song and a word to the jailer, in one night.
- Conspicuous — The point of it all is display. Christ will do it perfectly in the day of His glory. His people do it now — dark bodies made to shine by a marvellous light.