Good evening, everybody. Lovely to be here with you.
Oh, thank you, thank you.
My identity is very secure, I want you to know.
So, no, it is wonderful to give you the last of these series on identity.
So let me first of all tell you a story.
While walking through the forest one day,
a man found a young eagle that had fallen out of its nest.
He took this eagle home and he put it in his barnyard
where it soon learned to eat and to behave like the chickens.
One day a naturalist passed by the farm and asked,
why is the king of the birds behaving and living in a barnyard with the chickens?
The farmer replied that since he had given it chicken feed
and trained it to be a chicken, it had never learned to fly.
So, since it now behaved as a chicken, it was no longer an eagle.
Still it has the heart of an eagle, said the naturalist,
and can surely be taught to fly.
He lifted the eagle toward the sky and he said,
you belong to the sky and not to the earth.
Stretch forth your wings and fly.
The eagle, however, was confused.
He did not know who he was.
And seeing the chickens eating their food,
he jumped down to be with them again.
The naturalist took the eagle out of the barnyard
and took him to a high mountain.
There he held the king of the birds high above him
and he encouraged him, saying,
you are an eagle, you belong to the sky.
Stretch forth your wings and fly.
The eagle looked around and he looked backwards
towards the barnyard and then he looked up to the sky.
Then the naturalist lifted him straight towards the sun
and it happened that the eagle began to tremble.
Slowly he stretched out his wings
and then with a triumphant cry,
he soared away into the heavens.
It may be that the eagle still remembers the chickens in the barnyard
with nostalgia.
It may even be that he occasionally visits the chickens in the barnyard.
But as far as anyone knows,
he has never returned to the life of a chicken.
So I share this story.
Just like the eagle needed to learn to live as an eagle,
we as God's people need to learn to live as God's people
and to fly and soar with great freedom that God has given us.
We can do that if we truly understand our identity
and by living in that identity that has been given to us in Christ.
We saw last week that we as believers,
those who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ,
then we are in Christ.
We have a new identity.
That Christ has given us where we have everything we need in abundance.
But it's not that unusual that we might have trouble adjusting to our new identity.
Just like the eagle had trouble adjusting to the fact that he was an eagle.
We often go back to what we know best,
what we find easiest.
And sometimes that is the behaviour of our old selves
rather than who we are in Christ.
In today's passage, Peter is writing this letter
to a group of new believers who have been scattered.
They have been given new birth into a living hope in Jesus Christ,
just like many of us here.
But they still need this encouragement
about who they are
and we still need that same encouragement.
Peter gives some powerful imagery in chapter 2.
He explains that this new identity that we've been given,
we have been given a spiritual house,
a royal priesthood.
We are a royal priesthood.
We are a spiritual house, I'm sorry.
We are a chosen people
and we are God's possession.
Verses 3 and 4 say,
How do you feel about being described as a stone?
Pretty odd for us today to be described as stones
and to get all warm and fuzzy about that.
But for the people in Peter's day,
it was a significant term.
This living stone picture would have been so real in their minds
because of what they knew from the Old Testament.
Daniel in Daniel 2,
when he was interpreting a dream of Nebuchadnezzar,
he spoke of God's kingdom being a stone.
Isaiah in a vision,
he said,
Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious.
In Psalm 118,
the psalmist also spoke of a cornerstone
that would bring salvation to all who believed
as well as a stone that would be a stumbling block
for those who reject it.
And in Luke's gospel,
when we see Jesus' authority is questioned,
Jesus answers with the parable of the tenants,
quoting that same verse from Psalms
about being a rejected stone.
And he was speaking about himself.
You see,
to the hearers of this letter,
they knew full well what the terminology of a stone was.
And Peter is saying that we are living stones
being built into a spiritual house
and Jesus is the cornerstone,
the important rock
that every other stone is aligned with
so that this building that is being built
will be straight,
it will be secure,
it will be strong
because it's built with this cornerstone
and everything is lined up with that one stone.
This spiritual house is the church.
It's a collective.
