Chapter
1 2 3 4 5
Verse

1 Peter 2:10

ESV 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.
NIV 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.
NASB 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.
CSB Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
NLT 'Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.'
KJV 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.
NKJV who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

What does 1 Peter 2:10 mean?

In verse 10, Peter references Hosea 2:23. This Old Testament prophet was a living symbol of God's willingness to forgive sin, and to redeem mankind. Even though Hosea's wife was constantly unfaithful, he forgave her and rescued her from a life of slavery. Like Israel, all Christians together—the church—have been changed. We have a before and an after. Before, we were not a people. We belonged to ourselves and served only our own desires. But in Christ, we have become God's people. We have belonging. We have purpose. We have a shared destiny with Him in eternity.

Before, we had not received mercy. We would have received the full penalty for our sinful choices. But through faith in Christ, we have received mercy. Our status has been permanently changed. Notice that both statements are in the present tense. We are not seeking and hoping to become God's people and receive mercy. In Christ, we are God's people. We have received mercy. The transaction is complete.
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