1 Peter 1:2 - Sanctified for Obedience

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Exposition

You were chosen or elected according to the foreknowledge of God. It does not mean that God was just aware that you were going to accept Jesus as your Saviour. It means that according to Ephesians 1:4a God had chosen you in Him before the foundation of the world. If you look closely to this beautiful verse, you’ll notice that the Trinity all worked together to bring you to salvation. You were foreknown by the Father, sanctified by the Spirit and sprinkled with the blood of the Son.

To be sanctified is to be set apart. The Holy Spirit convicts a man of sin and then leads the sinner to the Cross where sin is forgiven. As all sin is forgiven, the power of sin is broken and the fruits of the Holy Spirit become available to the “new man”. It is the Holy Spirit Who gives us the assurance that our sins are forgiven and that Jesus Christ is Lord.

There is a one-time sanctification and also a continuous sanctification. The initial sanctification which set you apart from sin is a one- time event. The Holy Spirit continues to work in you all your life to make you more holy. It is important for you to access the word of God at all times. John 17:17 says make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Therefore the key to continuous sanctification is allowing the word of God to work in you.

Peter says to you that the purpose of election is that you might obey Jesus and go on benefiting from his cleansing blood. A genuine, saving faith will always produce obedience and submission to the gospel of Christ. A person who claims faith in Jesus Christ but whose pattern of life is utter disobedience to the word of God is not redeemed and is thus living a lie. See James 2:14 which says what use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?

The sprinkling of the blood of Jesus on you does three things. It forms a covenant with Jesus, you are ordained as a Priest and you are cleansed from corruption and sin. All these are patterned after the use of blood in the Old Testament times.

What are privilege and blessing to be chosen by the Almighty God.

Prayer

Once again I thank you for knowing me and choosing me before the beginning of time. I pray that the grip of sin be broken completely and both small and big sins will have no place in me. I thank you for daily sanctification. I pray that I will not forsake the word of God. The word will bring cleansing into my heart in Jesus name. By the grace of God, I will enjoy the benefits of the covenant with Jesus Christ all the days of my Christ. Amen

Bible Reading Plan in 26 weeks (Be part of the Bible Reading Program)

Day 24

Genesis 28-29

Joshua 24

Job 24

Proverbs 24

Jeremiah 24

Matthew 24

Revelation 12