In his first epistle, Peter lamented how many Jews rejected the “Chief Cornerstone,” and how the Messiah became a “stone of stumbling” and a “rock of offense” to them. Then he declared to those who are saved:
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9, NKJV).
What does it mean to be “a chosen generation?”
The word “generation” has four key definitions:
- An entire group of individuals born and living during the same era
- A group of individuals who share similar ideas or goals
- Offspring of the same parent
- The act or process of generating.
All members of the true church from the day of Pentecost onward can claim being a part of the same “generation” because they are all part of the same era (the age of grace), they share similar ideas (Jesus is the Savior of the world), they are all descendants of the same progenitor (the everlasting Father) and they have all been spiritually reborn by “the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5, NKJV). We may not be naturally rubbing shoulders with the early disciples, but we are supernaturally.
Ancient Prophecies
Psalm 22 confirms this wondrous truth. David first foretold the torturous treatment the Messiah would receive, even describing His hands and feet being pierced, but then he declared,
“A seed shall serve Him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation” (Ps. 22:30, KJV).
That prophecy stretches across the past two millennia, embracing all who have been washed in the blood of Jesus and filled with His Spirit.
Isaiah also gave detailed descriptions of the crucifixion. He predicted the Messiah would be “despised and rejected of men … But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed” (Is. 53:3, 5). Then he posed the question:
“Who shall declare His generation?” (Is. 53:8)
In other words, who will unveil the mystery of the New Covenant family of God—the chosen generation spanning hundreds of years—that will result from this sacrifice? You who understand are vitally important to God’s cause, for He is depending on you to invite everyone to partake of this supreme blessing.
Psalm 24 pulls back the prophetic veil even further, first prophetically describing the ascension of the Lord Jesus, then the covenant people who would result, saying:
“This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob. Selah” (Ps. 24:6, NKJV).
So, according to these key passages, through the death of the Son of God, there will emerge a chosen, spiritual generation who will both “serve” and “seek” the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in a pronounced way.
Certainly, many of God’s people in the Old Testament “served” God to the best of their ability and “sought” Him fervently in prayer, but the regenerated sons and daughters of God in the New Testament are even more capable of doing so, having been begotten of the Word and born of the Spirit. Through this dual spiritual empowerment, we are supernaturally enabled to represent Him in this world. And to every one of us, Jesus presents the encouraging revelation:
“You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain” (John 15:16, NKJV).
Yes, we are “a chosen generation!” {eoa}
Mike Shreve has taught on the spiritual identity of believers for over 35 years. This powerful revelation is the central theme of his Charisma House book titled Who Am I? Dynamic Declarations of Who You Are in Christ. It is also featured on his weekly podcast on cpnshows.com titled Discover Your Spiritual Identity“also seen on his YouTube channel: www.YouTube.com/mikeshreveministries. He has a second podcast titled Revealing the True Light which examines comparative religion subjects. A product of the Jesus Movement Era, Mike has traveled evangelistically in the United States and overseas since 1970 with an emphasis on healing and the prophetic. www.shreveministries.org. On this episode of Discover Your Spiritual Identity, Mike Shreve delves even deeper into this wondrous and powerful name for God’s people: “A Chosen Generation.”
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