1 Peter: Confidence in a Complex WorldSample

8: Rejected but Not Wrong

Being in the majority doesn’t make you right. Being in the minority doesn’t make you wrong. Regardless of how many people do or don’t believe something, truth is truth. In ancient Greece, many believed heartburn in women was caused by a wandering womb, a rogue uterus bumping into other organs. Not too far down the line, people will look back and laugh at many of our widely held beliefs too. 

Peter was writing to Christians being laughed at by their culture. ‘How can you believe a crucified man is the King of the universe? How can you turn your back on the gods we’ve always worshipped?’ It’s easy to see why Peter keeps seeking to shore up the faith of these early Christians, reinforcing the message of who Jesus is and who they are in him. 

Peter beckons them, ‘Guys, come, look at this.’ He points them to Isaiah and the Psalms. He shows them how Jesus is like ‘a chosen and precious cornerstone’, the most important part of the building. If they build their life and their community around Jesus, the whole building will be solid and true (2:6). He is rejected by those who think they know best, but the truth is he is the central figure, chosen by God (2:4, 7). You may be in the minority, you may feel like you’ve got it wrong, but you haven’t!

As we see throughout his letter, Peter keeps teaching them about their identity and role as God’s people. They are ‘chosen by God and precious to him’ (2:4). They’re ‘a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood’ (2:5). They ‘are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession’ (2:9). Here, Peter is taking terms from Exodus and Deuteronomy that God spoke to Jewish people, to show them their role as his missionary people in the world. He applies these terms to all who are in Christ (Jews and Gentiles). In the coming chapters, Peter will show how this identity and purpose can be worked out in daily life.

For now, be assured that Jesus really is at the heart of God’s salvation plan for you, your church, the people you meet day to day, everyone. Know too that you have a mind-bogglingly glorious identity: you are part of ‘a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession’. 

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Reflect:

Is there a situation or person affecting your confidence in Jesus right now? What is causing you to question or doubt?

How does it make you feel to be counted amongst God’s chosen people, royal priesthood, and holy nation?

Pray:

Allow that to soak into you – you are chosen by God, a royal priest, a member of his holy nation. This is who you are all the time, everywhere.