Now the People of God, Now Have Obtained Mercy

[KenH]

1 Peter 2:10 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.

"Which in time past were not a people,.... A "Loammi" being put upon them; see Hosea 1:9 to which the apostle here refers: God's elect, whether among Jews or Gentiles, were, from eternity, his chosen people, and his covenant people; and, as such, were given to Christ, and they became his people, and his care and charge; and he saved them by his obedience, sufferings, and death, and redeemed them to himself, a peculiar people: but then, before conversion, they are not a people formed by God for himself, and his praise; nor Christ's willing people, either to be saved by him, or to serve him; nor are they, nor can they be truly known by themselves, or others, to be the people of God."

"but are now the people of God; being regenerated, called, and sanctified, they are avouched by God to be his people; they have the witness of the Spirit to their spirits, that they are the people of God; they can then claim their relation to God, and are known, acknowledged, and called the people of God, by others."

"which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy; being called formerly, Loruhamah, Hosea 1:6 which passages the apostle has in view: before conversion there is mercy in God's heart towards his elect, and so there is in the covenant of grace, and which was shown in the provision of his Son, as a Saviour, in the mission of him, and redemption by him; but this is not manifested to them, until they are begotten again, according to abundant mercy, and then they obtain mercy; having in their regeneration an evident display of the mercy of God towards them, and an application of his pardoning grace and mercy, through the blood of his Son, unto them."

- excerpts from John Gill's Bible commentary on 1 Peter 2:10

 

[Zaatar71]

1 Peter 2:10 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.

"Which in time past were not a people,.... A "Loammi" being put upon them; see Hosea 1:9 to which the apostle here refers: God's elect, whether among Jews or Gentiles, were, from eternity, his chosen people, and his covenant people; and, as such, were given to Christ, and they became his people, and his care and charge; and he saved them by his obedience, sufferings, and death, and redeemed them to himself, a peculiar people: but then, before conversion, they are not a people formed by God for himself, and his praise; nor Christ's willing people, either to be saved by him, or to serve him; nor are they, nor can they be truly known by themselves, or others, to be the people of God."

"but are now the people of God; being regenerated, called, and sanctified, they are avouched by God to be his people; they have the witness of the Spirit to their spirits, that they are the people of God; they can then claim their relation to God, and are known, acknowledged, and called the people of God, by others."

"which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy; being called formerly, Loruhamah, Hosea 1:6 which passages the apostle has in view: before conversion there is mercy in God's heart towards his elect, and so there is in the covenant of grace, and which was shown in the provision of his Son, as a Saviour, in the mission of him, and redemption by him; but this is not manifested to them, until they are begotten again, according to abundant mercy, and then they obtain mercy; having in their regeneration an evident display of the mercy of God towards them, and an application of his pardoning grace and mercy, through the blood of his Son, unto them."

- excerpts from John Gill's Bible commentary on 1 Peter 2:10

Yes indeed, John Gill of course got this issue correct, as it is quite clear in scripture. It is stunning how anyone who studies this out comes up with any other conclusion. Thanks for another solid post!

 

[Van]

I see yet another Calvinist tag team posting false doctrine and declaring it sound.

The passage in question is 1 Peter 2:9-10. Is the passage addressing the Old Covenant or the New Covenant?

Look at 1 Peter 2:2 and see who is the audience. People alive at the time 1 Peter was written, not to people who lived under the Old Covenant. These were people who had been saved under the New Covenant, not the Old Covenant.

How could anyone make such a mistake as to think the passage is addressing an Old Covenant statement? Bias!

So the passage (1 Peter 2:9-10) is addressing people chosen for salvation under the New Covenant! Any other claim is simply false.

We are not supposed to interpret the New Covenant based on the Old Covenant, but the opposite, we are to interpret the Old Covenant based on the New Covenant. Thus the New Covenant overrules the Old Covenant, as it replaced the Old Covenant.

Now what does this passage actually say? Those chosen for salvation to be a people for God's own possession, once had not been a people. So they were not chosen before creation because then they would have always been a people. This is the obvious truth the tag-team is trying to hide with an avalanche of obfuscation.

