Just Passing Through
by Bobby Sullivan

1 Peter 2:9-12 (NIV)

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. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us

THE PASSION TRANSLATION

9 But you are God’s chosen treasure—priests who are kings,[b] a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own. He did this so that you would broadcast his glorious wonders throughout the world. 10 For at one time you were not God’s people, but now you are. At one time you knew nothing of God’s mercy, because you hadn’t received it yet, but now you are drenched with it  11 My divinely loved friends, since you are resident aliens and foreigners in this world, I appeal to you to divorce yourselves from the evil desires that wage war within you 12 Live honorable lives as you mix with unbelievers, even though they accuse you of being evildoers. For they will see your beautiful works and have a reason to glorify God in the day he visits us 

 

Paul Kowalewski-“Every day the trail reminds me that I am a pilgrim, and I’m just passing through”

 

TITLE: EXCUSE ME..JUST PASSING THROUGH

Intro: Peter tells us, that as believers, we are “pilgrims and strangers” in this earth. The word “stranger” has the idea of a person who lives for an extended time in a land that is not his own. He is there long enough to need a house to live in, but he is not a permanent resident. 

He has no legal rights, he has no social standing. He is a stranger, an exile who lives in a foreign land. The word “pilgrim” has a meaning that is more temporary than the other. 

This word refers to one who is merely passing through on the  way to another place.

Both of those words describe who we are as children of the Lord. We are living in this world, but this world is not our home, Phil. 3:20. “20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ”

We are here, But, we are not permanent residents. We are merely strangers living in the midst of an alien culture. We are pilgrims passing through earth on our way to Heaven.

If you have ever had the opportunity to meet someone from another culture, you soon recognize the fact that they think and act differently than you do. Well, as believers, we are supposed to think and act differently as well. Our new birth and our new nature are all products of heaven. As a result, we are to be heavenly minded.

WEBSTERS REVISED EDITION    

a. 1 Having the thoughts and affections placed on, or suitable for, heavenly objects; devout; godly; pious.

Our legal status is in heaven. If we are truly heaven born people, then we are to live like heaven born people! 

 

This is what Paul had in mind in 

Col. 3:1-3   Christ’s resurrection is your resurrection too. This is why we are to yearn for all that is above, for that’s where Christ sits enthroned at the place of all power, honor, and authority  2 Yes, feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and fill your thoughts with heavenly realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm. 3 Your crucifixion with Christ has severed the tie to this life, and now your true life is hidden away in God in Christ.

Since we are pilgrims and strangers in this world, we need to know how to conduct ourselves in an alien culture. This passage has something to say about that. In these verses Peter shares some Reminders For Pilgrims .

  1. A REMINDER OF OUR PAST SITUATION
  2. V. 9 We Had A Dark Past– “We are called out of darkness.” Many will say we have a dark past but I want to declare we had (past tense). I do not want to identify with what Jesus set me free from. We are reminded that Jesus found us in the darkness of sin that at times may have felt like a dungeon of decay where we were desperate and dying on the inside. For many, they felt deserted, depressed and disenfranchised with life itself.

 Eph. 2:1-3. NIV Made Alive in Christ

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and  following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath

He found us when we lived as we pleased and were unaware that our freedom and fun was nothing more than the worst kind of bondage, Pro. 16:25. There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.

B. V. 10 We Had A Despised Past-but a much desirable future – We are reminded that when He came to us, we were not even part of a people, Col. 1:21. Made Holy through Christ

21–22 Even though you were once distant from him, living in the shadows of your evil thoughts and actions, he reconnected you back to himself. He released his supernatural peace to you through the sacrifice of his own body as the sin-payment on your behalf so that you would dwell in his presence. And now there is nothing between you and Father God, for he sees you as holy, flawless, and restored,(without an indictment)[a]23 if indeed you continue to advance in faith, assured of a firm foundation to grow upon. Never be shaken from the hope of the gospel you have believed in. And this is the glorious news I preach all over the world.

 We were outcasts! Blinded to who we really are. Rom. 8:7.” 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.”   We were imprisoned by the poison of sin

  1. V. 10 We Had A Deadly Past– Without the intervention of Jesus, the world is on a dark slippery slope with very little hope simply because of our fallen sin nature. When the Lord came for us, we were totally unworthy of the mercy and grace He extended to us! It was grace and grace alone that made the difference in your life and mine, Eph. 2:8-9 “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” 

PAUL said in 1 Cor. 15:10. 10 But God’s amazing grace has made me who I am![a] And his grace to me was not fruitless. In fact, I worked harder than all the rest, yet not in my own strength but God’s, for his empowering grace is poured out upon me.

