I Peter 1:1,2 * June 17, 2007 * Pentecost 3 * Pastor Pagels
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, dear friends:
The text for our consideration this morning is taken from
the first chapter of Peter’s first epistle, reading the first two verses: “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To
God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia,
Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit,
for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be
yours in abundance” (I Peter 1:1,2).
Who won the 2000 presidential election? I suppose the answer to that question depends on who you ask. Some believe that George W. Bush rightfully came out on top because he captured the most electoral votes. Others contend that Al Gore should have been elected because he won the popular vote.
Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, whether you believe that justice was done or justice was denied, the election that made the phrase “hanging chad” a household term made one thing perfectly clear. Our nation is deeply divided. Even the United States Supreme Court was divided (5-4) when it ruled on the final outcome of the election.
Disagreements and differences of opinion are inevitable in a sinful world. It is unreasonable to expect that people will agree about everything. It is unrealistic to think that anyone in this day and age can be elected unanimously, or is it?
In the opening verses of his first epistle Peter informed a group of Christians that they had been elected and that the vote was unanimous. The Triune God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—worked in perfect harmony to bring them to faith. There was no dispute. There was no split decision. And what was true for them is true for every child of God.
Through the inspired pen of St. Peter the Triune God speaks to us this morning. Father, Son and Spirit have reached a divine decision, and I am happy to report that…
IT’S UNANIMOUS…YOU’VE BEEN CHOSEN
I. Chosen for eternal life
II. Chosen for a life of
service
The sermon text for today is actually the introduction to a
letter. Peter first identifies himself
as the author and as an apostle of Jesus Christ, and then he addresses the
people to whom he is writing: “To God’s
elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout
Peter’s correspondence was not earmarked for a specific
individual. It was a circular letter,
meaning that Peter sent it to groups of Christians who read it and then passed
it on. The five regions Peter mentions
were all geographic areas located in the
Peter didn’t call these people strangers because he didn’t know who they were. He called them “strangers in the world” because planet earth was not their true home. Even if they had permanent addresses, even if their families had been living on that land for generations, they weren’t home. Life was a journey, and their final destination was heaven. How did Peter know that heaven was their home? Because God counted them among his elect.
The phrase, “God’s elect,” brings to mind the doctrine of election, the teaching that God has elected/chosen certain people to be saved. This doctrine leads to all kinds of questions. Why did God choose some and not others? If God chose some people to be saved, does that mean he also chose some to be condemned?
We have a right to ask questions. We have an obligation to search the Scriptures for answers. But when we read these verses we need to remember that Peter wasn’t writing a doctrinal dissertation. He was writing a letter. He wasn’t concerned about theological terminology as much as he was concerned about people. And he wanted God’s people to see their election as a source of great comfort.
And comfort was something his readers desperately
needed. They were suffering grief in all
kinds of trials (1:6). They were being
insulted because they were Christians (
Peter didn’t give these suffering saints a pep talk. He didn’t say: “Hang in there, and things are bound to get better.” He didn’t console them with the hollow comfort that “everything happens for a reason.” Peter couldn’t give them any relief, but he could direct them to the one who could.
And in the opening verse of his letter that is exactly what he did. Peter declared: “You are God’s elect. It wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t a mistake. The Triune God chose you. He loves you. He will protect you. And he will never leave you.”
Before Peter gave them any advice, before he shared any
personal words of encouragement, before he wrote anything else down on paper,
he wanted his readers to know that they had been chosen by God. And then he went on to explain how they had
been chosen: “To God’s elect…who have
been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the
sanctifying work of the Spirit” (1,2).
Long before they ever knew God as their loving Father, God the Father knew them. He knew them before they came to faith. He knew them before they were born. He had chosen them to be his own before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).
The choice was God’s, but it wasn’t an arbitrary
decision. God doesn’t save people on the
basis of their skin color. God doesn’t
choose people on the basis of their outward behavior (which was a good thing for
Peter’s readers because many of them had a history of immoral behavior; see 4:3
for some examples). And the Father
doesn’t act independently either. God’s
elect are chosen “through the
sanctifying work of the Spirit” (2).
Here we see God the Father and God the Holy Spirit working together on our behalf. The Father made us. The Spirit makes us holy. How does the Holy Spirit make us holy? How does he make sinners into saints? That is where the other person of the Trinity comes into the picture.
The Father loved the world so much that he gave up his one and only Son. The Son loved us so much that he gave up his life to save us from eternal death. The Holy Spirit gives us the faith to believe that Jesus lived and died and lives again, and because he lives we will live also.
Our sins are forgiven. That is amazing news. We are God’s chosen people. That is absolutely incredible. Eternal life is ours. That is something that fills every Christian heart with joy. But what about now? What are God’s people supposed to do while we are waiting for eternity to become reality? Peter has the answer. The triune God, the same God who has chosen us for eternal life, has also chosen us for a life of service.
“To God’s elect…who
have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the
sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by
his blood” (1,2).
Have you ever worked at a job with more than one boss? One supervisor tells you what you are supposed to do, and not long after that someone else comes along and tells you that you are doing it wrong or that you should be doing something else. If you have ever found yourself in this kind of situation, you know how confusing and frustrating it can be.
There is no such frustration or confusion when it comes to our relationship with the triune God because the Lord has clearly revealed his will to us in his Word. We obey Jesus when we honor God’s representatives, when we respect God’s gift of life, when we take our marriage vows seriously, when we do not take our neighbor’s possessions, when we speak the truth in love, when we are content with what we have.
Now if God has chosen us to be his own (which he has), if God has chosen us to serve him (which he has), if God has clearly defined what it means to serve him (which he has), we need to ask ourselves this question: Why don’t we obey him? Why do we take God’s name in vain? Why do we take what is not rightfully ours? Why do we lie and gossip and lust and covet? How can people who claim to be followers of Jesus know what’s right and what’s wrong and still choose to do what is wrong?
If your answer is, “The devil made me do it,” you are at least partially correct. If you point the finger at the world with all of its temptations and enticements, you wouldn’t be entirely wrong. But if we are honest with ourselves, the answer lies within. Jesus said: “Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander” (Matthew 5:19).
Sin isn’t just a word that describes the bad things we do. Sin defines us as the corrupt creatures we are. We can’t undo what has been done. We can’t change who we are. Our only hope is to be forgiven, and our only hope for forgiveness is through the perfect sacrifice of the one who was perfectly obedient.
Jesus obeyed his earthly parents. Jesus obeyed the earthly authorities. And when his heavenly Father told him that he would have to die to save the world from sin, Jesus didn’t ask questions. Jesus didn’t make excuses. He obeyed. He went to the cross. He gave up his life on the cross. And because we have been sprinkled by his precious blood our sins are forgiven.
It is the blood of Jesus that purifies us, and it is the love of God that motivates us. Because the Trinity has accomplished our salvation, we want to thank and praise him. Because we are heirs of eternal life, we will seize every opportunity to serve and obey him in this life.
If you ever have doubts about why you are here, if you ever have questions about where you are going, read the first two verses of I Peter and your questions will be answered. You have been chosen by the triune God, chosen for eternal life and chosen for a life of service. Amen.
Prayer: Triune God,
we thank and praise you today for your precious gift of salvation. Father, you have chosen us to be your
own. Jesus, you have redeemed us by your
blood. Holy Spirit, through your
sanctifying work we are holy in God’s sight and heirs of eternal life. Blessed Trinity, bless your chosen
people. Help us to live our lives for
you until that day when you will take us to live with you forever. Amen.