Charles Spurgeon Commentary 1 Peter 2:10

"who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." — 1 Peter 2:10 (ASV)

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.

What a great change conversion is! And how great a change conversion Works! How wonderful is the effect of regeneration! We had not obtained mercy, but now we have obtained mercy; we were not a people, but now we are the people of God.

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.

How the apostle delights to set forth these contrasts between the past and the present of the Lord's chosen people! By remembering what we were, we are made to appreciate and enjoy more what we now are. We may well praise him who has wrought this wondrous change in us.

We were not his people; we were sinners of the Gentiles, not the chosen Hebrew race. In times past, we were not worthy to be called a people, but we are now the people of God.

We had not obtained mercy, nor had we even asked for it; some of us were so blinded by our self-righteousness that we did not know that we needed God's mercy, or did not want it; but now we have obtained mercy.

Which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

We may well leap for joy, we who once had not obtained mercy.

We sinned against the Lord, but He was long-suffering, and now we have obtained mercy.

Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God:

In time long past, who ever heard of the Britons, or of the Anglo-Saxons? We were not a people, but we are now the people of God:.

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.

Look back to what you were before your conversion. Whenever you are tempted to be proud of your present standing, remember the horrible pit and the miry clay out of which sovereign grace alone has plucked you. When you are on the throne, recollect the dungeon from which the grace of God uplifted you. When you are in full possession of your spiritual faculties, and are rejoicing in the Lord, do not forget the time when you lay sick, even to death, until the Great Physician passed that way, and healed you.