  1. A REMINDER OF OUR PRESENT STANDING
  2. We Are A New Creation– 

The term “chosen generation” has to do with public ownership. The Hebrew word is “segulla” which means, “a special treasure” (possession) It is used to describe “guarded wealth” indicating the placement of the king’s jewels in a safe protected place because of their extraordinary value.

Some Bible versions translate certain Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek words slightly differently. In other words, some Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek words may not always be translated exactly the same from one language into another. Different words might be used in an attempt to capture the original meaning in the King James Version, New American Standard, and New International Version Bibles. 1 Peter 2:9 is one such example. Here are three different Bible versions of 1 Peter 2:9.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light . . . 1 Peter 2:9 (KJV)

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; . . . 1 Peter 2:9 (NASB)

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) 

Malachi 3:17 Amplified Bible
“They will be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “on that day when I publicly recognize them and openly declare them to be My own possession [that is, My very special treasure]. And I will have compassion on them and spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.”

  1. We Have A New Communion– We are called a “royal priesthood“. When we were lost, we were totally separated from God. Now, in Jesus, we have been brought “into covenant” to God by the blood of Christ, Eph. 2:13. 13 Yet look at you now! Everything is new! Although you were once distant and far away from God, now you have been brought delightfully close to him through the sacred blood of Jesus—you have actually been united to Christ!

 In this new relationship we have unrestricted, unhindered access into the presence of the Lord. We do not need another mediator for our Mediator, the Lord Jesus, 1 Tim. 2:5, 5 For God is one, and there is one Mediator between God and the sons of men—the true man, Jesus, the Anointed On

  He has broken down all the barriers that once stood between us and God, Eph. 2:14-19. 14 Our reconciling “Peace” is Jesus! He has made Jew and non-Jew one in Christ. By dying as our sacrifice, he has broken down every wall of prejudice that separated us and has now made us equal through our union with Christ. 15 Ethnic hatred has been dissolved by the crucifixion of his precious body on the cross. The legal code that stood condemning every one of us has now been repealed by his command. His triune essence has made peace between us by starting over—forming[a] {The Greek is “to create in himself one new man} one new race of humanity,[b] Jews and non-Jews fused together in himself!

16 Two have now become one, and we live restored to God and reconciled in the body of Christ. Through his crucifixion, hatred died. 17 For the Messiah has come to preach this sweet message of peace to you,[c] the ones who were distant, and to those who are near. 18 And now, because we are united to Christ, we both have equal and direct access in the realm of the Holy Spirit to come before the Father!

19 So, you are not foreigners or guests, but rather you are the children of the city of the holy ones,[d] with all the rights as family members of the household of God.

Since all of this is true, we can come into the presence of the Lord and we now have instant access to the Lord of glory, Heb. 4:16.” 16 So now we draw near freely and boldly to where grace is enthroned,[a] to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen[b] us in our time of weakness.[c]

  1. We Have A New Character– We are also called a “holy nation“. Passion says, “A Spiritual nation” That is, God, through Jesus, has produced a change in us that now allows us to be what we never could have been before: Holy WHOLE! Isa. 64:6.” All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

 However, when we are saved, we are given a new nature, 2 Pet. 1:4. This new, spiritual nature has the capacity, through the work of the Holy Spirit, to produce works of true holiness, pleasing to the Lord! (Note: Things like prayer, witnessing, acts of faith, acts of love, kindness and forgiveness are proof that God can take a sinner, save him by His grace and then He can make that person holy!) A believer can and should be holy! This is the will of God, 1 Pet. 1:16, and it is possible as we live as new creatures, 2 Cor. 5:17! It is possible because we have been delivered from the darkness and have been placed into the light! (Note: The flesh can produce a lot of things that look good externally, but only the Holy Spirit of God can produce genuine holiness in a person’s life. The lost man may clean up his life, but the saved man finds his life cleaned up for him!)

  1. We Have A New Classification– We are called a “peculiar people“. Now that has been misquoted and taken out of context for many years. The real meaning of the word “peculiar” is of “a purchased possession, a unique possession, some of rare beauty and of a priceless nature.” It brings to mind the way Malachi referred to the Lord’s people in Mal. 4:17. In fact, the word “jewel” in Mal. 4, means the same thing as the word “peculiar” in this verse does! (Note: This means that we are a precious people. He paid a high price for us, 1 Cor. 6:19-20, and now He possesses us and we are precious to Him. 

 We are God’s prized possessions! (Note: Have you ever lost a set out of a ring? Ever lost a jewel or a prized possession? We all have! Thankfully, God will never lose any of those who are precious to Him, 1 Pet. 1:5; John 6:39.) 

A quick reading of each passage reveals that the phrase in the King James Bible, “peculiar people,” is also translated as “a people for God’s own possession” in the NASB or “a people belonging to God” in the NIV. The actual Greek states, “people for possession.”