We are not individuals working at our own identities,
although we do need to do that,
but we are put together
as part of something grand.
It is in the light of all of this rich
and contested history
regarding Israel's religious identity
that Peter says,
as you come to him,
a living stone rejected by men,
but in the sight of God chosen and precious,
you yourselves,
like living stones,
are being built up as a spiritual house
to be a holy priesthood,
to offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God
through Jesus Christ.
These are stunning words
and elevating beyond all measure.
In one sentence,
Peter grasps the entire wealth of Israel's identity
and he applies it not only to Jesus alone,
but he applies it to every man and woman and child
who comes to faith in Christ.
When we come to Jesus,
we come to the living stone.
When we come to Jesus,
we come into God's kingdom.
When we come to Jesus,
we become God's spiritual house
and holy priesthood.
These phrases applied metaphorically
here to Peter's early readers
represent the most exalted ideas
within all Judaism.
After all,
the spiritual house was the temple.
If God was going to dwell anywhere,
it's going to be in the temple.
In addition,
the royal priesthood
consisted of those honoured ones
who had the privilege of standing
in the very presence of God.
Yet now,
following Jesus' example
in usurping these ideas,
Peter claims that in Christ,
these truths
are likewise transferred
to each and every believer.
Every person who is a follower of Jesus,
we have those same truths
applied to us.
In essence,
the church has become
God's people
and God's place
in the world.
Truly with these phrases,
a spiritual house
and a royal priesthood,
Peter is raising the identity
of his early readers
to unimaginable heights.
By way of a single metaphor,
Peter proclaims
that they are
at the very heart
and centre
of God's activity
in the world.
They are God's building
and in Christ,
they are being built up
into a residence
intended
for God's
very presence.
They must have been thrilled
to learn that their identity
was secure.
They were God's special
building project.
We are God's
special
building project.
How inspiring
to be reminded
by Peter
that if you come
to Jesus
as God's
living stone,
you are at the centre
of what God
is doing
in this world.
We are God's
spiritual house.
The second new
identification
that Peter gives
to the readers
is the priesthood.
Now Peter mentions
it in verse 5
and also in verse 9.
The priesthood,
of course,
began with Aaron
and it was Aaron
who stood before
a holy God
and on behalf
of the sinful people.
In some respects
he functioned
as an intermediary
between God
and the world.
As such,
the priests
were the ones
most intimately
acquainted
with God.
Now consider
the impact
of this verse
in the light
of Israel's
priestly history.
Peter calls
all believers
holy,
royal,
priesthood.
This means
that every Christian
is the ultimate
insider.
We're not merely
representatives
of God
in this world.
We serve
as God's
priests
before the world.
No wonder
Peter closes
verse 10
by saying
once you were
not a people
but now
you are God's
people.
Once
you had
not received
mercy
but now
you have
received
mercy.
What an
encouraging word
for those
who were
identified
as those
exiles
in chapter 1
verse 1.
The ones
who struggled
with a sense
of being
outsiders.
They now
see in a fresh
way that they
are really
very special
to God
indeed.
I hope
that these
awesome truths
that are put
forward by
Peter
encourage you
in your
faith.
Your identity
in Christ
is an
exalted
one.
How did
we get
to be in
that position?
Well,
verses 6
and 7
or parts
of them,
whoever
believes in
him will
not be put
to shame
and in
verse 7,
so the
honour is
for you
who believe.
Remember
one of the
consequences
that I spoke
about two
weeks ago?
One of the
consequences
of the fall
was that
we inherited
shame
on our
lives?
Here,
we have
clearly
written out
for us
that we
will not
be put
to shame.
This new
and exalted
identity
is held
out for
all who
believe that
Jesus is
God's
ruler.
Conversely,
anyone who
rejects Jesus
as God's
cornerstone
shall stumble
and fall.
That's also
made very
clear.
Put simply,
what you
and I
do with
Jesus
will mean
everything
to our
standing
and our
identity
before God.
Jesus
alone
is the
full expression
of God
in the
world.
