The People of God
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9–10, NASB95) Notice the four titles which Peter applies to us as Christians: a. “A chosen race (generation, NKJV; people, NIV84)” b. “A royal priesthood” c. “A holy nation” d. “A people for God’s own possession” (“His own special people,” NKJV; “a people belonging to God,” NIV84) Peter adds that we are people who God “has called out of darkness into His marvelous light.” He then sums this up with “once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (v. 10). What has happened to make all of this possible in our lives?