Day 368: Special people! – 1 Peter 1 vs 1 – 2
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 1 Peter 1:1-2 English Standard Version.
Peter, the writer of this letter, is probably one of the most well known of Jesus' disciples. God used him to 'break the ice' and preach the gospel to people who were not Jews. Some years later, though, we're told that God gave the apostle Paul “the responsibility of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as He had given Peter the responsibility of preaching to the Jews. The same God who worked through Peter as the apostle to the Jews - also worked through Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles.” (Galatians 2:7-8) It's no surprise then that in the the opening words of this letter Peter uses some words that would have been familiar to Jewish people who had become Christians.
The words ‘elect exiles’ would have reminded them of ancestors whose lives had been spared some 600 years earlier, but who were sent into exile in foreign countries where they were like refugees far from home. The word ‘dispersion’ means ‘to be scattered like seed', and was used to describe the regions to which Jews were exiled by the Babylonians in 586 BC. The places Peter mentions in this letter were to the north of Israel (modern day Turkey and Iraq) and to which many of the Christian Jews would've fled when harsh persecution broke out against them in Jerusalem. But while this letter was firstly to Jews who'd become Christians, what do you think words like 'exiles' and 'dispersion' tell even people like us about Christianity?
They imply that when ANYONE becomes a Christian there's a sense in which this world is no longer their true home, and they will feel like they are strangers here. Later in the letter Peter says: “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and temporary residents in the world, to abstain from the desires of the sinful flesh, which war against your soul. Live an honourable life among the Gentiles.” (2:11) The wrong things that people in the world enjoy doing will no longer be what the Christian wants to be part of. And people in the world will soon let Christians know that they and their message are not really welcome!
So what was the encouragement that Peter gave, even in these first two verses, to those who had been rejected by many in society? Remember, Jewish converts would've been told that they were turning their backs on their Jewish heritage and faith, and all that God had taught through Moses.
He tells them that it's actually Christians who are God's 'chosen people'. In Chapter Two he goes on to say: “You are God’s chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (2:9) He points out too that this was God's plan from all eternity – not an afterthought on God's part! And what does Peter say was the purpose or outcome of this act of God?
It led to the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit using the gospel message to set them apart as God's people, and to cause them to desire holiness instead of sin. And, just as in the Old Testament everything used in God's service had to be set apart (consecrated) by being sprinkled with the blood of a sacrificed animal, so Peter says that those who God calls to Himself are looked upon as if they have been sprinkled with the blood of the sacrifice Jesus made for their sins. They are fully forgiven and enabled to follow Jesus and obey His teachings.
What a tremendous blessing and privilege it is to be a real Christian. Yet despite all that, Peter adds a prayer that God's grace (His undeserved mercy) and God's peace (His favour and friendship) would be multiplied even more in their lives! The world might see Christians as weird and unwelcome – God sees them as His own special people who have been made holy by His Son. May that encourage you if times come when you feel unpopular and lonely because you don't fit in anymore with the ways of this world.