And by
this,
his
sacrifice,
he has
brought us
close to
God.
What will
you do
with Jesus?
May you
come to
Jesus as
God's
living stone
and may
you experience
in fresh
ways your
new and
treasured
identity in
Christ.
But there
is more.
You are a
chosen people,
people, some
Bible versions
might say that
you're a
chosen race.
This is a
corporate identity.
He's talking
about the
church, the
true Israel.
But the
implication is
also individual
because the
race is not
racial.
The chosen
race is not
black or
white or red
or brown.
the chosen
race is the
new people
from all
peoples
everywhere.
All
colours,
all cultures
who are now
aliens and
strangers in
the world.
You and
me.
What gives
us our
identity is
not colour
but chosenness.
Out from
all the
races we
have been
chosen,
one at a
time,
not on
the basis
of belonging
to any
group at
all.
That's why
this amazing
phrase is
individually
very crucial
for you
and for
me.
You are
part of
the chosen
race.
So your
identity is
that you
are chosen.
God chose
you.
Not because
of your
race or
for any
of your
qualifications.
Who I am
and who
you are,
we are
chosen.
We did
not earn
it or
merit it
or meet
any conditions
to get
it.
It happened
before we
were born.
We stand
in awe
of it.
We should
tremble with
joy for
it.
We should
bow and
accept it
and we
definitely
should be
living to
be faithful
to its
purpose.
We are
chosen.
So we
are a
spiritual
house.
We are
a royal
priesthood
and we
are chosen.
But wait,
there is
more still?
Just like
the ads
on TV.
This is
expressed
in verse
9 that
we are
God's
possession.
You are
a chosen
people,
a people
belonging to
God and
now you
are the
people of
God.
God takes
you to
be his
possession.
You are
God's
inheritance.
You are
the ones
he will
spend
eternity
with and
we with
him.
When God
says in
2 Corinthians
6,
16,
he says,
I will
be their
God and
they will
be my
people,
my
possession.
What it
means is
I will
dwell in
them and
walk among
them.
When a
person comes
to faith in
Christ, his
or her
identity is
not the
only thing
that changes.
Our text
says that
one's calling
to life
does too.
The latter
half of
verse 9
says,
all this
occurs so
that you
may proclaim
the praises
of him who
called you
out of
darkness
into his
marvellous
light.
Wow,
what an
exalted
calling that
is.
What an
exalted
purpose.
We now
exist to
proclaim the
praises of
God.
Could
anything be
better than
that?
Are you
doing that
each and
every day?
Are you
proclaiming the
praises of
God?
I don't
mean are
you preaching
to every
person that's
in your
eyesight,
but are you
living your
life with a
grateful heart
knowing that
in everything
God has
blessed you
with great
abundance?
is your
heart thankful?
Are you
aware that
you are the
Lord's
ambassador each
and every
day?
Do you
show humility
and grace
in all you
do?
Does your
life point
to Jesus?
I know
that I
fail very
frequently,
but I
am learning
as I
mature as a
Christian that
my identity
is not
shaken when
I fail.
I know
that I'm a
work in
progress.
I know
that perfection
will only
arrive when
Jesus returns
and makes me
new and fit
for God's
presence.
In the
meantime, I
am very
aware of
what my
weak spots
are, and
I would
really encourage
each of you
to examine
what are
your weak
spots,
because I
can guarantee
you,
wherever your
weak spot
is, that
is where
you're going
to be
tempted by
Satan.
So what
do we do
when we
fail?
Because we
all will,
this side
of heaven,
or what do
we do when
we realise
that we
have believed
the lie
that the
world has
told us
about who
we are,
that we
have succumbed
to believing
that our
identity lies
in things,
in achievements
and the
like.
How do we
make things
right when
we know
that Christ
has given
us everything
in abundance
for us to
be secure,
significant
and accepted?
If you
catch yourself
returning to
the world's
view of who
you are,
then I
would encourage
you, you
repent
immediately.
Keep very
short accounts
with the
Lord.
