3. Election (2:4-10)

Being God’s people means fulfilling their function as the elect of God. Some find the doctrine of election difficult to understand. For Peter, however, it is simply a fact that Christians are the elect people of God (1:1-2; 2:9; 5:13). Several observations will clarify what he means.

Election must be seen in relation to Jesus Christ. Christ is the Elect One of God who was “chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake” (1:20). Christ’s function as the Elect One of God serves as a basis for the Christian’s election. Thus Christians, in coming to the Living Stone who is elect and honored by God, become living stones themselves and together comprise the elect and honored people of God (2:4-5, 9-10)—that is, as they come to Christ they become identified with his vocation as the elect of God. Christians are elect as they are in Christ.

If election is in Christ, then clearly election does not preclude personal faith. To use a Pauline expression, election is “by grace through faith” (Eph 2:8-9). Hence, the manifestation of Christ, the Elect One of God, occurred so that “our faith and hope might be in God” (1:21). Peter leaves no doubt that one’s inclusion among the elect is dependent on one’s trust in Christ (2:6-8; cf. 1:3-5; 5:9).

What does it mean to be the elect of God? Quite simply, the elect of God identify with the vocation of Christ and are a holy people who manifest God’s glory in the world. As Christ bore the rejection of humanity, so will his followers. Yet as Christ fulfilled his calling as the Elect of God and was honored, so it will be for his followers. God’s elect people identify with God’s elect Son and assume his vocation in the world.

For this very reason, Peter concludes this section by ascribing to Christians the titles of honor enjoyed by Israel (2:9-10). Like the redeemed of old, those who have been redeemed through Christ are God’s chosen, holy people who make known the wonderful deeds of God in the world. As the elect people of God they are the unique people through whose Christlike conduct God reveals his mercy and power to the world.