“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10, NIV).
Do you still remember the original King of the Rock-n-Roll music? (Showed a portion of the video of Elvis Presley in You Tube singing An American Trilogy.)
You may know he was a famous singer and even actor, but do you know before he became popular, he was a gospel singer?
Do you also know that, according to the information in the internet, “…Elvis made more money than any other entertainer in history. Over 4.5 billion dollars. Remember he died over 30 years, so that 4.5 billion is in 1950's 1960's and 1970's money, not 2010 money, by today's standard that would be somewhere around 15 - 20 billion. But Elvis never believed in tax shelters, his manager Tom Parker took most of his money, his father manage his money poorly, and he gave away tons of money. With all that, from the 4.5 billion dollars he made, he died with assets worth under 14 million dollars, and deeply in debt, not rich by celebrity standards, even then, and no where near the 4.5 billion he made”?
Also, do you know that when “…he did a charity event, he would pay all the expenses out of his pocket, and all the proceeds went to charity, giving them 100% of the money that concert made. That is something no celebrity has done before or since. Most will donate their time for free, but the expenses for the concert are paid from the ticket sales and then balance goes to the charity”?
How about our God, are you overwhelmed by what He has done for us?
This time, let’s discuss and realize “WHAT GOD HAS DONE TO US,” as we deal with our text (1 Peter 2:9-10).
So, as we focus this time in our text, what could we cite that God has done to us?
Again, let’s remind ourselves that Peter addressed 1 Peter both to the Jewish and non-Jewish Christians, who were then scattered throughout Asia Minor. The Christians then were suffering local persecutions. And later the persecutions even became intense and widespread.
In the previous verses, we learn that Peter pointed out to the suffering Christians in his time that Jesus is Precious. But, we can also deduce that because the believers are “like living stones,” they are also considered precious in the sight of God.
Last time, we realized that in our trials we need to believe what God thinks of us – precious. And second, live on what God does in our life.
Now, in our present passage, we could learn at least three (3) things that God has done to the believers.
First, GOD HAS CHOSEN US.
In verse 9, we read in part: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s spe-cial possession,...” (NIV.)
Peter pointed out to the suffering Christians then – not only the Jewish Christians, but also non-Jewish Christians – that they were a chosen people. Remember that the letter was addressed both to the Jew-ish and non-Jewish Christians.
Being a chosen people in the Old Testament is different from to be a chosen people in the New Testament. One difference is that in the Old, though the Israelites were chosen people, not everyone was chosen to be a priest, but only the Levites.
But, in the New Testament, Peter called the believers not only a chosen people, but also a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.
Peter made a contrast between the unbelievers in verse 8 and the believers in our text. If we go back to verse 8, we read: “’A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.’ They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.”
According to Peter, “a stone” – referring to Jesus – “causes people to stumble and a rock (Jesus) that makes them fall.” The tendency of people is to stumble at Jesus, to disobey His words, to become unbelievers.
“But,” Peter wrote in verse 9, “you are a chosen people…” He told the Christians that in spite of their trials and persecutions, they didn’t take offense at Jesus and they believed His words.
Why? They were a chosen people.
In our time, we need also to realize that if ever we truly believe or have faith in Jesus, it’s not just our own decision. It is not because we understand better than others. It’s not because we are less stubborn than others. It’s not because we are more religious. We become believers, because we are chosen. Not because we chose, but God has chosen us.
In the last part of Act 13:48, we read: “…all who were appointed for eternal life believed.”
And, of course, we are so familiar with Ephesians 2:8, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…”
Our salvation is by grace. Our faith is also by grace. It is not from ourselves, it is the gift of God.
Paul also wrote the Christians in Philippi that they were granted to believe in Christ (Philippians 1:29).
If we do not receive anything this season, let’s not forget the great value of the faith that is granted to us. And we have it, not because we deserve it. But, because God has chosen us.
How about us, saints, do we grasp the grandeur to be chosen by the Living God?
Imagine if the President would choose you, not Manny Pacquiao (a famous Filipino boxer, who be-comes a member of the Senate), to be the next President. And the people of the Philippine would also elect you to win. How would you feel?
But it is not just the President or the people of the Philippines, who elected us. It is the Sovereign God! And He elected us not just to become a temporary president, but “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession…”
And we can be sure that if we are in the Hands of this God, who possesses us, our position is secure and no one even our own selves could shake us off from His grip.
So, in the days ahead no matter what will happen, whatever trials would confront us – like the Christians in the time of Peter – we will be able to persevere in our faith, because God has chosen us.