Repent and
believe the
truth of
who God
has made
you.
Just like
the eagle in
the story at
the beginning
who looked
back towards
the barnyard,
we too
look back
sometimes.
But looking
back will
actually confuse
you.
Our eyes
are to be
fixed on
Jesus and
we are to
grow and
to be
Christ-like
in our
growth.
Verse 2
says,
like newborn
babies,
crave spiritual
milk so
that by it
you may grow
up in your
salvation.
This refers
to the very
things that
nourish the
Christian community
in its growth.
Knowledge of
God,
prayer,
instruction
in the
gospel,
faithful
obedience,
hearing God's
word preached.
The desire for
spiritual nourishment
needs to be the
desire of the
church that
wants to know
the Lord and
to grow and
to live by
his will.
This desire
is accompanied
by learning to
rid yourselves
thoughts of
all malice
or deceit,
hypocrisy and
envy and
slander of
every kind.
All of
these things
are very
common
problems that
arise in
Christian
communities or
churches when
spiritual things
are not the
desired priority
in individuals'
lives.
things.
We have been
given so much
in Christ and
as one of my
community members
said this week
in our group,
we need to
exercise our
muscles.
We need to
have spiritual
muscles and
get strong.
By this, we
need to not
only be in the
word, but we
need to be
encouraging each
other to be
in the word.
We need to
be encouraging
each other to
grow spiritually,
challenging each
other when we
sense that we
have taken on a
worldly view of
our own identity
and to grow
together to be
the spiritual
house of the
Lord.
We are in a
highly privileged
position that
each of us are
individual bricks
or individual
stones.
of the temple
of God.
And yet, one
brick or one
stone cannot
sit out on the
grass in the
sun and build
something all by
itself.
All of the
bricks, all the
stones need to be
brought together
with Christ as the
cornerstone to
build something
strong, to build
God's temple.
people.
When we look at
our 2020
booklet, which
Tashi has, the
red book, that
each of you should
have, and if you
don't have one, I
have plenty spare.
But when we look at
that 2020 booklet
that has our core
values in it, it is
by no accident that
our core values are
directly related to
this community of
believers being
built up in
Christ.
Why are we so
passionate about
every one of us
having a secure
identity in
Christ?
Well, I think it's
twofold.
Having a secure
identity in
Christ will
confirm in
yourself, but
also to others
that you belong
to the King of
Kings, the Lord
of Lords.
And the way
that you respond
to what the
world throws at
you, all those
difficult scenarios
that come in
life, because
that's what life
is about, the
way you respond
will also tell
people, and it
will be dependent
upon what your
identity is.
problems won't
go away, but
you can be very,
very confident
and secure in
knowing that
Christ is with
you.
The second
reason why we
would be very
passionate about
us understanding
our identity in
Christ is that
collectively we
reflect the
temple of God.
I've already
said this.
But we can't
be God's
people on our
own.
So it's
extremely important
that we encourage
each other in our
faith.
We can do that by
meeting together,
by being on
time when we
come for corporate
worship.
It's important that
we challenge each
other when we
think that there
is ungodly
behaviour.
it means giving
each other
permission to
speak into
each other's
lives life
words.
Not negative
words, but
life words.
If you have a
brother or sister
in Christ in
this congregation
that needs life
words, you are
the one.
If you know
that, you're the
one to actually
speak those words
into their life.
in so
doing, as
scripture actually
tells us, they
will know us,
they being the
community outside
this fellowship of
God's people,
they will know us
by the way we
love each other.
This is an
awesome
responsibility,
but a necessary
one for God's
church to grow.
identity in
Christ.
Our identity
is in
Christ.
We are being
built up into
a spiritual
house, a
royal priesthood.
We are chosen
people and we
are God's very
precious possession.
All of this has
been given in
abundance so
that we can be
very secure,
significant and
accepted.
As a church
here in
Chatswood, just
part of God's
kingdom worldwide,
may we live to
glorify God in
who we are, in
what we say and
in what we do.