Peculiar People

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

The verses leading up to our text explain why we are so special in
God's eyes. We find the key in verse 7, which literally reads, "For
you, therefore that believe is the preciousness," since the Greek word
is a noun and not an adjective. But what is this preciousness? The
word means honor or honorableness, and in slightly different forms is
so translated in 1 Peter 1:7 and 3:7. But whose honor or worthiness is
being discussed in this passage?

Peter answers both of these questions in the immediate context.
Speaking of the Lord, he calls Him "precious . . . a chief corner
stone, elect, precious" (1 Peter 2:4, 6). Christ, in God's eyes, is
precious. "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew
3:17). Why is He precious? For His purity, love, desire for God's
will, etc.--all the ways (and more) in which we are not precious.

If we choose to remain in disobedient unbelief (1 Peter 2:7), the
stone is made "a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to
them which stumble at the word" . Christ, God's beloved Son, and
His atoning blood are so precious to God that there is a limit to His
patience toward those who reject them. God will not allow His Son to
be "disallowed" or disobeyed without penalty. Worthlessness is the
state of those who reject, and judgment awaits them.

If we disbelieve, we have no hope, but "he that believeth on him shall
not be confounded |literally, 'shall positively not be disappointed'|"
. Our faith is well-founded. If we place our trust in Him, His
preciousness is transferred to us. When God the Father looks at one
who truly believes, He sees not only Christ's sinlessness, He sees His
preciousness.