And this truth is made plain by a second statement. Once these people who had been chosen to be mercifully saved, had not received mercy, thus for the second time, scripture precludes being chosen for salvation individually before creation.

The solution is not to keep nullifying verse after verse teaching individuals are chosen through faith in the truth, who love God, and are poor in the eyes of the world, the solution is to correctly understand Paul's message in Ephesians 1:4.

What did Paul mean by the statement, we were chosen in Him before creation. Scripture does teach Logos, the Word, was chosen to be humanities redeemer before creation, as He was known as the Lamb of God. So when you choose a redeemer, in effect you also choose corporately, those the redeemer will redeem. Thus we were chosen in Him, but not individually. This understanding makes all the other verses where we are chosen through faith make sense.

God bless His gospel truth.

 

[Zaatar71]

I see yet another Calvinist tag team posting false doctrine and declaring it sound.

The passage in question is 1 Peter 2:9-10. Is the passage addressing the Old Covenant or the New Covenant?

Look at 1 Peter 2:2 and see who is the audience. People alive at the time 1 Peter was written, not to people who lived under the Old Covenant. These were people who had been saved under the New Covenant, not the Old Covenant.

How could anyone make such a mistake as to think the passage is addressing an Old Covenant statement? Bias!

So the passage (1 Peter 2:9-10) is addressing people chosen for salvation under the New Covenant! Any other claim is simply false.

We are not supposed to interpret the New Covenant based on the Old Covenant, but the opposite, we are to interpret the Old Covenant based on the New Covenant. Thus the New Covenant overrules the Old Covenant, as it replaced the Old Covenant.

Now what does this passage actually say? Those chosen for salvation to be a people for God's own possession, once had not been a people. So they were not chosen before creation because then they would have always been a people. This is the obvious truth the tag-team is trying to hide with an avalanche of obfuscation.

And this truth is made plain by a second statement. Once these people who had been chosen to be mercifully saved, had not received mercy, thus for the second time, scripture precludes being chosen for salvation individually before creation.

The solution is not to keep nullifying verse after verse teaching individuals are chosen through faith in the truth, who love God, and are poor in the eyes of the world, the solution is to correctly understand Paul's message in Ephesians 1:4.

What did Paul mean by the statement, we were chosen in Him before creation. Scripture does teach Logos, the Word, was chosen to be humanities redeemer before creation, as He was known as the Lamb of God. So when you choose a redeemer, in effect you also choose corporately, those the redeemer will redeem. Thus we were chosen in Him, but not individually. This understanding makes all the other verses where we are chosen through faith make sense.

God bless His gospel truth.

It looks as if you have invented your own version of a gospel that no one else follows???What is up with that? Are you a secret Calvinist? You seem to be obsessed with this theology. Do you secretly covet to understand the teaching correctly. Just ask the Calvinist's they will help you.

 

[kyredneck]

It looks as if you have invented your own version of a gospel that no one else follows???

It's called Vanology. @Van routinely rewrites scripture to suit his humanistic bent.

 

[KenH]

It looks as if you have invented your own version of a gospel that no one else follows???What is up with that? Are you a secret Calvinist? You seem to be obsessed with this theology. Do you secretly covet to understand the teaching correctly. Just ask the Calvinist's they will help you.

Van's teaching looks to things within or performed by the creature to have merit, and not to the perfect righteousness of Christ imputed, credited, charged to God's elect.

 

[Van]

It looks as if you have invented your own version of a gospel that no one else follows???What is up with that? Are you a secret Calvinist? You seem to be obsessed with this theology. Do you secretly covet to understand the teaching correctly. Just ask the Calvinist's they will help you.

Yes, folk, we have yet another post addressing me and running from any effort to discuss biblical doctrine.

 

[Van]

Van's teaching looks to things within or performed by the creature to have merit, and not to the perfect righteousness of Christ imputed, credited, charged to God's elect.

Yes another absolute falsehood with no quote. The claim that the faith of a lost person merits salvation is the spawn of Satan, and promulgated by Calvinists.