Another thing that God has done to the believers:
Second, GOD HAS CALLED US OUT OF DARKNESS.
Observe the last part of verse 9, “…of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
Remember that Peter was writing to the Christians in different places in Asia Minor, who were suffering persecution – being insulted, driven away, oppressed, arrested for their beliefs, or even to the point of being killed. He did not mean that they ought to come from such kind of darkness. He did not mean that the wonderful light of God would refer to a life free from persecution and difficulties.
Peter could have referred this wonderful light not to a life free from suffering, but to a life that is in Jesus. And this “darkness” could mean the darkness of unbelief. And he pointed out to his original readers that God called them out from disobeying the Word and following the ways of this world into following and believing Jesus and His words.
People would describe their life today in the “darkness” when they are in the midst of suffering or pain. When they don’t know how to solve their problems or difficulties or simply struggling with loneliness, they feel they are in the dark.
True believers should realize that no matter what kind or how many are their problems they are no longer in darkness. God had called them out of darkness and they are now into His marvelous or wonderful light of having faith in the Son – the True Light, the Light that shines in the darkness. They are now in His marvelous light of trusting in His words. As the Psalmist declared, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:10).
How about us, saints, do we consider ourselves called by God out of darkness into His marvelous light? Are we no longer wallowing in unbelief and following now the example of Jesus and cherishing all His words – not only His promises, but also His instructions?
Or, is there any doubt in our mind that we are called by God out of darkness, because we could not get out from difficulties or problems? Do we entertain the thought that we are not in God’s wonderful light, because of the heavy burden that we suffer?
Again, as we also face the days ahead, let us not put emphasis on our feelings or ideas or what is happening around us, but on what God has done to us: He called us out of darkness. Yes, He has called us out of unbelief. Let us not waiver. Let’s not moan or mourn for what we cannot do or fail to do. Let’s think of what God has done to us.
And the last thing that we could consider this time that God has done to the believers:
Third, GOD HAS GIVEN US MERCY.
Notice the last part of verse 10, “…once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Again, let’s not forget that the original readers of 1 Peter were suffering persecutions. And yet, Peter told them, “…now you have received mercy”!
Does it make sense to you? Of course, it does not.
But, let’s read the whole of verse 10: “Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people, once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Note that before Peter wrote, “…now you have received mercy,” he stated: “Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people, once you had not received mercy…”
What do we observe here?
Peter made the persecuted Christians then to realize that the kind of mercy they needed and now they enjoyed was not the freedom from persecution or present suffering. There was much worse condition they needed the mercy of God. It was not the affliction they suffered from others or from their circumstances.
The problem of all problems, the suffering of all sufferings – that only by God’s mercy they could be delivered – when they didn’t belong to God: “Once you were not a people…” When once they were not a people of God, they were then when once they had not received mercy.
But, when they became God’s people, that’s when they received mercy.
People today could not see the seriousness of their situation. Usually, when they don’t suffer pain they think they are just okey. So, they would indulge in too much sweets, too much salts, too much wine, too much fat or food, or even too much sleep, too much leisure, or too much work, until “ouch”!
But, what is really unfortunate is that they don’t give the thought whether they belong to God or not.
So, when they are now in pain or whatever suffering and realize that only God could help them, they cry for His mercy.
Picture in your mind one who is praying that he would be delivered from pain, because of toothache. And yet his internal organs are in great trouble, but since they cause him no pain, he is after for the healing of his tooth.
People are in greater trouble, if they do not belong to God and they need desperately God’s mercy to make it happen. But, they are worried with other lesser troubles.
How about us? Are we also asking for God’s mercy from deliverance from pain, problem, or whatever difficulty? Of course, we should. But, if we don’t receive His deliverance, do we doubt His mercy? Are we tempted to entertain the idea that we don’t receive His mercy?
Never forget that whatever trouble we are now suffering, whatever challenge we are now facing, whatever pain we are wrestling – even in the days ahead – the Sovereign God has already extended His mercy to His people.
He has delivered us now from the worst condition of our life. He has given us mercy. We may still suffer financial or health problems. We may be in pain as we fulfill our ministry or whatever task God ordains for us. But, because of His mercy, we are now God’s people. And if He is for us, who can be against us?
As we go through with the new challenges ahead, let’s arm ourselves with the thought that our Heavenly Father had provided all our needs and He will continue to do so in the coming days. He is always at work in our life. In fact, He has chosen us, He has called us out of darkness and He has given us mercy.
With a Great and Sovereign Father like that not only our coming new days will surely be happy, but even our eternity!
