Lost Status Restored

1. Introduction to the Passage
   a) How does today's passage fits into the broader context of 2:1-8
   b) Is this “replacement theology”?

2. Israel's titles now shared with the Church
   a) “a chosen race”—How our election is best seen in Christ' chosen-ness
   b) “a royal priesthood”—
   i. Israel never had a royal priesthood in its canonical history.
   King's could never assume priestly duties. Yet the OT prophets
   looked forward to the day when the two offices would be
   co-joined.
   ii. As a royal priesthood under Christ, we not only have better access
   to God than any OT high priest, but our priestly duties have been
   expanded to run the whole of life from the sublime to the mundane.

c)“a holy nation, a people for his own possession…” --Christ lifts his people from alienation to a new identity and status.
d)“but now you are God's people…but now you have received mercy”—better to have this national identity than any other national, tribal, clan, or family identity.

3. Application