Bible Classes resume September 8. Until then, please join us for our 10 AM Worship Service.

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Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 1 Peter 1:1-2 (CSB)

At the writing of this letter, years had passed since Jesus of Nazareth had lived with the twelve disciples. Many believers in Jesus were spreading far beyond the Jewish communities that had witnessed his mighty words and deeds. Peter writes to these brothers and sisters who would feel like exiles waiting for their King and his kingdom to arrive.

What is true of these dispersed disciples is also true of us. When the Apostle encourages them, it applies to our situation as we also live far removed from the earthly presence of our Messiah but still chosen by God the Father. Notice that the passage mentions that we live in the world like strangers, yet our identity is rooted in God our Father who knows us and has chosen us for himself. Through the sanctifying power of the Spirit in our lives, we obey his voice and are sprinkled clean by the blood of Jesus Christ. This cleansing work of Christ through the Spirit brings about both justification (a declaration of righteousness before God) and sanctification (gradual, growing righteousness).

Finally, in this passage, we are encouraged with a greeting similar to how Jesus addressed his disciples—May grace and peace be multiplied to you. We are dependent on God’s undeserved favor to us and the peace that only Christ brings to us in this troubled world. God truly causes grace and peace to abound in and around us as we walk with him.

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