ELECTION FROM GOD WITH GRACE AND AN INHERITANCE

Election from God with grace and an inheritance

Peter was an Apostle of Jesus Christ. He was writing to five different places scattered around the world in his day. He refers to them as strangers.

The Apostle then gets right into the meat of the word of God. This was a man that did not waste to much time in his writing style which was very specific and to the point. He starts out by saying to the elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. Notice he writes about this subject of election associated with God the Father but gets very detailed that it is through sanctification of the Spirit but only unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. He desired to give them a detailed hello by saying grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Peter did not just want them to have these gifts from God but "Multiplied."

The Apostle then goes vertical by saying blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and adds according to His abundant mercy has given us again a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. In light of this victory because the Son of God rose on the third day we were able to have spiritual birth and live in the Person of Jesus Christ.

He explains that we have an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled. This will not fade away because it is reserved for us in heaven.

Peter says we as believers in Jesus Christ are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. This was another way of the Apostle talking about protection. I hear all the time people saying that they want to be protected but who better to do this than Jesus Christ.

Let me just quote the original text so you can read the passage and perhaps make reference to it in this particular study of the Bible.

(1) "PETER, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pon'tus, Ga - la' tia, Cap-pa-do'ci-a, A'sia, and Bi - thyn' i - a, (2) Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1: 1 - 5.

The author is Peter and Jesus did give him this surname which signifies a rock for his commendation of his faith. Since he was an Apostle that was the highest office in the church. The people that Peter was writing to were poor and persecuted. Many were forced to leave their countries but never judges us on our external condition.

First Peter writes about election. There are three truths that this could mean which would be an office, enjoyment of special privileges or salvation. Election is to be according to the foreknowledge of God. Perhaps Peter was writing about the foresight or understanding that such a truth will be a reality in a person's life. This is not the cause and effect of an individual's salvation in Jesus Christ but right now we are just focusing on the meaning of the passage. This could also mean counsel, appointment and approbation. An example would be the death of Jesus Christ was foreseen and foreordained. Election always involves counsel, ordination and the free grace of God. The Father or the first Person of the Trinity is intently involved in the redemption of people which is election to reconcile people to His Son Jesus Christ and the sanctification to the Holy Spirit. Then the Bible says unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.

There are two divine realities this person must possess and that is every elect person must be sanctified by the Spirit and justified by the blood of Jesus Christ. Sanctification is living for God with obedience and as a result the author of "Sanctification" who is the Holy Spirit will give us His indwelling presence in us as believers in Jesus Christ. If you are disobedient to God you want to do everything possible to come back in right fellowship with God. This is the purification of the soul.

When the Bible talks about the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Peter is going back to the law in the Old Testament. The blood of Jesus Christ is our all sufficient sacrifice but this must be sprinkled to every one of these elect Christians. If we are chosen to eternal life through Jesus Christ we are called to a life of obedience. The two go hand in hand. This particular passage is very direct regarding this issue. First this person has to be sanctified by the Spirit and sprinkled with the blood of Jesus and then and only then is it possible for him or her to walk in obedience to God.

At the end of verse two Peter gives the salutation to his readers. He wishes them grace and peace. Grace is the free favor of God. When we receive the peace of God it is imputed to our spirit and placed in our conscience. The Apostle desires the perfection of both in their lives on a consistent daily basis because he says he wants these two divine gifts to be multiplied. We can not top grace and peace being multiplied in our lives. Notice the order because first we receive the grace of God and then peace gently follows for closure in our spirit.

When this passage in verse three says the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ focus on (1) Lord (2) Jesus (3) Christ. Here are three names of one Person showing us His threefold office. He is Lord because He is a universal King. He is Jesus because He is our Priest or Savior. Christ is referring to His office as a prophet.

There is a term in verse three that says ... "Hath begotton us again." Remember right before it says according to His abundant mercy; therefore, I think it is obvious that because of this truth we should be extremely thankful to God. The fruit intended for us as His children is excellent grace with hope of the firm foundation that Jesus Christ did rise from the dead on the third day so this same victorious power lives inside us in our spirit. It is way better than giving into this antichrist spirit of this world which is nothing but compromise and eventually if not stood up against will lead into a society completely out of control. Remember the Bible already says Jesus Christ is going to be the winner in the end and this anti God spirit will lose so which side do you want to be on in the end? Our condition or circumstances might be bad but we still have uncountable reasons to praise God as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are accepted through the Son of God so we should give our gratitude to the abundant mercy of God through His Son Jesus Christ in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Think about what I just wrote, "Abundant mercy of God." This sounds great in a world where very few people care about God or individuals that pass them by every day of their lives. 

The evil in this world is from sin but if there is any good that comes out in this mess it is because of the abundant mercy of God. This is why we should see this principle as important because if we for all practical purposes throw out the mercy of God we do not understand our salvation in Jesus Christ. We were regenerated through the Lamb of God and because of this we have a lively hope of eternal life in Him. We have spiritual life so we should have spiritual hope in Jesus Christ. This hope should quicken us and our eyes and heart should be on God. If we put our hope in the unregenerate which is vain we will perish and both will die together. This is why the resurrection of Christ is the foundation of our hope. We have union with Jesus Christ but rise because of His resurrection.

In verse four the Apostle Peter goes on to explain our inheritance. When we became born again in Jesus Christ we received a new inheritance. We should never forget what is reserved for us in heaven because that is our eternal destiny. Everybody receives abilities but this inheritance is only for His true children. We did not work our way into this or purchase it because the inheritance is a gift from God the Father because it is the effect of His grace. It is incorruptible because this reservation in heaven is from God. Corruption is when we are bad and even become worse but Paradise never changes and it is without end because our real home is eternal in the heavens. It is undefiled because sin and misery do not exist in this Planet. It will never fade away because it will always retain it's beauty and there is a reservation for us with our name written in the Lamb's book of life. 1 Peter 1:3 says this is for everyone that is begotten again to a lively hope.

The Apostle Peter knew some would doubt this hope. After all it is only human nature. Part of his answer is we should abstain from all destructive temptations in life. Another point in verse five he writes about preservation. We are kept by the author who is God because of our true faith in Jesus Christ. As a result the grace of God takes effect in our life and our inheritance is reserved for us in heaven.

If you do not know the Lord isn't it comforting to know that God desires you to come to His Son so you can have an inheritance reserved for you in heaven? Now may be a good time for you to accept Jesus Christ into your heart as your personal Savior and Lord by repenting of all your sins and inviting the Son of the Living God into your life. It is better to have the grace and peace of God than the deception of the world and the ruin of sin in our lives. I hope and pray you just made that life changing eternal decision.

God Bless you,

Bob D.