 

[David Lamb]

Yes another absolute falsehood with no quote. The claim that the faith of a lost person merits salvation is the spawn of Satan, and promulgated by Calvinists.

Calvinists (at least, those I have come across) do not believe that any sinner merits salvation. That is why we need a sinless Saviour. It is His merits that save us, not our own. As Paul wrote to the Christians at Ephesus:

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:10 NKJV)

 

[Van]

Calvinists (at least, those I have come across) do not believe that any sinner merits salvation. That is why we need a sinless Saviour. It is His merits that save us, not our own. As Paul wrote to the Christians at Ephesus:

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:10 NKJV)

Yet another subject change post, running from biblical truth. You believe if a lost person puts their faith in Christ, and God credits that faith as righteousness, then the lost person somehow merited salvation. That is your and Calvinism's Absolutely False Claim.

Please stop with the obfuscation, and defend your doctrines. I believe no Calvinist can without resorting to misdirection and subject change.

 

[David Lamb]

Yet another subject change post, running from biblical truth. You believe if a lost person puts their faith in Christ, and God credits that faith as righteousness, then the lost person somehow merited salvation. That is your and Calvinism's Absolutely False Claim.

Please stop with the obfuscation, and defend your doctrines. I believe no Calvinist can without resorting to misdirection and subject change.

Sorry but I was responding to your post, where you stated that Calvinists believe that faith merits salvation. I responded to say that Calvinists do not believe that. How is that changing the subject?

 

[Van]

Sorry but I was responding to your post, where you stated that Calvinists believe that faith merits salvation. I responded to say that Calvinists do not believe that. How is that changing the subject?

Not what I said, stop with the usual misdirection to change subjects.

Here again is what I said: "The claim that the faith of a lost person merits salvation is the spawn of Satan, and promulgated by Calvinists."

The reason Calvinism teaches "the gift of faith" via Irresistible grace, is because they believe in unconditional election, that the lost were chosen before creation without regard to whether the person would put his or her faith in Christ. Calvinism claims if God uses the lost person's faith, that is a "works based salvation" and therefore unbiblical.

 

[David Lamb]

Not what I said, stop with the usual misdirection to change subjects.

Here again is what I said: "The claim that the faith of a lost person merits salvation is the spawn of Satan, and promulgated by Calvinists."

The reason Calvinism teaches "the gift of faith" via Irresistible grace, is because they believe in unconditional election, that the lost were chosen before creation without regard to whether the person would put his or her faith in Christ. Calvinism claims if God uses the lost person's faith, that is a "works based salvation" and therefore unbiblical.

As you say, your actual words were: " The claim that the faith of a lost person merits salvation is the spawn of Satan, and promulgated by Calvinists." How does that differ from my "Sorry but I was responding to your post, where you stated that Calvinists believe that faith merits salvation?" If as you say in this post, Calvinists see faith as a gift from God, how can you say that they also sit that faith as meritorious?

 

[Van]

As you say, your actual words were: " The claim that the faith of a lost person merits salvation is the spawn of Satan, and promulgated by Calvinists." How does that differ from my "Sorry but I was responding to your post, where you stated that Calvinists believe that faith merits salvation?" If as you say in this post, Calvinists see faith as a gift from God, how can you say that they also sit that faith as meritorious?

Are you pretending to be unable to grasp the issue? Calvinists claim, falsely, that if a lost person puts their own faith in Christ, and God uses that human faith, then that would be a works based salvation. For you to continue to deny the "gift of faith" doctrine of Calvinism is without merit.

 

[David Lamb]

Are you pretending to be unable to grasp the issue? Calvinists claim, falsely, that if a lost person puts their own faith in Christ, and God uses that human faith, then that would be a works based salvation. For you to continue to deny the "gift of faith" doctrine of Calvinism is without merit.

Calvinists believe that faith is a gift from God, (not at all sure why you say that I "continue to deny the gift of faith). Faith is not something which has its source in the sinner themselves. For example, the Westminster Confession of Faith says:

"I. The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments and prayer, it is increased and strengthened."

