Peter the apostle called the
“scattered” Christians, “a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people”. He
wanted them to know the reason for this was
“that” they
“should show forth the praises of him who has called” them
“out of darkness into his marvelous light”. In
chapter two and verse ten of his letter, Peter told the “scattered”
Christians
they “are now the people of God”
who have
“obtained mercy” where
we read:
Which in time past were
not a people, but are now the people of God:
which had not obtained
mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
The
verse begins, “Which in time past were not a
people, but are now the people of God:” Peter
began with the phrase, “Which in time past” or “once,
formally and aforetime” “were not” which means “no,
absolutely negative, nay, neither, none and never” “a people”
which refers to “a group, tribe, nation and all those who are of
the same stock and language”, “but” which is a
disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written
takes precedence over what was just stated “moreover, nevertheless,
and” “are now” or “at this time or in the present”
“the people” which refers to “a group, tribe, nation and
all those who are of the same stock and language” “of God”
or “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the
Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. The “scattered”
Christians were not considered the “people of God” before they
were chosen of God, however, now that He has elected them, they are
“nation of God”.
The
verse goes on to say, “which had not obtained mercy, but now
have obtained mercy.” Peter continued with, “which had
not” or “not that these or those” “obtained mercy”
which means “have received help for those seeking aid or bringing
help to the wretched”, “but” which again means
“moreover, nevertheless, and” “now” which refers to
“at this time or in the present” “have obtained mercy”
or “have received help for those seeking aid or bringing help to
the wretched”. Before they were “chosen” by the Lord,
the “scattered” Christians had not received aid for their
wretchedness, but now they experienced the “help and aid” of the
Lord.
When we
think through these words of Peter, we begin to understand the
importance of being “elected and chosen” by Him. Those who
have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior “have
obtained mercy” from Him, and they are “people of God”.
What a blessed notion it is to know the Lord loves His people in that
way. May all those who have received Jesus rejoice in the “mercy”
they have “obtained”.
Next
time Peter tells the “scattered” Christians to “abstain
from fleshly lusts”, so read ahead, and we shall join together
then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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