"THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER" The "Elect" Of God (1:2) INTRODUCTION 1. In our previous study, we noticed that Peter referred to Christians as "pilgrims of the Dispersion" a. This description implies that Christians are but strangers, foreigners, sojourning in a land not their own, and scattered about like seed b. With their citizenship in heaven, they may be "in" this world, but they are not to be "of" this world c. Therefore, one of their important duties is to be "separate" - cf. 1Pe 2:11 2. One might think that since Christians are "scattered strangers" in this world, they are to be pitied 3. Not so, for though they are strangers in the world, they are the "ELECT" of God - 1Pe 1:2 a. The word "elect" simply means "chosen" and is thus translated in 1Pe 2:9-10 b. There we learn that Christians are "a chosen generation"; i.e., they are truly God's chosen people! 4. In this lesson, we shall consider what it means for Christians to be "The ELECT Of God" [Using the comments of Peter in 1Pe 1:2 as an outline for this study, we see first that as the ELECT of God...] I. WE ARE A PART OF GOD'S PREDETERMINED PLAN A. PETER SAYS "ELECT ACCORDING TO THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD" 1. The word "foreknowledge" comes from "prognosis" {prog'-no-sis} 2. It means "forethought, pre-arrangement" 3. I.e., being the "elect" (chosen) of God is in keeping with God's plan which He designed beforehand 4. As B. W. Johnson says in his "People's New Testament" commentary: "Their election and salvation was in accordance with God's predetermined purpose to save men through the gospel, and hence, according to foreknowledge." B. PAUL EXPOUNDS UPON THIS "PRE-ARRANGEMENT" IN EPHESIANS... 1. God planned it before the world began - Ep 1:4 2. It anticipated the "chosen" being holy and without blame - Ep 1:4 3. It looked forward to the "elect" being adopted as sons - Ep 1:5 4. This plan is according to God's good pleasure - Ep 1:5 5. This plan has a goal that the "elect" walk in good works - Ep 2:10 C. WAS THIS "ELECTION" INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE? 1. I understand election by God to have been general, not particular; corporate, not individual 2. That it would be "the body of Christ, the church as a whole"... a. Which God chose to be the recipients of His divine and gracious purposes b. And which He planned beforehand (foreknowledge) to carry out in Christ Jesus 3. While in the "corporate" sense this choice is unconditional and final, as "individuals" we must be "diligent to make your calling and election sure" - 2Pe 1:10 1) Just as Israel (as a nation) had been chosen by God to receive His blessings during the Old Testament period 2) But individually, the Israelites also had to make "their calling and election sure" [So by being in Christ, we are God's "elect", and involved in a plan which was in the mind of God before time began and which is still in the process of being worked out! The implication of this is that those who are God's "elect" are very special to God. As we return to 1Pe 1:2, we learn also that...] II. WE BECOME GOD'S "ELECT" THROUGH THE SANCTIFYING WORK OF THE SPIRIT A. SANCTIFICATION AND THE HOLY SPIRIT... 1. Sanctification, the process by which we are "set apart" for God's purpose, is accomplished by the Holy Spirit 2. There are several passages that describe the connection between the Holy Spirit and our sanctification - Ro 15:16; 1Co 6:11; 2Th 2:13 B. HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT ACCOMPLISHES THIS "SANCTIFICATION"... 1. It is through the Word of God a. It was God's will that the Holy Spirit would reveal the Word to the apostles - cf. Jn 16:12-13 b. Through this revealed Word, we are "sanctified" (set apart) - cf. Jn 17:17 2. Therefore, when people obey the Word of God which has been revealed by the Holy Spirit, they become "chosen...to salvation" through: a. "sanctification of the Spirit" (the Divine side of conversion, as the Spirit has revealed the Word and convicts men of sin through it) b. "and belief of the truth" (the human side of conversion, as they believe it) - cf. 2Th 2:13-14 [Having been "sanctified" (set apart) by belief in the truth, and as God's "elect" now a part of His eternal plan, you might expect such privileges would call for certain responsibilities. Indeed it does, for as God's "elect"...] III. WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OBEDIENCE! A. GOD'S CHOSEN ARE EXPECTED TO BE OBEDIENT... 1. We saw earlier in Ep 2:10 that it was part of God's plan before time began that the people of God would "walk in good works" 2. This is all part of God's wonderful grace as defined by Paul in Tit 2:11-14 3. We do not earn salvation by such good works (cf. Tit 3:5), but nonetheless we are to be diligent in doing them - Tit 3:1,8,14 B. PETER WILL LATER EXPOUND UPON THE NEED FOR OBEDIENCE... 1. As obedient children of God, we are to be holy - 1Pe 1:14-16 2. We are even to submit to civil authorities, that we might silence the ignorance of foolish men - 1Pe 2:13-16 3. Peter implies grave consequences to those "who obey not the gospel of God" - 1Pe 4:17 [Peter also tells servants and wives to be obedient, but this should suffice to impress upon us that the privilege of being God's "elect" involves the responsibility of being obedient to the will of the Lord. Finally, being the "elect" of God also means...] IV. WE HAVE THE BLESSING OF FORGIVENESS! A. WE ENJOY THE "SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST" 1. A clear reference to the blessing of forgiveness of sins made possible by the death of Christ 2. The blessing of forgiveness is one enjoyed... a. When we first become Christians upon our baptism into Christ - Ac 2:38; 22:16 b. As we confess sins throughout our daily walk with God - 1Jn 1:7-9 B. THIS BLESSING IS ONLY ONE OF SEVERAL MENTIONED IN PETER'S EPISTLE 1. He later speaks of "an inheritance" - 1Pe 1:4 2. And the "salvation of souls" - 1Pe 1:9 3. He describes Jesus as the "Shepherd and Overseer of your souls" - 1Pe 2:25 4. He also refers to the care of God - 1Pe 5:7 CONCLUSION 1. We hope to examine some of these blessings for God's "elect" in greater detail in future lessons 2. But what we have seen from 1Pe 1:2 is that while Christians may indeed be "pilgrims", strangers living in a world not their own, they are not to be pitied! 3. For by the grace of God and their obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ, they are God's "elect", His "chosen ones", and as such they are: a. Part of God's predetermined plan b. Chosen through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit c. Given responsibilities in keeping with the fact they are the children of God d. Recipients of the richest blessings God has to offer (such as forgiveness of sins) 4. Is it surprising, then, that Peter would address such people with: "Grace to you and peace be multiplied"? 5. Certainly those who are God's "elect" receive in multiple measure the saving grace of God and the peace which accompanies such unmerited favor! How about you? Are you one of the "elect" of God? You are if you have answered the call of the gospel through the obedience of faith (cf. Mk 16:15-16; Ac 2:38-41)! If you have not yet rendered obedience to the gospel, then please do so today, especially in view of the following statements by Peter and Paul: "For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" - 1Pe 4:17 "and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed." - 2Th 1:7-10Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011
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