Identity of a Christian - Part 13
1 Peter 2:1-10
The saved are also a peculiar people. The Bible says that we are born as lost people. That is the common identity of all people. When we are saved, we are brought into the family of God. This is a peculiar possession of God. It is not the norm, and it is certainly not common to man. The born again Christian has been purchased through the blood of Jesus Christ and brought into the family of God. This is a special place.
The second half of verse 9 tells us the outcome of all these qualities. We are saved to “show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” Born again Christians are different than the world. They are different than they were before they were saved. They now are identified as God’s children. Acts 4:13 says:
Acts 4:13
“13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”
The people could tell that Peter and John were not like the many lost people that were present. They were different. The good news is that it was clear that Peter and John had been with Jesus. They were identified clearly as followers of Jesus Christ.
The born again Christian has been bought with a price. He or she has been changed from the heart outward. Before the person is saved, they want people to notice them. They want people to know what they can do. When a person is saved, they have a new nature. They are saved to show what God does to turn a lost sinner into a saint. The new nature desires to glorify God. Thus, Peter is reminding us here that as a saint, it is proper to live in such a way as to testify to the greatness of God who saved the Christian. The text tells us that the Christian has been called out of darkness into his marvellous light. Lost people do not even notice that they are in darkness. They just carry on with their ungodly life. The good news is that in the midst of that ungodly life, God is working to draw the lost person to Himself. When the lost person finally listens to God and sees the glorious light of the Gospel he realizes that he is in darkness, because God shows him His marvellous light.