Test question #1:  Did you participate in listening to the message from last Sunday?

Test question #2: What were the main points of the message and have you thought more about them?

Let’s review!  We started 1 Peter last week looking at His “Very Pointed Greeting”, and quickly affirmed that Peter the apostle of Jesus Christ wrote the epistle.  Which encourages us that God can do amazing things through a follower fully committed to Him.  We also quickly determined that epistle’s recipients were for the most part, converted Gentiles living across Asia minor.  The key word we saw early is that believers were “chosen” which is a wonderful term to describe those who are genuine followers. But there are questions as to its full meaning.  I see several places in scripture that refer to believers being chosen, take Ephesians 1:4, Paul writes “For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before Him.  He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for Himself…”.  The fact that we are chosen doesn’t seem problematic in any way, it truly shows the mercy, grace, and love of God for man.  In this verse I see two important phrases that give me an understanding of being chosen, “in Him” and “through Jesus Christ”.  These phrases tell me that God’s choosing was predicated upon Jesus Christ and His death, burial and resurrection.  Those who respond to the Gospel are chosen through Jesus.  Another word used in the Bible for chosen is elect, which is from the same Greek word as chosen.  We stated in the message that Peter was referring to God’s chosen or “elected pilgrims”.  There are those who believe election refers to God’s choosing those who would be saved versus those He would choose not to save.  I don’t agree with this concept, but quickly say I do not understand God’s provision in His sovereignty for man to have a free will and His rightful place as God to ordain His work in any manner He desires.  Regardless, I am thankful for the blood of Jesus and salvation.  There can be more examined in scripture and discussed about this aspect of God and election, but for now we’ll continue our review.

We saw 4 things that Peter used to help define who the chosen are, can you name them?  1) chosen according to the foreknowledge of God – God’s loving and gracious provision of redemption for lost mankind, 2) through the sanctifying work of the Spirit – taking the meaning that God’s Holy Spirit was critical in bringing believers to regeneration.  Remember how the Holy Spirit works according to Jesus in John 16:8, “When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgement…”. These three convictions are imperative for salvation.  The Spirit sets us apart through salvation unto God. 3) to be obedient – that is repent and believe the Gospel message to be saved.  Our salvation requires faith, that faith is in obedience to the Spirit’s conviction. 4) to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ – Hebrews 9:22, “According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”  We are saved by the precious blood of Jesus.  These 4 phrases help to clarify who the chosen are and help us to see that there is a very good reason for followers of Jesus to live differently!  Keep thinking it through!