1 Peter 1:1,2
Strangers in a Strange Land

Peter writes to Christians scattered throughout Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). Some say they are Jewish, others Gentile. It doesn't matter. These exhortations come to all who live in this world and wait for the coming of Christ.

  1. Who You Are
    1. Pilgrims
      1. You are wanderers, strangers in a strange land.
      2. You are like Abraham
        1. He stood in the promised land and said "I am a stranger and an alien residing among you" (Gen 23.4) (so let me buy a grave).
        2. By this he confessed that he sought another homeland. He did not mistake the shadow for the reality. He looked for an everlasting city.
        3. Even so, you are citizens of a kingdom that is not of this world, for which you wait.
      3. You say of no place on earth, here it is, the place of my permanent dwelling
        1. This world is not your home.
        2. You are restless. Your eyes look to and fro, seeking that place where you shall finally be at ease and content.
        3. And only when your eyes look up to heaven do you catch a glimpse of that far off place
        4. And today, now, you are brought near by faith, allowed to try out the new home ahead of time as it were, in which the curse has been repealed, sorrow is gone, neither sin nor temptation enter in, your fellowship with the brethren and with Christ is satisfying and sweet.
      4. You hold the goods of this world loosely, as things which have no lasting value since they are of no consequence in the city to which you belong. You are not attached to them.
      5. You do not value the esteem of the citizens of this world; for they value that which is passing away.
      6. And thus you do not value the things the world lusts after, which only lead you into sin
        1. The lust of the flesh,
        2. eyes
        3. boastful pride o' life

TRANSITION: That home seems impossibly far off at times, you faint and grow weary. Yet you are not forever to be wanderers on the earth. Who else are you?

  1. The Scattered People of God
    1. The Diaspora (Dispersion)
      1. Technical term referring to the 12 tribes of Israel scattered throughout the world (Js 1.1)
        1. Some wrongly conclude this can only be applied to Jews
        2. But you who were strangers to the covenants of promise have been brought near by Christ's blood
      2. The Jews of Christ's day in Jerusalem used it almost contemptuously — When Christ said "Where I am going, you cannot come," the Pharisees sneered and said "Is he going to the Dispersion among the Greeks to teach the Greeks?" speaking of Jews as though they were no longer Jews but Gentiles because they hadn't come home to Israel
      3. But the term is one of hope
        1. God promised that if his people disobeyed he would scatter them.
        2. But he also said if they turned and repented, he would gather them even if they were dispersed to the ends of the earth (Dt 30)
        3. And so God is even now going forth into all the earth, gathering together his people whom he loves and counts precious.
    2. You, living here at a remoter end of the earth than Peter even knew existed, God has sought and found you here and numbered you among his scattered people
    3. He will bring you at last not back to an earthly promised land, but to the true land of promise, heaven itself.

TRANSITION: So do not be afraid. The exile is temporary; God is faithful and will seek out his scattered people as he promised. How could he do any less, for he has loved you with an everlasting love.

  1. How You Relate to God
    1. Chosen
      1. That is, precious to God and desirable
        1. Don't think of this as an impersonal decree of God
        2. This speaks of him desiring you and counting you precious from all eternity
        3. God speaks of the Messiah in Isaiah 42.1 as "My chosen one in whom my soul delights"
        4. Peter equates this word with "precious" (1 Pt 2.4,6) and uses it of Christ as well as of you. God loves you with the love with which he loves Christ.
      2. Chosen according to foreknowledge
        1. This clinches it (if "chosen" alone didn't)
        2. He has known you beforehand
          1. Again, not a word that means he knew about you
          2. This speaks of intimate knowledge and is synonymous with "love"
        3. You were counted precious in accordance with God's love for you.

It is all very well that God loved you and desired you. But what is the result? You are still an alien and wanderer in this world. Must you wait for heaven to get the benefit of this love and desire?

  1. Through the Sanctification of the Spirit
    1. Sanctification, here refers to the whole process of salvation
      1. Sanctification = being set apart for God's purposes
      2. Just as we are told to "sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts" (1 Pt 3.15) = set him apart from all other claims on your heart as the one and only Lord
      3. So we are set apart by God through his Spirit as his unique people for his unique purposes
    2. Thus, Peter speaks of us being chosen through the sanctification of the Spirit
      1. Not to suggest that God didn't choose us until the Spirit set us apart
      2. But that we are set apart for God as the sign of his eternal choice, desire, and love
      3. Thus this "sanctification" (setting you apart for salvation) is the means by which God's eternal choice/desire/love comes to us here and now
      4. God's love is not something you will experience someday, when he brings you to heaven; it is here and now being shown as he has sweetly called you, granted you faith, declared you righteous in Christ, begotten you into a new creation, and is conforming you to the image of his Son.

TRANSITION: So what are the specific purposes for which God set you apart?

  1. Why God Chose You (For the blood and righteousness of Christ)
    1. For the Obedience of Christ
      1. His "active obedience"
        1. It is true to say we are chosen for obedience (e.g. Paul saying we're created in Christ for good works)
        2. But Peter seems to have in mind Christ's obedience on our behalf. This word goes with "of Christ" as much as "sprinkling of blood" does.
        3. God has chosen you to receive the righteousness of his own beloved Son that you might be clothed in it and found to be clean
      2. And thus for your own obedience
        1. By receiving the work of Christ by faith
        2. By conformity to the image of his Son
    2. For the Atonement of Christ
      1. The sprinkling of blood
        1. everything in OT cleansed with blood (Heb 9.23)
        2. Leviticus 16:14-19 "[The High Priest] shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. "Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.16 "So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins; and so he shall do for the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness.17 "There shall be no man in the tabernacle of meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself, for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel.18 "And he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord, and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around.19 "Then he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, cleanse it, and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
      2. But we have come to a superior blood of sprinkling, for the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin.
        1. Christ, our Passover has been sacrificed for us!
        2. Heb 9.19,20 — 19 For when every commandment had been told to all the people by Moses in accordance with the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people, 20 saying, "This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you."
        3. The blood of the new covenant has been shed by Christ. The deed so long pictured has been accomplished!
      3. Your sins are washed away. Gone!
      4. And you are clothed in a perfect righteousness!

Well may Peter say "Grace and Peace be multiplied to you.

This identity and these facts will undergird everything that follows. Father, Son and H.S. have concurred in your salvation, the Father showing his choice (love) of you in the work of the H.S. which was purchased by the Son.

[1 Peter Sermons] [Sermons and Studies] [Main Menu]