Scattered exiles, Chosen by God (1 Peter 1:1-2)
Intro:
Written by Peter
To Gentiles scattered throughout modern day Turkey.
Outline
- 1:3-2:10 Who they are as God’s people, and where they are going
- 2:11-4:11 How to live as exiles in a hostile world
- 4:12-5:11 Following Jesus example – suffering then glory
1. We are scattered exiles v1
God’s elect, chosen
Written to Gentiles 1:14,18; 4:3
Every Gentile Christian can consider themselves personally chosen by God
Exiles scattered
Link with OT – who exiled in Babylon
Link with Peter’s day – Jewish Diaspora (scattering)
Deliberately identifying readers with the Babylonian exile – they too are exiles.
This world not our home, world hates us (John 15:18-19)
Hostile – ‘soft persecution’; situation similar to ours
Recognise that we are strangers living in a hostile world
Do you see yourself in this way?
2. Chosen and belong to God v2
‘According to the foreknowledge of God the Father’
God chooses us before the creation of the world
Setting His covenant love on us
Comforting truth:
Even as exiles we belong
At the centre of God’s plan for the world
Through the sanctifying work of the Spirit
Sanctification = set part
Thinking of our conversion –
Spirit linked with proclamation of the gospel 1:10-12; New birth 1:23-25
We can know for certain therefore that we belong it is a work of God
Also the ‘Spirit of glory rests on us’ 4:14 in days of suffering
Bringing assurance and help to stand firm
‘To be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled in His blood’
Another way of speaking of our conversion
Sprinkled with his blood linked to Ex 24
Covenant language, Ex 24 people said they would obey and were then sprinkled in animal’s blood.
We are sprinkled in Jesus’ blood establishing the new and better covenant
Bringing forgiveness, cleansing from sin and the Spirit of God dwelling in us (Jer 31)
We respond in obedience
Part of our obedience is to follow the example of Jesus as seen in 1 Peter
When we get it wrong we still belong because we are sprinkled in the blood of Jesus
Series: 1 Peter (2020)