"Out of Darkness"

“Out of Darkness”

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.      1 Peter 2:9 



Peter, in his letter of ENCOURAGEMENT to BELIEVERS, exhorted them to practice HOLINESS.  He reminds them that they are a CHOSEN PEOPLE.  This term, “CHOSEN PEOPLE”, which at one time referred ONLY to the nation of ISRAEL, but in this CHURCH AGE, it refers to Jewish and Gentile BELIEVERS.  The responsibility that had been trusted to the nation of Israel has been given to the Church, during this Age of Grace.



BELIEVERS in the Church Age are called a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, a HOLY NATION, GOD’S SPECIAL POSSESSION.  Believers are SPECIAL PEOPLE because God has PRESERVED them for Himself.  Now, while these descriptions of the Church are similar to those used to describe the nation of Israel in the Old Testament, it in NO WAY indicates that the Church will receive the NATIONAL BLESSINGS that are meant ONLY for the Nation of Israel, which were PROMISES of God.  Peter just used similar words to point to similar truths. 



The purpose of God choosing the BELIEVERS for Himself, was and still IS to DECLARE the PRAISES of Him to others. The BELIEVER-PRIESTS, SHOULD LIVE by the Spirit and NOT by the FLESH, in order to be a PROPER WITNESS to the UNBELIEVER.  They should MAGNIGY the GLORY and GRACE of the ALMIGHTY GOD, who has called them OUT of the DARKNESS and into the GLORIOUS LIGHT of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.   The DARKNESS was a time when the ONCE UNBELIEVER practiced the desires of the flesh, and LIVED a sinful lifestyle.  They were headed for DESTRUCTION, and a DESTINY of an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE.  But ONCE they have TRULY GIVEN their HEART and LIFE to God, and have ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST into their HEART, they have received God’s provision of SALVATION, and have come OUT of DARKNESS and into the GLORIOUS LIGHT, and they have become God’s  CHOSEN PEOPLE, a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, a HOLY NATION, and GOD’S SPECIAL POSSESSION, who are given ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Have you come OUT of DARKNESS?



If you are still groping in the DARKNESS, but have a desire to come into the GLORIOUS LIGHT, you can by:  Giving your HEART and LIFE to GOD.  You do that by being WILLING to TURN AWAYY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURNING to GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and come OUT of DARKNESS, and into His WONDERFUL LIGHT, and LIVE for ALL ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!