 “What does this phrase mean?” The Greek word for peculiar is peripoiesis and it can mean “keeping safe, preservation, possession, property or reserve.” 

The English word peculiar can mean “restriction to an individual or group” and that was the meaning of the word in A.D. 1600 when the KJV was created. That explains why peculiar was used in the KJV Bible. Today, possession or belonging is a clearer translation.

The answer is found in the words that came before this verse. Verses 1-2 reveal that this was written to people who had believed in Jesus Christ. They were encouraged to grow “with respect to salvation.” That is, they were “saved” from their sins and declared to be righteous. They were Christians. In verse 5 we read that they were “living stones” and each one was a member of the “holy priesthood.” That is, they no longer needed an earthly priest. They were already regarded to be “holy” because God had declared to be righteous, and regarded to be priests. In verse 7 we find that they had “believed” in Jesus Christ. In conclusion, they were believers. Therefore, verse 9 tells us that these Christians were a “chosen race,” “a royal priesthood,” “a holy nation,” and a people whom God owned. Christians include Jews and non-Jews or Gentiles – everyone who believes in Jesus Christ as their God and Savior.

It becomes clear that peculiar in this verse is referring to the fact that believers are a “special people” because they were chosen from before the foundation of the earth to be “God’s own possession.” Those who are born again are different from the world around them because they are being transformed by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

“A round peg in a square hole.”

  1. We have a new calling:   Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[b] will not overcome it.

In Greek the name Peter, Petros, a masculine noun ( Πέτρος, ου, ὁ ) means; “a stone (pebble), such as a small rock found along a pathway, a single solitary rock…”

The Greek word for the “rock” on which he will build his church is not petros, but pétra (πέτρα, ας, ἡ) a feminine noun meaning – “a mass of connected rock, a solid or native rock, rising up through the earth”

Jesus is telling Peter, you will build your house on me. You are a rock and I am a mountain. We share the same essence and we will partner together.

We can’t teach or educate people into an awareness of the reality of Jesus. It alone comes from a revelatory experience. It can’t be taught it must be caught.

Light and revelation comes from an encounter with life not law!! You can’t teach yourself into an encounter. 

III. A REMINDER OF OUR PRESENT SERVICE

 Well, that’s who we were and who we are. Here is what we are supposed to do with those truths. You see, instead of being partakers of the culture and mind set of this world, we are to attempt to share the culture and mind set of Heaven with this culture. Remember, we are from another world, John 15:19. We are literally “ambassadors” from heaven to this world, 2 Cor. 5:20. We are to do all we can to share the culture of our homeland with the earth bound people living around us. We are to show and tell them how the citizens of Heaven live their lives!)

  1. V. 9 We Are To Declare The Truth About Our Savior – The phrase “show forth the praises” means to vocally declare what the Lord has done for us. The word “praises” refers to “those qualities that make Him excellent.” 

We are to declare to a lost and dying world the excellency of the Kingdom of God! We should be quick to declare what He has done for us. We should be a vocal people in our willingness and our desire to share Him with the world! (Note: There is a right and a wrong way to do even this good thing! You can be open about your relationship with Jesus without being obnoxious to those you are witnessing to. You can point men to Him without drawing attention to yourself!) You be a sign and let everyone wonder.

  1. V. 11-12 We Are To Demonstrate The Truth Of Our Salvation– There is a vocal side to our witness and there is also a visible side to it. These two verses speak about that aspect of our walk with the Lord.
  2. V. 11 By A Pure Walk– Since we are citizens of Heaven, we are to avoid living like the citizens of the earth. When we live to an earthly level, we find our witness ruined and our lives enslaved by the power of the lusts of the flesh. 
  3. V. 12 By A Powerful Witness– Peter says that believers are to live right in front of a lost world. If we are consistent in our walk before them, they will be touched by our good works. He even indicates that some will be saved as a result, as the phrase “day of visitation” indicates. (Note: When I was lost, I certainly criticized my share of Christians. I argued with them and despised them for being against the things I did. However, I never could get past their love and their devotion to the Bible. The truth and honesty of their lives made a statement for God that none of my arguments could overcome. It was the faithful witness of a few sincere, dedicated believers that helped bring me to Jesus. You never know who is watching and what a difference will be made because of the way you live!)
  4. By A Passionate Why:

15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

Your cry is backed up by your why! Why did you commit yourself to Jesus in the first place? 

Conc: Until Jesus comes, we will be “pilgrims and strangers” in this world. Let us remember that we are surrounded by an alien culture that needs to hear about Jesus and that needs to see His truth lived out by those who claim to know Him. They used to encourage visitors to the national parks to “leave them cleaner than they found them.” We should seek to promote the culture of Heaven in this world to leave it better than we found it!