December 3, 2025 - 1 Peter 2

Once not a people, we are now the people of God.  Once receiving no mercy, now we have received mercy (2:10).  The Old Testament prophet Hosea, speaking for God, told Israel, “In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ it shall be said to them, ‘Children of the living God’” (Hosea 1:10).  Paul put is like this:  “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:15-16) & “In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith” (Galatians 3:26) & “You are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God” (Galatians 4:7) & “In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:4-5) & “Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).  Finally, hear John:  “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).  The theme is repeated over and over again.  In Christ, we are children of God!

Now are we sons of God!

Nor doth it yet appear

What heights of bliss, thro’ Jesus’ blood,

For us prepared are.

Jesus alone we own,

And nothing know beside;

In him, as free from sin, we’re known,

His pure and holy bride.

In him we now confess,

We are the Lord’s delight,

His rest, his joy and righteousness,

All glorious in his sight.   -- James Relly (18^th century)