Sermon on 1st Peter 1.1-2


Introduction
These two verses are the introduction to the book of 1st Peter. Why a sermon on merely two verses introducing a book? Because they are, in a sense, a casual reminder of the basics of Christianity – (by the way, in case you didn’t know or forgot, this world is not your true home and God has chosen you).

First way of being chosen:
To be chosen means to be selected by God, “generally of those whom God has chosen from the generality of mankind and drawn to himself.” God in his infinite wisdom has decided to pick you and me out of all the people of the world, and chose to draw us into his presence. How amazing is that!

“you have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the father.” There are a couple of different ways at looking at this word ‘foreknowledge.’ The first takes it as meaning a complete knowledge ahead of time. The second, which I prefer, takes it as meaning more of a ‘determination of God’s omniscient wisdom and intention.’ “Regardless of whether one accepts the idea of individual election before creation, ‘the essential point is that Christians are in the church not merely by their own decision, but by the initiative of God who has called them.’”

This foreknowledge of God is not from Jesus Christ, but from the Father. There is a deeply theological and trinitarian feel to this passage – the Father has foreknowledge, the Spirit deeply cleanses and sanctifies, and we are to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood.

Despite the various views on foreknowledge, it cannot be denied that God in his infinite wisdom foresaw and chose you ahead of time. When things aren’t going very well in life, you can look back and trust the foreknowledge of God that he truly knows what he is doing, and that he has specifically chosen you as his child. It is something to take incredible comfort in (after arguing over it theologically of course).
The Baker commentary on 1st Peter puts it so incredibly well that it is worth quoting: “Peter reminds his readers that the God who took the initiative in their lives has drawn them into an intimate, loving, and redemptive relationship with him, but also one in which God claims supreme authority over their lives. Such a reminder is apt at times when Christians are troubled by the circumstances in which they find themselves, confused about how to live, and tempted to doubt God’s goodness or faithfulness.”

Second way of being chosen:
It is through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit that we have been chosen by God the Father. How amazing is that? As the blood of Christ that cleanses us from our sins, the Holy Spirit consecrates us and moulds us into holiness. It is interesting – this is a means of how we were chosen, rather than the expected Christian response to God’s choosing us (in this passage, at least). This sanctification that God has called you to is also described later in this book: 1 Peter 3:15 “5 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.” It is a separation or decision to separate oneself – 3.15 to set apart Christ as Lord. In these two verses though, it is a separation that goes back to the first verse – we are aliens in this world, foreigners, as our citizenship is in heaven. In light of that, there should be some distinction between us and those of the world. It is through that distinctiveness of being a Christian in a non-Christian world, this sanctification, that we have been chosen!

First purpose of being chosen:
You have been chosen…to obey Jesus Christ. Obey means to “being in compliance,(one listens and follows instructions).” If you’re in a situation where you don’t know how to be obedient to God, perhaps it would be a good time to listen first for God’s voice. It is only then you will be able to obey, knowing and
having heard the voice of Jesus Christ. It is what you have been chosen for.

Do you feel like you never read enough of the Bible? Beat yourself up over only reading a chapter every few days, and compare yourself to all those other great Christians out there who read massive amounts every single day and have a perfect life with God? A wise person once said that the answer to that is a question: is there anything in the Bible that you already know about that you’re not obeying? Start there! Start with praying for the convicting presence of God so that you might fulfill the purpose of God choosing you – to obey Jesus Christ. You have been chosen to obey Christ, which might include reading more of scripture, but scripture is a means toward obedience to Christ, and not an end. Read the Bible until God convicts you – one verse, one chapter, it may take 3 seconds or 3 hours – then obey his Word, as is what you have been chosen to do.

Second purpose of being chosen:
God has chosen you not only to obey Jesus Christ, but also to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. Perhaps the best explanation of this is scripture itself, for Hebrews 10:18-22 says
18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin. 19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Do you ever feel like God could never save someone so messed up as you? God saves other people, he cares about other people, but God doesn’t really, truly care about me. Do you ever say that you believe God loves you, but find yourself in your mind doubting it?

You have been chosen by God to be sprinkled with his blood. You have been chosen by God to have your sins washed away. It is with the blood of Jesus Christ that our hearts are purified, our hearts are cleansed, and it is through his blood that we have salvation. This indeed is the culmination of God’s choosing of us – for us to be both obedient to Christ and to have salvation through him!

Conclusion
Though merely an introduction to the rest of the book of 1st Peter, sometimes it is good to be reminded of the basics of Christianity – while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God in his infinite wisdom knew ahead of time that he would choose you to be obedient to him and to be cleansed by his blood.

In the midst of all the economic crisis in the world, remember: this world is not your home; you only reside here as an alien, because your citizenship is in heaven. As these two verses are only the introduction of the letter to encouragement in the midst of suffering, may grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

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