Peter Exhorts the Persecuted Believers Volume 21

 We are a Peculiar People/New Creations of God by His Mercy

1 Peter 2:9-10 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light: 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. KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

The Apostle Peter just finished telling or reminding us of how many of those Jews of old rejected Christ as being their Messiah and instead believed that the true Messiah had not come yet. Like those Jews of old, many Jews and Gentiles today continue to reject, refuse, or resist Christ as the only way to Heaven/God. However, the Apostle Peter wants those of us today and of every era and generation who have come to Christ in genuine repentance and faith and been born again by Him of incorruptible seed to know who we are in Him at all times and in any place, so the Apostle Peter declares to us who we are 'in Christ' and how He sees us whom He has redeemed with these next words, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light: 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." (1 Peter 2:9-10) (KJV). First, the Apostle Peter calls us a chosen generation and this English word 'chosen' is translated by the Greek word eklektos meaning select; by implication favorite: - chosen, elect. The English word 'generation' is translated by the Greek word meaning figuratively countryman, offspring, kindred, nation. This does not mean that we were and are the good sinners that Jesus Christ looked upon and said, 'They are worthy of My salvation', of course not God forbid, but it simply means we are the chosen of God because we came to Him the one and only way He says sinners must approach Him and that is by repenting and believing the Gospel of Grace which is that Jesus Christ died for our sins in our place and resurrected from death proving that He alone is God and He alone can forgive sin. Second, the Apostle Peter calls us a royal priesthood and the English word 'royal' is translated by the Greek word basileios (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning kingly (in nature). The English word 'priesthood' is translated by the Greek word hierateuma meaning the priestly fraternity, that is, a sacerdotal order (figuratively): - priesthood. The design, desire, and determination of the Apostle Peter to us is that we would see ourselves the way God sees us now, for the Lord Jesus is King 👑 and He was crucified because it was declared that He was 'King of the Jews' (Matthew 27:37) & (Mark 15:2). We are in union with Christ, in fellowship with Christ, in relationship with Christ, therefore, we are Kings and Priest unto Him just as the Apostle John wrote here, "To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 1:5-6) (NKJV). Third, the Apostle Peter calls us collectively a holy nation and the English word 'holy' is translated by the Greek word hagios meaning sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated): - saint. The English word 'nation' is translated by the Greek word ethnos meaning a race (as of the same habit), that is, a tribe; nation, people. The design for those of us who have been redeemed, regenerated, and resurrected by God the Holy Spirit is to conform us into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29) and Christ is Holy, therefore, we are always and at all times commanded to be holy as Peter has already reminded us of with these words earlier in this letter/epistle, "Because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'" (1 Peter 1:16) (NKJV) and it is from the words written by Moses in the Old Testament with which the Apostle Peter quotes, such as here, "For I am the LORD who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy." (Leviticus 11:45) (NKJV). The professing Christians who make light of the holiness of God and walking and living in holiness as believers are a stench (a distinctive odor that is offensively unpleasant) in the Nostrils of God. Fourth, the Apostle Peter calls us a peculiar people and the English word 'peculiar' is translated by the Greek word peripoiēsis meaning a people of His own possession or a purchased people of His. In other words, we belong to God as His very own adopted sons and daughters having been born again by the incorruptible seed of His very own Word. In so becoming His very own purchased people (by way of the Blood of Jesus Christ) we now are enabled, energized, and empowered by Him to bring forth or shew forth, that is, to published or to put out to Him praises that are honoring to Him and bring Glory to Him alone for the change and transformation He has done and is continuing to do in us and through us to the Glory of God for all the world to see and behold. When a crack addict drops their rocks and are empowered by God to never defile their physical bodies with that substance again or when a heroine addict drops her needles and no longer desires to shoot that poison into her veins or when a pedophile is delivered from his desire to have sex with children 🧒 and is enabled by God to turn completely away from that demeaning, destructive, and damning lifestyle by the Power of the Holy Spirit all praise and honor and glory belongs to our Great God and Savior alone Jesus Christ. For all we sinners were once far off from God because of our sin, but now we are close to God because of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and we are now the people of God made by Him into new creatures, as it is written, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) (NKJV). Mercy was shown to us, when we did not deserve it at all. Amen!!!

Here is what John Wesley had to say of 1 Peter 2:9-10, "But ye - Who believe in Christ Are - In a higher sense than ever the Jews were. A chosen or elect race, a royal priesthood - 'Kings and priests unto God, Rev. 1:6. As princes, ye have power with God, and victory over sin, the world, and the devil: as priests, ye are consecrated to God, for offering spiritual sacrifices. Ye Christians are as one holy nation, under Christ your King. A purchased people - Who are His peculiar property. That ye may show forth - By your whole behaviour, to all mankind. The virtues - The excellent glory, the mercy, wisdom, and power of Him, Christ, who hath called you out of the darkness of ignorance, error, sin, and misery. Who in time past were not a people - Much less the people of God; but scattered individuals of many nations. The former part of the verse particularly respects the Gentiles; the latter, the Jews." Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of 1 Peter 2:9-10, "Learn, [1.] All true Christians are a chosen generation; they all make one family, a sort and species of people distinct from the common world, of another spirit, principle, and practice, which they could never be if they were not chosen in Christ to be such, and sanctified by His Spirit. [2.] All the true servants of Christ are a royal priesthood. They are royal in their relation to God and Christ, in their power with God, and over themselves and all their spiritual enemies; they are princely in the improvements and the excellency of their own spirits, and in their hopes and expectations; they are a royal priesthood, separated from sin and sinners, consecrated to God, and offering to God spiritual services and oblations, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [3.] All Christians, wheresoever they be, compose one holy nation. They are one nation, collected under one head, agreeing in the same manners and customs, and governed by the same laws; and they are a holy nation, because consecrated and devoted to God, renewed and sanctified by His Holy Spirit. [4.] It is the honour of the servants of Christ that they are God's peculiar people. They are the people of His acquisition, choice, care, and delight. These four dignities of all genuine Christians are not natural to them; for their first state is a state of horrid darkness, but they are effectually called out of darkness into a state of marvellous light, joy, pleasure, and prosperity, with this intent and view, that they should show forth, by words and actions, the virtues and praises of Him who hath called them. (2.) To make this people content, and thankful for the great mercies and dignities brought unto them by the Gospel, the Apostle advises them to compare their former and their present state. Time was when they were not a people, nor had they obtained mercy, but they were solemnly disclaimed and divorced (Jeremiah 3:8; Hosea 1:6, Hosea 1:9); but now they are taken in again to be the people of God, and have obtained mercy. Learn, [1.] The best people ought frequently to look back upon what they were in time past. [2.] The people of God are the most valuable people in the world; all the rest are not a people, good for little. [3.] To be brought into the number of the people of God is a very great mercy, and it may be obtained."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…