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.In the past, you were not a people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.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.who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
4 sermons cite this verse
… who called you out of darkness and into his wonderful light that's why all this operated in us is so that now we can declare the praise of him. For once you were not a people, but now you are the people, the people of God. And once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. And so all this gets lived out. We could just cut it off right there, but it helps if you take the header out and you just keep on breathing. Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to abstain from sinful desires, which weighs war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. you weren't a people but now you are a people and you're the people of God so yes I am valuable praise God yes I am in his sight yes I am secure and sealed but I also belong to God. …
chosen to tell. Not only is that the title of this message is truly the theme of our lives, we have been chosen to speak, to be an ambassador on behalf of God. Chosen to tell, anointed, appointed. We exist to do for Jesus what the moon does for the sun. What does the moon do? Simple. The moon reflects a greater light. How many of you know that the moon generates no light of its own? But the moon only reflects the light. And contrary to the lyrics of the song, this harvest moon cannot shine on. Apart from the sun, the moon is nothing more than a pitch black rock, but properly positioned the moon beams. I thought that was a clever sentence, but you didn't. The moon beams. Let her do what she was made to do, and this clod of dirt becomes a rock of inspiration. Yea, verily, romance. And the moon never complains. Raise your hand if you've ever heard the moon complain. I haven't either. …
… who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 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. Earlier in verse 4, he says, You come to him, a living stone rejected by men, but in the sight of God chosen and precious. You yourselves, like living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood. I want you to understand these pictures that Peter is using here. And Paul says the same thing in the book of Ephesians. But here he's saying you're like a stone. Okay, picture yourself as one stone. This is the way God wanted it. You are one living stone. And the purpose of you is not just to be this rock out there on your own. He says somehow you stack together to build a spiritual house. See, when I was saved, I never knew that. No one told me that. Everyone just told me, you need to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And amen. I believe that today. …
"Oyou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted! Behold, I will Jay your stones with fair colors, and lay your foundations with sapphires. And I will make your windows of agates, and your gates of carbuncles, and all your borders of pleasant stones." Isaiah 54:11,12. Who can doubt that this promise belongs to the Gentile Church, since it has been so richly fulfilled in her history? For many an age the light did not shine upon heathen lands. One spot, alone, upon all the earth received the genial beams of the Sun of Righteousness. Vast continents, thickly populated, full of life, bustle and enterprise, lay spread out as a moral waste, barren and neglected. But little Revelation of God had found its way among the teeming multitudes of the population. To them the dispensation of the Grace of God had not been proclaimed. The mystery of Christ was not as yet made known unto the sons of men. The Israelites had a monopoly of Covenant privileges. But now in these latter days, how wondrously are the tables turned! The branches of the wild olive have been grafted in "that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the Gospel." Thus the Lord has taken unto Himself a numerous seed once ignored by Israel, "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." Not after the lineage of the flesh, but according to the nobler lineage of faith, the same are the children of Abraham—and with faithful Abraham do they inherit the Covenant mercy of God. This day the barren woman keeps house and is the joyful mother of many children. The Gentile Church has her stones of sapphire—God is in the midst of her to make her glad! …