FROM NOTHING TO SOMETHING
June 24, 2001 PM
Sermon Outline
1 Pet 2:10
INTRO: Before Christ came into the world, Gentiles were in a hopeless condition before God. To find God fearing gentiles would be a rare find, indeed. Certainly Cornelius would be such a rare exception. The Jews were Gods nation, and they considered Gentiles little better than dogs. And it is true that Gentile people were in the main a pagan, immoral people. Often in the New Testament reference is made to the Gentiles as synonymous with unholy living. But Christs coming and His glorious gospel brought a new day to the Gentile world. Thats what this verse is all about!
I. PEOPLE WHO WERE NOTHING
A. Now, note, this was in time past
1. often, in the letters, this comparison is drawn
2. it reflects dramatic life changes in the people who are now the people of God
3. Col 3:9,10
B. They were not a people
1. now, certainly, they were people, human beings
2. but they were a scattered people without cohesive identity different languages, nations, governments, customs
3. even had different gods, religionsand many behaved as if they were little more than animals
4. only common thing...they were humans
C. How God viewed them?
1. Eph 2:11,12 a people without eternal hope
2. they lived; they conducted human affairs; they died...as do human beings
3. but it was all so fruitless, meaningless, hopeless; because they were without Christ!
4. the waste of an unChristian life
II. PEOPLE WHO BECAME SOMETHING!
A. But are now...there is the present tense
1. Christians shouldnt live in the past! yes, there are things in our pasts we regret, etc.
2. but we must be present & future tense people
B. We are the people of God
1. no matter what we have been! (cf. 1 Cor 6:11)
2. through obedience to the gospel is gained a common interest, obligation, government and king
3. wasted lives suddenly have worth, meaning because the past is truly past...and now Gods molding word controls
4. note I thank Christ Jesus in 1 Tim 1:12,13
C. Just think a moment:
1. God who made the worlds, who owns it all...
2. He has chosen to have me be one of His
3. yes, I had to choose Him, to take His offer
4. as Joshua put it Choose you... (Josh 24:15) but God made the choice available to me
III. THE PAST? NO MERCY!
A. And thats not surprising
1. they had lived to themselvesa law to themselves
2. they had excluded God from thinking, lives and plans
3. indeed, had seemed to want no part of God!
B. God will not extend mercy while we keep on sinning
1. He has never offered to save anyone in his sins
2. surely that explains why repentance comes before the receiving of pardon (Lk 24:47 comment)
3. note Eph 4:17-20...the constant need to remember we are not the people of our past! a past with no mercy
IV. AND NOW? MERCY IS MINE!
A. The form of the words here is very significant
1. word form in original means it was obtained in a single and definite time
2. at what one definite universal time does the N.T. say god grants us mercy relative to our sin?
3. Acts 2:38 explains it so simply...there is the repentance which is essential in the break with the pastand there is baptism which is the time, place (well defined) where Gods mercy deals with our sin (Peter unquestionably refers to this here and explicitly in 1 Pet 3:21)
B. Note Lam 3:22,23
1. how sweet is Gods mercy!
2. and you with these people whom Peter wrote - can secure that mercy
CLOSE:Has Gods new day dawned in your life?
Cecil A. Hutson
24 June 2001