To Those Under Persecution
As we begin Peter’s letter, we need to understand the overarching
theme. This letter was written to a
predominantly Gentile audience in Asia Minor.
The letter was written probably in the mid 60’s, just as the persecution
against the Christians began to ramp up.
This is why being steadfast and obedient will take such a prominent position
in this letter. In fact, this is why
being steadfast and obedient takes such a prominent position in almost all of
the letters in the New Testament. It is
tough to remain steadfast when the world is out to get you.
Grace, Peace, Sprinkling of Blood, and Obedience
As Peter opens up this letter, we have a pretty typical
greeting. Peter identifies himself as an
apostle. He identifies his recipients as
God’s elect. I prefer the translation, “God’s
chosen.” Actually, the Greek word here
is “eklektos” (ἐκλεκτός). You guessed it. This word is the root for our word “eclectic,”
which traditionally means “selected out.”
So the next time someone tells you that you have an eclectic taste, tell
them it comes from the Father.
I would like to spend a little more time on this idea. You see, up until Jesus, the Hebrew people were
God’s “chosen.” But here Peter is
speaking to predominantly Gentiles.
These are Gentiles who were selected out from the masses. The important question is why. Were they chosen because they were inherently
better? No. You see, the title “chosen” doesn’t mean
better. After all, look at Peter. What is the title Peter gives to
himself? Apostle. One who is sent on a mission by another. Even Peter doesn’t latch onto a title that
promotes. Peter’s title is one that
demonstrates service and submission.
So it is with the eclectics – the chosen ones. They aren’t chosen to be better. They are chosen to go. In a very non-literal sense, I prefer the
translation “purposed” to “chosen.”
These people are purposed by God to take His grace, love and mercy to
the world. They are sanctified by the
Holy Spirit and purposed for obedience through that sanctification.
Living Hope
We are to have a living hope.
But look pretty closely at what it is that Peter says here about our
hope. It is kept in heaven for us. {Compare
this to Ephesians 1:13-14, which talks about the Holy Spirit as our guarantee
of eternal life to come.} Clearly,
the point that Peter is trying to make is that we aren’t “there yet.” We aren’t sanctified. We aren’t made holy. We aren’t perfect. We aren’t free of our sinfulness. We aren’t in any way, shape, or form better
than the rest of the carbon-based organisms roaming this fallen creation.
Our hope is yet to come. In
fact, it will be revealed in the last days.
Our hope is being guarded in heaven where it cannot be destroyed or
tarnished because nothing in this world has access to it.
I’ve always wished God had chosen a different way for this. I’ve always wondered, “God, what’s the point
of sending us Your Holy Spirit if I’m going to largely be the same
self-centered wrestling sinner that I was before Your Holy Spirit came into me?” But these verses speak to answer that
question. You see, God wants us to
receive an untarnished inheritance. He
knows if we were to get our inheritance here and now, it’d get dinged up pretty
badly by the world. Don’t believe me? Let me ask you. How did the world treat Jesus, who was the
embodiment of our inheritance yet to come?
Oh yeah. They dinged Him pretty
substantially. Granted, they couldn’t
ding Him permanently. But they dinged
Him nonetheless. So why does God wait to
complete our perfection until after the resurrection? He wants us to have a perfect inheritance
waiting for us with Him in a place nothing can touch.
That’s pretty cool. I’m not
going to say it will always stave off my “Why not now, God?” feelings. But it’s still pretty cool. God is okay with me continuing to struggle
with my sin now because there is a perfect inheritance protected by Him waiting
for me to come. Wow. That’s cool.
Full Hope
Now that we understand that life after salvation is going to be
tough, we need to understand the importance of persevering. We need to understand the importance of
wrestling. We struggle with who we are
so that we can become what God sees in us.
We struggle with who we are because we put our full hope in what is to
come.
I wonder. Do I put my full
hope in what is to come? Does God have
my full attention? As I go through life,
how often is God really my full hope? Or
are there other things in life in which I put my hope, trust, and expectation? Do I really live my life always considering
the reality that I was bought with the blood of Christ? Am I living my life as though I am in exile
here while awaiting my time to be at home with the Father?
In order to answer that question, perhaps I should go a little
deeper into the outcome. What does Peter
say is the outcome of a person who is living in this manner? They are purified in obedience. They love one another from a pure heart. They rely upon the good news that is preached
to us all.
Our full hope leads to full obedience which leads to full
purification which leads to full response in love. I don’t mean to imply full to mean complete. We spoke about that earlier. Complete inheritance will come after death
and judgment. But fullness of life can
be obtained in God here and now if we simply remember to put our full hope in
Him and obey His call.
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