March 4, 2023: 1 Peter 2:10 - I am so Thankful for God's Mercy
“…who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” - 1 Peter 2:10
Writing to the Jews who had been dispersed, scattered from their land in Israel to Roman provinces, primarily in modern day Turkey, Peter was encouraging his brothers and sisters who had turned to Jesus Christ, accepting Him as their Savior, and who were being persecuted for their faith in Him. He told them that though they were once not a people, they now are a people of God and though they had not obtained mercy, they now have obtained mercy. Peter’s words are reminiscent of the prophet Hosea’s words in the book of Hosea.
God had told Hosea to marry a harlot and have children with her because the nation of Israel had committed spiritual harlotry against God by departing from Him to worship false gods and idols. Hosea did as God commanded, and he married the harlot Gomer. Gomer bore three children, and God told Hosea to name them as shown below.
A son, Jezreel: “Jezreel” means “God will sow” or “God scatters.” The Jezreel Valley in Israel is where several great battles of the Israelites took place, and it is also in the same valley as Meggido. It is very interesting to me that this same valley is where the battle of Armageddon will take place, as described in Revelation 16:16 and when Jesus Christ returns and defeats those gathered together against Him (see Revelation 19:11-21).
A daughter, Lo-Ruhamah: “Lo-Ruhamah” means “No mercy.”
A son, Lo-Ammi: “Lo-Ammi” means “Not-My-People.”
Isaiah the prophet wrote about God’s coming judgment on Judah. God had promised both judgment on both nations, Israel and Judah, which once united under one king were now divided nations. God did in fact bring judgment upon both nations because of their unfaithfulness to Him. They had both chose to worship false gods and idols instead of worshipping Him, the One true God, the One who had delivered them out of bondage in Egypt. However, God always promises to restore His people if they repent and return to Him, for He is merciful and kind. Hosea wrote of God’s future restoration of His people:
“Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ there it shall be said to them, ‘You are sons of the living God.’ Then the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and appoint for themselves one head; and they shall come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel! Say to your brethren, ‘My people,’ and to your sisters, ‘Mercy is shown.’”
Though the Jewish believers in Christ to whom Peter was writing were still scattered from their land, by their belief in Jesus as their Messiah, they were now people of God and had obtained mercy through Jesus the sacrifice He had made by shedding His precious blood, so that all who believe in Him will be saved from sin.
As the Bible tells us, Jesus will return a second time after a period of seven years of tribulation upon the earth that the world has never seen, nor will ever see again. During this time, known as the time of Jacob’s [Israel’s] trouble, a remnant of the Jews will survive and will finally recognize Him as their Messiah and turn to Him in belief. As prophesied by the aforementioned passages from the book of Hosea, the children of Judah and the children of Israel will be reunited in the land that God gave them through His unconditional Abrahamic Covenant with them, and they will worship the One whom they pierced, Jesus Christ, Messiah and will be with Him forever in eternal glory.
But God did not send Jesus just to offer salvation through the Jews but to all peoples, Jews and Gentiles. God’s mercy is available to all. Salvation is free and available to all who call upon Jesus:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2)
“…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek [Gentile], for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him, For ‘whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’” (Romans 10:9-13)
As Peter first wrote in this first epistle to the Jewish believers in Christ, and again in verse 10, God is abundantly merciful to all who are born again through belief in His Son, Jesus Christ:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)
I am so very thankful to be called a child of God, one of His own, and for His abundant mercy and love that He has shown me. I am so very thankful for the time that He has given this lost and dying world to turn to Him and be saved. I pray that if you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior, that you will do so today, and you too, will be thankful to be called His child and receive His abundant mercy.
“For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.” (Psalm 86:5)
“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7) ✝️