"But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD'S OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who 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," (I Peter 2:9, 10).
* Peter's purpose in his descriptions of the church are to promote holy behavior. As the people of God, who have received such amazing mercy, our response should be to proclaim God's excellencies. Yet, our verbal witness is heard only as our life-style is consistently godly.
* In stark contrast to the disobedience of unbelievers, Peter declares that the people of God must walk in the holiness which befits our calling. By reflecting on the judgment we so richly deserved as unbelievers, we will live holy lives of gratitude for His mercy.
* These two verses paint the beautiful picture of who we are in Christ, and the holiness which should characterize our lives. As the people of God, we must not only proclaim our Savior's excellencies, but also earn the right for such witness by holy living. And our motive for such a life-style is to be gratitude for such marvelous mercy that we've been shown.
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