1 Peter Series - Chosen, Sanctified, and Obedient

 

Chosen, Sanctified, and Obedient

1 Peter 1:1-2

“God’s elect who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood. Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”

Strange thing about elections in our country, we only get to choose between people of varying character who have been preselected by a political party, and promoted by the media, campaign funding, and philosophical and sociological bent. In Peter’s day, there were really no elections for government rulers, but appointments by the rich and privileged. Peter later learned that God’s election was totally different. No one runs for a position, God alone has the right to select: sovereignly, unconditionally and independently by His grace, His unmerited favor. 

Peter in writing this first letter to the scattered believers throughout Asia Minor. He understood the grace behind the election by God. He remembers fishing with the guys, frustrated and angry over the lack of fish and the increase in taxes. Andrew, his brother, brought along a man who told him to drop everything and follow Him. This man was God the Son. Peter didn’t fully understand at the time, no more than anyone else, but he was selected, elected by God, to be the head of the Church.

Peter begins with the context of being chosen by God. An anonymous writer penned this definition of chosen by God

“God unconditionally elects certain people even though they are sinful as an act of his saving grace apart from the shortcomings or will of man. ... Hence, God's choice in election is and can only be based solely on God's own independent and sovereign will and [not] upon the foreseen actions of man.”

First, God foreknowledge. In His infinite knowledge, God elected to choose those whom he knew would believe in His Son Jesus Christ. Peter didn’t have to wrestle with being a theologian, whether Calvinist or Armenian because that came later with men who were trying to understand God and put Him in their theological corner. Peter simply believed of his own will to put down the nets, store the boats, kiss his wife, and journey with the other disciples as they followed Jesus, a man not like any other. Now the exiled believers, and KJV translation uses strangers were people living in alien cities, without citizenship, or the rights thereof. God foreknown the future path that Peter and the others would take in following the commandment in Matthew 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Application - As I ponder the journey God has elected me sojourn, It boggles my mind why He would have chosen this sinner. I did like Peter, whatever I wanted to do, complained about everything that I didn’t like about government and injustices. I wanted the American dream, with all the bells and whistles, to do life on my terms. It was all about me. Then Jesus went fishing in the morning in Alaska. He set up the whole morning. I, on the other hand, had told my wife that I wasn’t going to go to church after this morning. I had more important things like golf, and making my life the way I wanted it. Jesus chose a faithful servant to share her testimony, and through the testimony Jesus set the hook and landed this man. It was my decision to follow and obey His commands and His word. After 39 years, Jesus has not failed to lead me through every area of life. I was elected, chosen, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. I am saved by grace through his shed blood upon the cross for all who will believe in Him.

Now I want you to think about your life. God is calling, will you be the one who submits your will to follow Jesus. God knows everything about you, and he wants “all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” God doesn’t have favorites, Rom. 2:11, and Peter after being chastised by God, “...began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”  Acts 10:34-35 

I don’t know where you are in your walk with Jesus, but understand that He has chosen you, you were elected by God for His purpose and will.

Second, Peter wrote that every believer was sanctified through the work of the Holy Spirit. They were set apart and declared holy; consecrated made clean by the blood shed for the sins of all mankind, no longer held  guilty of their sins and the pollution of the sinful nature, saved by grace by a loving God, the Father.

Peter’s understanding of sanctification came through the school of personal experience. He made a lot of presumptions and errors in his time of following Jesus. He really came to understand the work of sanctification on a beach, along the sea, eating freshly cooked fish, as Jesus spoke directly to him. John 21:15-19, “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Peter remembered his failures, denials, and doubts, but Jesus foreknows Peter’s future. In reinstating Peter by questioning him on his love, Jesus reassured Peter of the work of sanctification by the Holy Spirit, it was all based on agape love. A love that is unconditional. Three times, Jesus reiterated Peter’s calling would be fulfilled in loving the sheep, caring for their needs, and feeding for the lambs. 

Application - Jesus knows everything about us, all our failures, doubts, and denials. The Holy Spirit’s sanctification is really understood in the words from Romans 8:1-39. God’s love and the work of salvation on the cross have set us free, “there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus...the Holy Spirit lives in us...and we are more than conquerors, for nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.”

Understand, God has sanctified His church by His Son’s blood, He has set you apart for His service and the work testifying and sharing the gospel. Like Peter, Jesus foreknows the beginning from the end, and He gave us a promise. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt. 28:20b

In concluding Peter’s address to the exiled believers, Peter stressed the importance of obedience in the work of salvation by grace.  “...to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood. Grace and peace be yours in abundance.” Obedience was not an option in his sanctified walk with Jesus. Jesus had given several examples of obedience in His teachings and the parables. Jesus taught Peter the importance of obedience by Jesus' obedience to the Father’s  will and purpose. One key phrase Jesus taught the disciples and all that followed was, after doing what they were told, they would hear “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” Matt. 25:23. This obedience was not to earn salvation, but in giving their lives in faithful service to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Application - Obedience is what everyone wants from others, but fails to give themselves. We have a great crowd of people in God’s Word who walked in obedience to God’s will and purpose. And I am sure everyone wants to hear the words “Well done good and faithful servant…” A servant didn’t do their own will but the will of the master. And the master rewarded those servants who were obedient. 

God is asking us to serve Him in obedience. The time is drawing near to his coming for His church. A church that is obedient in watching, praying, about the work of the kingdom of God. So today, please obey the Spirit’s voice, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” (Heb. 3:17) God’s grace and peace will be ours in abundance for we have been chosen, elected by God, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and we are obedient to His Son who shed his blood for our sins.

Until next week, 

In His Service, Mike Davis

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