Wholly Human and Wholly Holy

1 Peter 1:1-2, English Standard Version

Greeting

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God (destined by GOD) the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

1 Peter 1:1-2, New International Version

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Series: Sunday School is in Session - Doctrines of the Faith

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Here’s what we can learn from the opening words this Petrine Epistle regarding the ongoing process of sanctification and growing in holiness through a relationship with Jesus Christ:

1. You can be elected even while exiled - dispersed, disrupted and disturbed does not mean you are divinely displaced; purpose goes beyond location.

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2. GOD chooses the saints in Christ through:

a Sacrificial Grace and unmerited atonement - the shedding of Christ’s blood is the ultimate extension of GOD’s love to a broken humanity and that blood is sprinkled symbolically for our cleansing.

b. A call for men and women to respond to the work of Christ in obedience - confess the Lord, follow the Lord and place the life of Christ at the center of who we are.  

c. Ordinary people, receiving the extraordinary cleansing gift of the Spirit of GOD - so that wholly human persons can be wholly holy in the sight of a righteous GOD - this process is sanctification.    

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3. As wholly humans live into being wholly holy and greater sanctification, the recipients of this letter become recipients of multiplied grace and peace.  

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