NT Promise 83: People of Mercy

1 Peter 2:10 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 people were not a people in time past, but now (since Jesus came) they are the people of God. The promise is for us: we were born sinners separated from God belonging to Sin, Death, and Satan, but now (since believing in Jesus) we are the people of God. We were once not a people, separated from God and everyone, alone in the world, isolated from anything good and from life, and belonging nowhere. But now we have this promise: we are part of a loving group, part of the family of God, in the eternal Kingdom of God, connected to God and His life. We belong, we have meaning and purpose, we are a part of something big and long-lasting. We will never be alone again, ever. The good God is by our side and on our side.

Now it is true that we belong to various groups, family, work, interest groups, community groups, school, nations and states, but these are temporary, they do not last, and they will disappoint, let us down, and eventually die and separate. And some groups to which we ”belong” will be mean and harmful to us. But it is not so in the kingdom of God. It will always be good for us forever. We belong to God and His people.

The further promise is that in this people group we have obtained mercy. Sinners like us cannot live long or live well without mercy. Sin is always getting us into a mess and into trouble, but since Jesus came there is always and ever Good News: we have mercy. Pride may deceive us into thinking we don’t need mercy, but sooner or later, our life catches up to us and shows us we need mercy. Without it we are dead, isolated, and not a people. We live by faith in grace and mercy. Praise God, we have it!