Corporate Worship, Covenant People (1 Peter 2:4-10)
In the heart of 1 Peter 2:4-10, Peter calls the exiles to a profound understanding of who they are as God’s people, and he draws from the Old Testament to explain the new identity and purpose of the Church.
This passage highlights the reality that, as God’s people, they are not only a temple built on the living stone of Jesus Christ but a chosen people called to proclaim His excellencies. The connection Peter draws to Old Testament imagery not only roots the identity of the exiles in the larger narrative of Scripture but also underscores the role of corporate worship in their perseverance as exiles.
Peter’s words remind us that, despite the rejection and suffering we face as Christians, our true worth is found in God, who has called us precious and chosen.
This passage places the corporate worship of God at the heart of the believer’s perseverance in faith, showing that our worship is not just a personal act but a communal response that fuels our spiritual growth.
The Temple of Living Stones (v. 4-8)
Peter begins by pointing to Jesus as the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious to God. He writes, “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious…” (1 Peter 2:4).
This is not just a theological statement but an invitation to the exiles to see themselves as part of a living temple built upon Christ. Jesus is the foundation stone of this spiritual house, and just as He was rejected by the builders (a reference to Psalm 118:22), so too will His followers face rejection. However, just as Jesus was precious to God, so are His followers, even though the world may scorn them.
In the Old Testament, the temple was the physical dwelling place of God’s presence, and a renewed Temple was promised. Now, in the New Covenant, God’s presence is not limited to a physical building but is now found in His people, who are described as “living stones.”
Peter uses this imagery to show that the Church, as God’s new temple, is alive, built on Christ, the living stone. And just as the foundation of the temple in the Old Testament was designed to house God’s glory, this spiritual house—the Church—is being built to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God (v.5).
This new temple of believers is not simply a structure but a people. They are not passive observers but active participants in the work of God. As priests in this new temple, they are called to offer spiritual sacrifices. The imagery here brings to mind the role of priests in the Old Testament, who were responsible for offering sacrifices and leading the worship of God. But the key difference is that these spiritual sacrifices are made acceptable to God through Christ. It is His work, His once-for-all sacrifice on the cross, that makes our worship and service acceptable to God, not the works themselves.
The Cornerstone and the Rejected People (v. 6-8)
Peter continues by quoting Isaiah 28:16, saying, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
This is the fulfillment of the Old Testament promise that God would lay a cornerstone in Zion—Jesus Christ. The cornerstone is the key stone in a building, the one on which everything else depends. Christ, as the cornerstone, is the foundation of the Church, and our relationship to Him shapes our identity as God’s people.
However, Peter also emphasizes that not all will accept Him. “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (v. 7). Those who reject Christ will stumble over Him, just as the builders of Israel’s temple rejected Him. This rejection is a stumbling block to those who do not believe, and their unwillingness to accept Christ results in their downfall. But for those who believe in Christ, He is the precious cornerstone, the foundation on which their faith rests.
The corporate aspect of this truth is important to understand: while some reject Christ, the Church stands firm on Him, offering sacrifices of praise and service to God. Even though the world may reject the Church, it is built on the living stone, and it is that foundation that allows and enables us to persevere. This new temple will never be destroyed because its Cornerstone is eternally secure.
A Chosen People, A Royal Priesthood (v. 9-10)
Peter then turns to emphasize the identity of the believers as a “chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people” (v. 9). (Note: peculiar doesn’t mean weird, rather a people that belong to God)
These titles are taken directly from the Old Testament, particularly from Exodus 19:5-6, where God speaks to Israel, declaring that if they obey, they will be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
However, Peter now applies these terms to the Church, showing that God’s covenant people are no longer limited to ethnic Israel but now include all who have been called by God, regardless of their background. He also removes the contingency, declaring that they, through their head, are now a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
This is the Church’s identity: a chosen people, set apart for God’s purposes. We are not merely a group of individuals, but a people, unified in Christ and called to live out our identity as God’s holy people.
Our purpose as a royal priesthood is to proclaim the excellencies of God, to declare His greatness, and the work of salvation He has accomplished in Christ.
This is the primary purpose of the Church: to proclaim the gospel, to praise God, and to reflect His glory to the world. Edmund Clowney rightly states, “Heralding praise is the reason that we exist.” The Church’s existence is not for its own glory but for the glory of God, and our worship is the response to God’s initiative in calling us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
The Response of Worship and Proclamation
Peter’s words in verse 9 call us to live in response to the grace of God, which has made us His people. “That you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
This is the essence of our corporate worship: it is a proclamation of God’s greatness, His holiness, and His grace. Our worship is not a passive activity but a responsive one. We respond to God’s calling by declaring His excellencies, by offering up our praise and thanksgiving, and by living lives that reflect His glory. Corporate worship fuels our perseverance because it keeps our focus on the God who has called us, redeemed us, and given us a purpose.
When we gather together as the people of God, we are reminded that we are part of something much larger than ourselves. We are a living temple, built on the foundation of Christ, offering spiritual sacrifices through Him. We are a royal priesthood, called to proclaim the gospel and declare the excellencies of God. This focus on God’s work in the past, present, and future fuels our perseverance as we face trials and challenges in this life. We know that we are not alone; we are part of a community of believers who are united in worship and purpose.
Conclusion: Responding to God’s Initiative in Corporate Worship
Understand, Corporate worship is not just an activity we do; it is a powerful means of grace that strengthens our faith and fuels our perseverance.
As we gather together as God’s people, we are reminded of who we are: a living temple, a chosen people, a royal priesthood.
Our worship is a response to God’s initiative: He has called us, redeemed us, and set us apart for His purposes. The gospel is the foundation of everything we do as God’s people, and our corporate worship is a declaration of God’s greatness and glory.
In times of suffering and rejection, it is corporate worship that helps us to fix our eyes on Christ, the living stone, and to remember that we are precious to God, despite the world’s rejection.
As we proclaim His excellencies in worship, we are reminded of the hope that we have in Him, and we are strengthened to persevere, knowing that our lives are built on the unshakable foundation of Christ. Our worship is not only a response to God’s grace but also a means by which God continues to shape and build His people for His glory.