The1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith is very similar:

"1._____ The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which also, and by the administration of baptism and the Lord's supper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increased and strengthened. ( 2 Corinthians 4:13; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:14, 17; Luke 17:5; 1 Peter 2:2; Acts 20:32 )"

 

[JD731]

Calvinists believe that faith is a gift from God, (not at all sure why you say that I "continue to deny the gift of faith). Faith is not something which has its source in the sinner themselves. For example, the Westminster Confession of Faith says:

"I. The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments and prayer, it is increased and strengthened."

The1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith is very similar:

"1._____ The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which also, and by the administration of baptism and the Lord's supper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increased and strengthened. ( 2 Corinthians 4:13; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:14, 17; Luke 17:5; 1 Peter 2:2; Acts 20:32 )"

FAITH, as God defines it, is not a grace. It is wicked and evil to teach such a doctrine. Faith springs forth from one who has intellect, reason, and will. Without these three things faith cannot occur and neither can sin. That can be proven in the non human world. Animals cannot generate faith because they do not have reason.

In the economy of God the principle of faith is always associated with another principle, HOPE. In the faith chapter in the scriptures we have this inspired statement;

He 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

There are two parts here and a conjunction in the verse that connects them. It is God who is and he is a God who rewards the faith in him. Then there is the man who believes both aspects of God, that he is and he rewards those who believe him, and orders his life to reflect that he believes by doing what God says. The reward of God is the hope. One cannot see God and these actions therefore are not physical.

These examples of OT saints are given to illustrate the definition of faith, that faith is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen. This is the responsibility of a man and he believes and hopes or he does not believe and has no hope.

God told Noah he was going to destroy all life with breath in his nostrils with water and told him to build a boat and he would save his family. Noah did that, hoping for his deliverance. He built the Ark because he believed God would in fact destroy the living like he said.

So, in Calvinism, there is a 180 misrepresentation of faith as it relates to grace and hope. There is no need for hope in Calvinism because deliverance is a predetermined fact for them in the process of election and predestination. The real teaching of the scriptures and Biblical Christianity is God is saving sinners by "grace through faith" but Calvinism teaches the opposite. They teach God saves sinners by faith through grace. Reason and intellect and will has nothing to do with faith in their religion. God programs all that into the DNA of the elect.

Here is an example of their errant teaching in a chapter that deals with the subject.

Rom 4:16 Therefore it (righteousness in the context) is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

I think the true intent of the Calvinist is to have that say that righteousness is of grace that it might be by faith. This is a grave error.

Faith is a temporary principle that must be present during a period of the absence of full knowledge.

1 Cor 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part (partial prophesy and partial knowledge) shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then (when the perfect thing comes) face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Charity is greater because it is THE eternal Principle of Divine dealing of those who are exercised by it and faith and hope ceases to be..

I encourage all Reformed to pay attention to what you are being taught.

The perfect thing is the eternal state when we will be in the presence of God. Faith is not the gift of God the Father.

Jesus Christ is Lord.

 

[Van]

Calvinists believe that faith is a gift from God, (not at all sure why you say that I "continue to deny the gift of faith). Faith is not something which has its source in the sinner themselves. For example, the Westminster Confession of Faith says:

"I. The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments and prayer, it is increased and strengthened."

The1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith is very similar:

"1._____ The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which also, and by the administration of baptism and the Lord's supper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increased and strengthened. ( 2 Corinthians 4:13; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:14, 17; Luke 17:5; 1 Peter 2:2; Acts 20:32 )"

What drivel, the gift of faith via irresistible grace is a complete fiction with no support in scripture.
Next, the Calvinists, whether they deny it or not, claim if God uses the lost person's faith, that is a works based salvation.
Scripture says God credits the faith of those that believe the gospel, and therefore salvation is of grace, not works because it is according to faith.

Romans 4:13-16 WPNT
13 Now the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham, or his seed, through law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of law are heirs, the faith is made empty and the promise has been invalidated; 15 because the law produces wrath, since where there is no law neither is there transgression. 16 For this reason it is of faith so that it may be according to grace, in order that the promise be guaranteed to all the seed—not only to those of law, but also to those of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all;​