1 Peter 1:1-5

1 Peter 1:1-5 I. Peter's first epistle was meant to be a testimony of the true grace of God. 1PE 5:12. A. There is a popular testimony in the world of a false grace which scorns election or mingles it with works, which thing cannot be. ROM 11:6. B. The apostle's testimony of God's true grace begins with election! C. The epistle is addressed “...to the strangers...” (v. 1). God's election causes one to be a stranger in this world and to this world. JOH 15:19; 1PE 4:4. II. Saints are elect: A. “...according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,...” 1. This is not foreknowledge of merit in a person. ROM 9:11-16. 2. It is foreknowledge of His chosen people in the sense of His acceptance of them and special favor towards them. AMO 3:2; 2TI 2:19; ROM 8:28-29. B. “...through sanctification of the Spirit...” 1. sanctify: To set apart as holy. 2. This verse refers to covenant sanctification which is the act of God whereby He set apart His people unto holiness in choosing them before the foundation of the world. EPH 1:4. III. Saints are elected unto: A. “...obedience....of Jesus Christ.” 1. Men are not elected because of their obedience; they are elected unto Christ's obedience. 2. Jesus Christ obeyed God in His life and death. JOH 8:29; PHIL 2:8. 3. Jesus Christ's obedience to God results in the elect being made righteous. HEB 10:5-10; ROM 5:19. B. “...sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:...” 1. The sprinkling of blood speaks of the application of the shed blood. 2. Blood makes atonement. LEV 17:11; 16:15-20. 3. Blood cleanses from defilement. HEB 9:13-14, 22; EXO 29:20-21. 4. The application of Christ's blood cleanses sinners from sin that they might serve God. HEB 9:14; 10:22; REV 1:5. 5. Under the law, there was blood on the worshipper, on the place of worship, and on the instruments of worship. HEB 9:19-21. 6. God is emphasizing that nothing that sinners can do is acceptable to Him without blood! IV. Peter expounds upon further benefits and ends of God's election in vs. 3-4. A. The elect are begotten again. 1. This is the same as being regenerated or born again. TIT 3:5; JOH 3:3. 2. This operation is an act of God; men are passive in this. 3. It is according to God's abundant mercy. a. mercy: Forbearance and compassion shown by one person to another who is in his power and who has no claim to receive kindness; kind and compassionate treatment in a case where severity is merited or expected. b. Being begotten/born again is clearly not based on man's merit, but on God's mercy. TIT 3:5. 1 Peter 1:1-5 10-21-12 Page 1 of 2 This begetting is “...unto a lively hope...” a. lively: Possessed of life; living, animate. b. This hope is living because it is a living Christ. 1TI 1:1; 1TH 4:13-14; JOH 14:19; 1JO 3:2-3. c. If one has no hope, then he may well doubt that he is born again. 5. This begetting again is “...by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” a. There is no salvation without the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1CO 15:13-19. b. The elect are in union with Christ so that it is by His resurrection that they live. EPH 1:4; 5:23, 30; ROM 6:8. c. The elect are quickened together WITH Christ; they thus partake of His resurrection. REV 1:5-6; EPH 2:4-5; REV 20:6. The elect are also begotten again “...to an inheritance....in heaven.” 1. This inheritance is incorruptible; it cannot decay or perish. MAT 6:20; REV 21:4. 2. This inheritance is undefiled. REV 21:27. a. This is why one must be begotten again to this inheritance. b. Those who are begotten again have a new nature incapable of sin. 1JO 3:9. 3. This inheritance fadeth not away. Nothing in heaven ever loses its freshness, vigor or brilliance. 2CO 4:17-18. 4. This inheritance is reserved for specific persons, “...for you.” a. The only ones who receive this inheritance are such as have been elected, sprinkled by the blood of Jesus, and begotten again. ROM 8:30. b. The inheritance only goes to God's sons whom He predestinated. Reservations were made IN ADVANCE. EPH 1:5; GAL 4:7; EPH 1:11; MAT 25:34. c. Contrast this reservation with the one in 2PE 2:17. 4. B. V. Those whom God has elected are also kept by the power of God. v. 5. A. This sets forth the final preservation of God's elect. PSA 37:28. B. It is the power of God that keeps His people. JOH 10:27-28. C. This keeping is through faith. 1. If this is the faith of God's children, then there is a danger that they will not be kept since they do not always have faith. HEB 11:29 c/w HEB 4:2; MAR 16:14. 2. This preservation is through God's faith. ROM 3:3; 1TH 5:23-24; 2TI 2:13; PSA 89:29-34. D. The elect are kept “...unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1. This is the future phase of salvation which entails the redemption of the body. ROM 8:23; PHIL 3:20-21. 2. This will occur when Christ appears or is revealed the second time. HEB 9:28; 1JO 3:2; 2TH 1:7. 3. This salvation is even now ready; the inheritance is reserved. JOH 14:2-3. 4. This phase of salvation will be revealed in the last time. JOH 6:39. a. This present age is the last time. 1JO 2:18. b. The coming of Christ at the end of this age will end time. E. Thank God for His election unto Christ's obedience and blood which makes us a kept people with an incorruptible inheritance! JUDE 1:24-25.